Bill Sudakis – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bill Sudakis put together a solid eight-year run in Major League Baseball, suiting up for six teams between 1968 and 1975. Born in Joliet, Illinois, he mostly played third base, but you could also find him behind the plate or at first over the course of his career.

Sudakis finished with a career batting average of .234, along with 59 home runs and 214 RBIs in 530 games. He moved around a lot, but still managed to contribute offensively most places he landed.

He kicked things off with the Los Angeles Dodgers, spending four seasons there and making a name for himself in the National League.

After LA, Sudakis bounced around quite a bit—he played for the New York Mets, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Cleveland Indians. His journey took him to cities all over the map.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

William Paul Sudakis came into the world on March 27, 1946, in Joliet, Illinois. He grew into a promising baseball prospect, showing his stuff at Joliet Township High School.

His high school career ended on a high note when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers during his senior year in 1964.

Family Background and Hometown

Sudakis grew up in a Lithuanian-American family in Joliet, Illinois. That heritage tied him to the immigrant communities that shaped this industrial city just outside Chicago.

Joliet had a strong baseball tradition and plenty of community support for sports. It was a good place for a kid with big league dreams.

Living in a working-class city taught Sudakis the value of hard work and grit. He carried those lessons with him as he chased a pro baseball career.

His family stood behind him from the start. The Joliet community gave young athletes real chances to grow through local leagues and school sports.

Joliet Township High School Baseball Highlights

Sudakis attended Joliet Township High School, where he quickly stood out on the baseball field. Scouts started to take notice during his high school years.

In his senior year, 1964, the Los Angeles Dodgers saw enough to offer him a contract. That was a pretty big deal for a high school player from Illinois.

His switch-hitting ability and knack for playing different positions made him a hot prospect. The Dodgers liked his power potential and athleticism.

They signed him before graduation, so his pro baseball story started early. Not many high schoolers got that kind of shot in those days.

Amateur Athletic Achievements and Awards

Sudakis’s biggest amateur achievement? Landing a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That put him in rare company for a high school kid.

Switch-hitting made him stand out even more. Teams always want players who can bat from both sides.

The Dodgers’ decision to sign him right out of high school showed they believed he could develop into something special. Scouts loved his power and his glove at multiple spots.

Those early successes at Joliet Township High School set the stage for everything that followed. The recognition and skills he picked up there opened doors in pro ball.

Path to the Major Leagues

Bill Sudakis signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a high school senior in 1964. He spent four seasons working his way up in the minors.

He started as a struggling rookie, but by 1968, he was co-MVP in the Texas League and earned a September call-up to the majors.

Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization

During his senior year at Joliet Township High School, Sudakis inked his first pro contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team saw something in the young infielder from Joliet.

Sudakis kicked off his pro career with the Pocatello Chiefs in the Pioneer League. That first season was rough—he just couldn’t quite adjust to the pro game.

He hit only .214 with a single homer and twelve RBIs. His defense at third base was shaky too, with an .843 fielding percentage.

Minor League Performance and Development

The Dodgers tried Sudakis at different infield spots for the next three seasons in their system. That flexibility would come in handy later.

By 1966, his bat started to come alive. With the Santa Barbara Dodgers, he smacked 23 home runs and started hitting from both sides.

He really broke out in 1968 with Albuquerque in the Texas League. Sudakis hit .294 with 16 home runs and 75 RBIs.

That year, he shared co-MVP honors in the Texas League. Not bad for a guy who’d struggled early on.

His big 1968 season earned him a shot in the majors that September. That wrapped up four years of grinding through the Dodgers’ farm system.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Bill Sudakis played eight MLB seasons from 1968 to 1975. He built a reputation as a utility player who handled several positions.

He started with the Dodgers and wound up playing for five more teams. Over 530 games, he hit .234 with 59 home runs and 214 RBIs.

Debut with Los Angeles Dodgers

Sudakis made his MLB debut on September 3, 1968, for the Dodgers at age 22. That first game, he faced the Phillies and picked up a hit and a home run in four at-bats.

He’d signed with the Dodgers back in 1964, straight out of high school. After four years in the minors, he finally got the call.

In 1968, he hit .276 with a .854 OPS in 24 games. He knocked three home runs and drove in 12 runs during that short stint.

The Dodgers liked what they saw and gave him more chances in the following seasons. He stayed with LA for four years.

Versatility: Positions Played and Switch-Hitting

Sudakis brought versatility to every team he joined as a switch-hitter. He mostly played third, but also caught and filled in at first.

Batting from both sides made him a handy pinch-hitter and platoon option. That flexibility kept him in the league.

He spent a lot of time at third base, especially early with the Dodgers. His catching experience also helped teams fill gaps behind the plate.

Managers liked having him around for that reason. He could jump into different roles as needed.

Notable Seasons and Career Milestones

Sudakis had his best year in 1969 with the Dodgers, playing 132 games and racking up 108 hits. He finished that season with a .234 average, 14 homers, and 53 RBIs.

In 1970, he improved a bit—batting .264 with a .813 OPS in 94 games. He kept up the power, hitting 14 home runs and driving in 44 runs.

The 1973 season with the Texas Rangers was another highlight. He hit .255 with 15 home runs and 43 RBIs in 82 games.

Across his career, Sudakis totaled 59 home runs and 214 RBIs. He also collected 362 hits and crossed the plate 177 times.

Transition to Multiple Teams

After four years with the Dodgers, Sudakis started moving around. He joined the Mets in 1972 but played just 18 games.

The Texas Rangers picked him up for 1973, and he had one of his better seasons there. That led to a stint with the Yankees in 1974.

He wrapped things up in 1975, splitting time between the California Angels (30 games) and Cleveland Indians (20 games). His last MLB game came on August 7, 1975, with Cleveland.

In eight years, he played for six teams. Not many guys have that kind of winding path.

Team Transitions and Performance

After his Dodgers days, Sudakis went through a string of team changes that really defined the second half of his career. From 1972 to 1975, he played for five different organizations.

His adaptability as a utility player stood out, but bouncing around made it tough to stay consistent.

New York Mets Era

Sudakis joined the Mets in 1972, but things didn’t go well. He played just 18 games and had 56 plate appearances.

He struggled at the plate, hitting only .143 with a .236 OBP and a .204 slugging percentage. That was about as rough as it got for him offensively.

He managed just 7 hits in 49 at-bats, with 1 home run and 7 RBIs. His WAR dipped to -0.2, showing how tough that year was.

The Mets moved on after just one season, and Sudakis went looking for a fresh start.

Texas Rangers Contributions

In 1973, Sudakis found new life with the Texas Rangers. He turned things around in the American League, putting up some of his best numbers since his Dodger days.

He played 82 games for Texas, logging 263 plate appearances. His bat came alive—he hit .255 with 15 home runs and 43 RBIs.

Key 1973 Stats:

• Batting Average: .255
• Home Runs: 15
• RBIs: 43
• OPS: .814
• OPS+: 132

That OPS+ of 132? He was 32% better than the league average hitter that year. Not bad at all.

The Rangers used him mostly at third and as a DH. He posted a 1.4 WAR, showing he really helped the team that season.

Stints with New York Yankees, California Angels, and Cleveland Indians

Sudakis spent his last two years moving between three American League teams. In 1974, he landed with the Yankees and played 89 games, but couldn’t quite recapture his Texas form.

With the Yankees, he hit .232 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs. His WAR slipped to -0.4, which kind of signaled the end was near.

In 1975, he split time between the California Angels and Cleveland Indians—30 games for the Angels, 20 for the Indians.

His numbers that final year weren’t great:

• California Angels: .121 average, 1 home run, 6 RBIs
• Cleveland Indians: .196 average, 1 home run, 3 RBIs

Switching teams that often in a single season made things tough, especially as he got older. He played his last MLB game on August 7, 1975, for Cleveland.

Career Statistics and Playing Style

Bill Sudakis wrapped up his MLB career with a .234 average, 59 home runs, and 214 RBIs in 530 games. He played third, caught, and filled in at first, making him a handy utility guy for six different teams.

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Sudakis played from 1968 to 1975. He appeared in 530 games and finished with a career batting average of .234.

He collected 362 hits, knocked out 59 home runs, and drove in 214 RBIs over eight seasons.

His best offensive year came in 1973 when he joined the Texas Rangers. That season, he hit .255, launched 15 home runs, and picked up 43 RBIs in just 82 games.

His OPS hit .814 that year, which really stands out as his top offensive performance.

The Los Angeles Dodgers gave Sudakis his most steady playing time. Over his four years with them from 1968 to 1971, he batted .243, hit 34 home runs, and tallied 116 RBIs in 291 games.

He brought a lot of defensive versatility to every team he joined. Sudakis mainly played third base, but he also caught behind the plate and filled in at first base when teams needed him.

Signature Skills and On-Field Approach

People knew Sudakis for his switch-hitting and his ability to move around the diamond. Managers liked having someone who could cover multiple spots.

He put up solid power numbers for a utility guy back then. Sudakis averaged 18 home runs per 162 games, so he definitely had some pop, even if he didn’t always get regular at-bats.

As a switch-hitting third baseman, he showed patience at the plate. He drew 172 walks and struck out 313 times, which isn’t bad for his era.

His defensive skills let him stay useful even when he wasn’t hitting. That versatility kept him on rosters for six different organizations.

Reputation Among Peers and Coaches

Sudakis earned a reputation as a steady utility player who could handle different roles. He caught, played third, and covered first, so coaching staffs found him pretty valuable.

Teams appreciated his professional attitude and the way he accepted any role thrown his way. That mindset helped him stick around with six franchises.

His switch-hitting gave managers more options, especially in the National League. Pitching changes meant they could use his bat from either side.

Even if his offensive stats weren’t flashy, Sudakis kept his reputation as someone who’d step up when called.

Retirement and Legacy

Bill Sudakis wrapped up his Major League career in 1975, playing his last game on August 7 with the Cleveland Indians. After hanging up his cleats, he spent time mentoring young players and stayed close to baseball through coaching. He also enjoyed things like fishing and golf.

Circumstances of Retirement in 1975

Sudakis’s last season was a tough one as he bounced between teams. The California Angels let him go on June 23, 1975, after a short stint.

A week later, the Cleveland Indians picked him up on June 30, 1975. That move turned out to be his final stop in pro ball.

He played his last game on August 7, 1975, at age 29. By then, William Paul Sudakis had put together an eight-year career with several teams and positions.

He started his journey back in 1968 with the Dodgers. When it was all said and done, he hit .234 with 59 home runs and 214 RBIs in 530 games.

Post-Baseball Life and Personal Pursuits

After leaving MLB, Sudakis stayed deeply involved with the game. He poured his energy into mentoring young baseball players and managed youth baseball teams.

Working with kids let him pass on his knowledge to a new generation. That became a big part of his life after playing.

Away from baseball, Sudakis liked to relax with fishing and golf. Those hobbies gave him some peace and fun during retirement.

He settled down in Palm Springs, California, and lived there until he passed away on September 15, 2021, at age 75. His obituary mentioned that donations could go to the Alzheimer’s Association in his memory.

Remembering Bill Sudakis’s Impact

Bill Sudakis really made a name for himself among the young Dodgers players from the late 1960s and early 1970s. That 1969 season, when he started at third base, was honestly the highlight of his career.

He stood out for his versatility on the field. Over eight seasons, he played third base, catcher, and first base for six different teams. That kind of adaptability? Not everyone has it, and it definitely helped him stick around in the majors.

After he passed away in 2021, the baseball community looked back on him with real fondness. He didn’t just walk away from the sport—he gave back by coaching youth baseball, showing how much he cared about the game.

Family and friends gathered to celebrate his life at Big Rock Pub in Indio, California, on November 6, 2021. It was a heartfelt way to honor his memory.