| Joe Rudi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Left fielder | |
| Born: (1946-09-07)September 7, 1946 (age 78) Modesto, California, U.S. | |
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 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Joseph Oden Rudi (born September 7, 1946) is anAmerican former professionalbaseball player.[1] He played inMajor League Baseball as aleft fielder between1967 and1982, most prominently as an integral member of theOakland Athleticsdynasty that won three consecutiveWorld Series championships between 1972 and 1974.[1]
A three-timeAll-Star, Rudi excelled as an offensive and as a defensive player, winning threeGold Glove Awards and was the 1972 American League leader in hits with 181.[1][2] He also played for theCalifornia Angels and theBoston Red Sox.[1] In 2022, Rudi was inducted into theAthletics Hall of Fame.[3]
Rudi was born inModesto, California.[1] He graduated fromThomas 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 inAmerican League MVP voting behindDick 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. WithTony 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 ofDenis Menke's smash to save a run. Earlier in the game, Rudi hit a solo home run. He also caughtPete 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 careerGold Glove Award and was once again the runner-up in AL MVP voting behindJeff Burroughs. Rudi hit a home run in Game 5 of the1974 World Series offMike 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 thefree agency era, A's ownerCharlie Finley attempted to sell Rudi and pitcherRollie Fingers to theBoston Red Sox for $1 million each at the MLB trade deadline on June 15, 1976, rather than trading them (as he had done withReggie Jackson andKen 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 CommissionerBowie Kuhn voided the transaction as not being in the best interests of baseball.[5] Rudi later played for Boston in 1981.
Rudi, along withDon Baylor, ended up leaving the A's as a free agent and signed with theCalifornia 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 RBIs. He missed the Angels' 1979 post-season run with injury. After the 1980 season, Rudi was traded by the Angels along withFrank Tanana to the Red Sox forFred 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 1,547games, compiling a .264batting average (1,468-for-5,556) with 684runs scored, 287doubles, 39triples, 179home runs, 810RBI and 369walks.[1] Hison-base percentage was .311 andslugging percentage was .427.[1] Strong defensively, he recorded a career .991fielding percentage at all three outfield positions.[1] In 38 post-season games, covering fiveAmerican League Championship Series and threeWorld Series from 1971 to 1975, he handled 124total chances (120 putouts, 4 assists) without an error.[6]
Rudi is retired and lives with his wife Sharon, inThe Villages, Florida. He is a long-timeamateur radio operator with the call sign NK7U.
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