Year Inducted – 1995

Rudy’s concern for baseball has been well documented. He has done it all, played, coached, organized, recruited, been groundskeeper, managed and served as commissioner of the league. Perhaps 1983 Famer Don Lombardi described Rudy best when he said, “Whatever needed to be done, Rudy was always there to do it.” His greatest achievement was the founding of the “The Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame.” But today we are honoring him for his managing talent, sometimes overlooked due to the success of this fine organization. He started playing as a 12 year old with St. Mary’s grade school. He began his managing-coaching career in 1960 with a championship for St. Mary’s CYO team. Following is a list of teams he coached or managed: Revere High J.V., Kenmore High Varsity to two City Championships, Blatz Beers, Krispy Kremes, John Brown Winding Bar, Joe’s All-Stars, Nino’s Lounge, Magic City Lanes, Akron Insulating, Acme Ash and C & P Sales. He was selected to manage three AA All-Star Teams to play the Canton AA All-Star Teams in the annual game. Akron won all those three games. Two of his teams: The 1963 Krispy Kremes and the 1970 Nino’s Lounge participated in the NABF Tournament in Louisville, KY. The 1969 Nino’s Lounge Team finished as runner-up in the AABC Tournament in Lakewood, Ohio.