Rich Garces was many things throughout his 10-year big league career. He was a Twin, then he was a Cub, then he was a Marlin, and finally, he was a member of the Red Sox.

Garcés was originally signed out of Venezuela by the Twins back in 1987, as a 16-year-old, and he wouldn’t take too long to get up to the majors. The hefty righty made his major-league debut as a 19-year-old in 1990, making five appearances that year for Minnesota.

Garcés became a free agent after the 1995 season and signed with the Red Sox prior to the 1996 campaign. And that’s when it all started. The first couple of years of the righty’s career for the Sox were mostly forgettable in both 1996 and 1997.

It was 1998 that Garcés really burst onto the scene and his cult status started to grow. He wasn’t really great in that season and he had some real control issues, but then pitched to a very solid 3.33 ERA. He came back and pitched great in relief during 1999 and was a dominant fixture in the Red Sox bullpen in both 2000 and 2001 as well.

The 250-pound reliever, known as "El Guapo" had a pretty suave 'stache, hung out with some famous friends, and had an incredible bobble belly doll molded in his figure. If that doesn't say charming, what does?

And what does "El Guapo" even mean? Former Sox pitcher Mike Maddux said he gave Garces the name after watching the El Guapo character from Three Amigos. In Venezuela, "El Guapo" can also be interpreted to mean "The Tough One," possibly referring to the reliever's solid efforts on the mound. Or it could be translated to another Spanish meaning -- "The Handsome One."

Whatever it meant, "El Guapo" was one of the many characters that played for the Red Sox, who the fans adored, because it was absurdly entertaining to see someone who looked like him, not only pitch in the majors but pitch well.

Rich Garces will forever be a permanent fixture in the memories of every fan who loved Red Sox baseball.