Rugger Ardizoia
Encyclopedia
Rinaldo Joseph "Rugger" Ardizoia (born November 20, 1919) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher. The 5"11", 180 lb. right-hander is, as of 2010, one of only six Italian natives to ever play in the big leagues, appearing in one game for the New York Yankees
in 1947. He was born in Oleggio
, Italy
.
The 27-year-old rookie
took the mound on April 30, 1947 at Sportsmans Park in the bottom of the 7th inning with the Yankees trailing the St. Louis Browns
. He pitched two innings
for New York and faced a total of 10 batters, giving up four hits
, a walk
, and two earned runs. The final score was Browns 15, Yankees 5. Ardizoia was credited with a game finished
.
Ardizoia's minor league baseball
career spanned fifteen seasons, starting in with the Mission Reds
. He missed three seasons while serving in World War II in 1943-45, then played for the Oakland Oaks
of the Pacific Coast League
in . Following his brief major league career, he returned to the PCL until , then ended his career with the Dallas Eagles of the Texas League
in .
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher. The 5"11", 180 lb. right-hander is, as of 2010, one of only six Italian natives to ever play in the big leagues, appearing in one game for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1947. He was born in Oleggio
Oleggio
Oleggio is a comune in the Province of Novara in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km northeast of Turin and about 15 km north of Novara...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The 27-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
took the mound on April 30, 1947 at Sportsmans Park in the bottom of the 7th inning with the Yankees trailing the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He pitched two innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
for New York and faced a total of 10 batters, giving up four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and two earned runs. The final score was Browns 15, Yankees 5. Ardizoia was credited with a game finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
.
Ardizoia's minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
career spanned fifteen seasons, starting in with the Mission Reds
Mission Reds
The Mission Reds were a minor league baseball team located in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1926 through 1937.-Original Missions:...
. He missed three seasons while serving in World War II in 1943-45, then played for the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in . Following his brief major league career, he returned to the PCL until , then ended his career with the Dallas Eagles of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in .