Joe Rudi | |
---|---|
Left fielder | |
Born: Modesto, California, U.S. | September 7, 1946|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 11, 1967, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 3, 1982, for the Oakland Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .264 |
Home runs | 179 |
Runs batted in | 810 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Joseph Oden Rudi (born September 7,1946) is an American former professional baseball player. [1] He played in Major League Baseball as a left fielder between 1967 and 1982,most prominently as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships between 1972 and 1974. [1]
A three-time All-Star,Rudi excelled as an offensive and as a defensive player,winning three Gold Glove Awards and was the 1972 American League leader in hits with 181. [1] [2] He also played for the California Angels and the Boston Red Sox. [1] In 2022,Rudi was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. [3]
Rudi was born in Modesto,California. [1] He graduated from Thomas Downey High School in Modesto.
Rudi batted a career-high .309 in 1970 and led the American League a career-high 181 hits in 1972. He finished second in American League MVP voting behind Dick Allen. [1] That year,he helped the Athletics win the World Series and made a great game-saving catch in Game 2 that went on to become part of the highlight reel for many Major League Baseball films. With Tony Pérez on first and Oakland leading 2–0 in the ninth inning,Rudi raced to the left-field fence and made a leaping,backhanded catch of Denis Menke's smash to save a run. Earlier in the game,Rudi hit a solo home run. He also caught Pete Rose's fly ball for the final out of the Series.
In 1974 he had a career best 22 home runs and 99 runs batted in while leading the American League with 287 total bases. He was also awarded his first career Gold Glove Award and was once again the runner-up in AL MVP voting behind Jeff Burroughs. Rudi hit a home run in Game 5 of the 1974 World Series off Mike Marshall that would turn out to be the game winner and Series clincher. Rudi's Athletics became the first team since the 1949–1953 New York Yankees to win three straight World Series titles. [4]
In 1975,he was elected by the fans as a starter in the All-Star Game as an outfielder,where he joined four other Oakland A's in the American League starting lineup. He also played some first base for the A's in 1975.
With baseball entering the free agency era,A's owner Charlie Finley attempted to sell Rudi and pitcher Rollie Fingers to the Boston Red Sox for $1 million each at the MLB trade deadline on June 15,1976,rather than trading them (as he had done with Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzman prior to that season) or risking losing them in free agency. Rudi actually reported to the Red Sox and was issued a uniform,but never was permitted to play,as baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided the transaction as not being in the best interests of baseball. [5] Rudi later played for Boston in 1981.
Rudi,along with Don Baylor,ended up leaving the A's as a free agent and signed with the California Angels for the 1977 season. However,Rudi's tenure with the Angels was mostly injury-plagued,even though he posted respectable home run and RBI totals in his four seasons. His best year with the Angels was 1978,when he played in 133 games and hit .256 with 17 home runs and 79 RBI's. He missed the Angels' 1979 post-season run with injury. After the 1980 season,Rudi was traded by the Angels along with Frank Tanana to the Red Sox for Fred Lynn. [1] After one injury-filled season,he closed his career back with the A's in 1982 and hit a home run in his last professional at-bat.
In a sixteen-year major league career,Rudi played in 1,547 games,compiling a .264 batting average (1,468-for-5,556) with 684 runs scored,287 doubles,39 triples,179 home runs,810 RBI and 369 walks. [1] His on-base percentage was .311 and slugging percentage was .427. [1] Strong defensively,he recorded a career .991 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. [1] In 38 post-season games,covering five American League Championship Series and three World Series from 1971 to 1975,he handled 124 total chances (120 putouts,4 assists) without an error. [6]
Rudi is retired and lives with his wife Sharon,in The Villages,Florida. He is a long-time amateur radio operator with the call sign NK7U.
Fredric Michael Lynn is an American former professional baseball center fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),mostly with the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels. He was the first player to win MLB's Rookie of the Year Award and Most Valuable Player Award in the same year,which he accomplished in 1975 with the Red Sox.
Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career as a shortstop and third baseman for the Boston Red Sox,where he established himself as a fan favorite for his powerful hitting and his solid defensive play. A two-time All-Star shortstop,Petrocelli appeared in two World Series with the Red Sox. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.
Aloysius Harry Simmons,born Alois Szymanski,better known as Al Simmons. was an American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Bucketfoot Al",he played for two decades in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and had his best years with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the late 1920s and early 1930s,winning two World Series with Philadelphia. Simmons also played for the Chicago White Sox,Detroit Tigers,Washington Senators,Boston Braves,Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. After his playing career ended,Simmons served as a coach for the Athletics and Cleveland Indians. A career .334 hitter,Simmons was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.
Dwight Michael "Dewey" Evans is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox (1972–1990) and Baltimore Orioles (1991) in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a three-time All-Star,won eight Gold Glove Awards,and won two Silver Slugger Awards. Evans played the second-most career games for the Red Sox of any player,surpassed only by Carl Yastrzemski.
David Lee Henderson,nicknamed "Hendu",was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Boston Red Sox,San Francisco Giants,Oakland Athletics,and Kansas City Royals during his 14-year career,primarily as an outfielder.
Ronald Ray Fairly was an American professional baseball player and television sports presenter. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and right fielder from 1958 to 1978,most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers where,he was a two-time All-Star player and was a member of three World Series winning teams.
The 1974 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1974 season. The 71st edition of the World Series,it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Oakland Athletics and the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletics won the series,four games to one;after splitting the first two in Los Angeles,Oakland swept their three home games to close it out.
The 1973 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1973 season. The 70th edition of the World Series,it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Oakland Athletics and the National League (NL) champion New York Mets. The Athletics won the series in seven games for their second of three consecutive World Series titles and their seventh championship overall.
Rubén Angel Sierra García is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. Over 20 seasons,Sierra played for the Texas Rangers,Oakland Athletics (1992–95),New York Yankees,Detroit Tigers (1996),Cincinnati Reds (1997),Toronto Blue Jays (1997),Chicago White Sox (1998),Seattle Mariners (2002) and Minnesota Twins (2006). Sierra also signed with the Cleveland Indians at the end of 1999,but was released towards the end of spring training in March 2000.
Tommy Harper is an American former professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven different franchises from 1962 to 1976,including six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and three seasons each with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Boston Red Sox.
The 1975 American League Championship Series pitted the Boston Red Sox against the three-time defending World Series champion Oakland Athletics for the right to advance to the World Series. The Red Sox swept the series in three games to win their first AL pennant in eight years,which ended Oakland's pursuit of a fourth consecutive World Series title.
James Lloyd Spencer was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. Born in Hanover,Pennsylvania,the left-handed Spencer was recognized for his excellent fielding ability,but also served in later years as a designated hitter.
Michael Lee Cubbage is an American former third baseman,coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m),180 pounds (82 kg),he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball catcher and pitching coach who is currently a pitching consultant for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He began his MLB playing career in 1964 and played again consecutively from 1967 to 1976 for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics,Cleveland Indians,and Baltimore Orioles.
Deron Roger Johnson was an American professional baseball infielder,outfielder,designated hitter,and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Kansas City/Oakland Athletics,Cincinnati Reds,Atlanta Braves,Philadelphia Phillies,Milwaukee Brewers,Boston Red Sox,and Chicago White Sox,over the course of his 16-year big league playing career. While an active player,Johnson stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall,weighing 200 pounds (91 kg). He batted and threw right-handed.
Alonza Benjamin Bumbry is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres from 1972 through 1985. Bumbry was the 1973 American League Rookie of the Year,and went on to be an All-Star and World Series champion. He is an inductee of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Prior to his major league career,Bumbry served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze Star.
James Michael Hegan was an American professional baseball player,who later worked as a sports commentator. In Major League Baseball (MLB) he was a first baseman and outfielder,and played for three different American League (AL) franchises between 1964 and 1977. He was the son of longtime Cleveland Indians catcher Jim Hegan.
Ángel Luis Mangual Guilbe was a Puerto Rican baseball outfielder who played seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Little Clemente",he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics from 1969 to 1976. He batted and threw right-handed and was a three-time World Series champion.
Mitchell Austin Moreland,nicknamed "2-Bags",is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Boston Red Sox,San Diego Padres,and Oakland Athletics. Moreland attended Mississippi State University and was drafted by the Rangers as a first baseman and outfielder in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB draft. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 230 pounds (100 kg),Moreland both batted and threw left-handed.
Dustin Thomas Garneau is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies,Oakland Athletics,Chicago White Sox,Los Angeles Angels,Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers.