Rudy Schlesinger

William Cordes Schlesinger [Bill or Rudy] (born November 5, 1941  in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball player. Listed at 5' 8", 179 lb., Schlesinger batted and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox as a free agent in 1963 out of the University of Cincinnati. Little is know about this player on a Boston Red Sox uniform. Schlesinger was a major league player whose career, statistically speaking, was only slightly different than that of Eddie Gaedel or Moonlight Graham. He debuted on May 4, by|1965, in pinch-hitting duties against the California Angels at Dodger Stadium. Schlesinger grounded out (pitcher to first base), and did not have fielding chances.

But Schlesinger will best remembered by the Red Sox fans for his productivity as a trade value. Before the 1968 season, he was sent by Boston with cash to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Ray Culp, which has been considered one of the worst transactions in Cubs history. Culp averaged 16 wins in the next four seasons. Meanwhile, Schlesinger was readquired by the Red Sox from Chicago during the 1968 midseason and was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies a year later, but never appeared in a major league game again.

ee also

*1965 Boston Red Sox season
*Boston Red Sox all-time roster
*Cup of coffee

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/schleru01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/Pschlr101.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B05040CAL1965.htm May 4, 1965 - Box Score]