Rudy Schlesinger

Who is Rudy Schlesinger?

William Cordes "Rudy" Schlesinger is a retired American professional baseball player. He had one at bat in Major League Baseball as a pinch hitter for the 1965 Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches, 175 pounds, Schlesinger batted and threw right-handed. He spent much of his seven-year professional career in the Red Sox organization, although Boston would lose him on waivers once, trade him twice, and reacquire him twice in the space of four seasons.

An outfielder, Schlesinger was signed by Boston in 1963 out of the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated with a degree in education. After hitting 37 home runs, driving in 117 runs, and batting .341 in the 1964 Class A New York-Penn League, he was protected under the bonus rules of the 1960s on the 1965 Red Sox roster coming out of spring training.

In Schlesinger's only MLB appearance, on May 4, he batted for Boston pitcher Dave Morehead in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Chavez Ravine. Schlesinger grounded out. Boston lost the game, 7–1, one of 100 defeats the BoSox would absorb in 1965. Three days later, when the Red Sox tried to send Schlesinger to the minor leagues, they had to pass him through waivers and he was claimed by the Kansas City Athletics.