Joe Rudi

Infobox MLB retired
name=Joe Rudi


position=Outfielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1946|9|7
city-state|Modesto|California
debutdate=April 11
debutyear=by|1967
debutteam=Kansas City Athletics
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=by|1982
finalteam=Oakland Athletics
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.264
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=179
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=810
teams=
* Kansas City / Oakland Athletics (by|1967-by|1975, by|1982)
* California Angels (by|1977-by|1980)
* Boston Red Sox (by|1981)
highlights=
* 3x All-Star selection (1972, 1974, 1975)
* 3x World Series champion (1972, 1973, 1974)
* 3x Gold Glove Award winner (1974, 1975, 1976)

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. He currently works in real estate in Baker City, OR. He is also an Amateur Radio Operator, call sign NK7U.

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.

ee also

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

External links

* [http://www.nk7u.com/ Joe's Ham Radio Contest Station]
* [http://www.teamrudi.com/ Joe's Real Estate Site]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/R/Rudi_Joe.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/rudijoe/ Baseball Page]
*baseball-reference|id=r/rudijo01