Rudy Minarcin

From BR Bullpen

Rudy Anthony Minarcin (Buster)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
Debut April 11, 1955
Final Game September 27, 1957
Born March 25, 1930 in North Vandergrift, PA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Eighteen year old Rudy Minarcin was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1948 season. The young right-hander would be assigned to the Vandergrift Pioneers of the Middle Atlantic League and go 7-7 with a 3.44 ERA during his first year in pro baseball. 1949 would find him with the Utica Blue Sox of the Eastern League where he would find it a bit tougher and go 6-11 with a 4.81 ERA. On November 17, 1949 he would be drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1949 Rule V Draft.

Cincinnati would place Rudy with the Tulsa Oilers of the Texas League in 1950 and the right-hander would win 13 and lose 7 with a 2.86 ERA. Minarcin would pitch for the Buffalo Bisons of the International League in 1951 go 16-12 with a 3.20 ERA and be picked to pitch on the league All-Star team. Minarcin would spend the next two seasons (1952-1953) with the United States Military Services during the Korean War. Rudy came back ready to play and would win 11 and lose 2 with a 3.46 ERA for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1954.

Minarcin would join Cincinnati in 1955 and would be used in both a starting role and in relief, he had a 5-9 record, including one shutout in 41 appearances. Rudy returned to the International League in 1956 to win 15 games for the Havana Sugar Kings before being acquired by the Boston Red Sox in 1957 He worked exclusively out of the bullpen this season and wound up with no decisions in 26 appearances. This was the last year in the "Show" for the 27 year old and he finished out with a 6-9 record with a 4.66 ERA in 70 big league games overall.

Minarcin would spend two more years (1958-1959) with the Toronto Maple Leafs go 9-10 with a 4.66 ERA and decide to call it a career. Rudy's eight year minor league totals showed 77 wins and 61 losses with a 3.56 ERA. He would return to his native Pennsylvania where he owned a butcher shop in his hometown of North Vandergrift, PA.