Joe Rudi

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Joseph Oden Rudi (born September 7, 1946 in Modesto, California) is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics (1967-76, 1982), California Angels (1977-80) and Boston Red Sox (1981). He batted and threw right-handed. Currently works in real estate in Baker City, OR. He is also an Amateur Radio Operator, call sign NK7U.

[edit] Playing With The A's

Rudi batted a career-high .309 in 1970 and had a career-best 181 hits in 1972. That year, he helped the Athletics reach the World Series and made a great game-saving catch in Game 2 that would be the highlight reel for many Major League Baseball films. With Tony Perez 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 had a solo home run.

In 1974 he had a career best 22 home runs and 99 runs batted in and 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 3 straight World Championships.

In a 16-year career, Rudi was a .264 hitter with 179 home runs and 810 RBI in 1547 games. He won American League Gold Gloves in 1974, 1975 and 1976, and played in the MLB All-star Game in 1972, 1974 and 1975.

[edit] See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
• List of Major League Baseball triples champions

[edit] External links

• Joe's Ham Radio Contest Station
• Baseball Library
• Baseball Page
• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

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