Rudy York was born on Sunday, August 17, 1913, in Ragland, Alabama. York was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 22, 1934, with the Detroit Tigers. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Rudy York baseball stats page.

"The booming bat of 24 year old Rudy York, Detroit's late entry into the home run race, spoke in tones heard 'round the baseball world this afternoon as one of Babe Ruth's proudest and supposedly invincible records went crashing into discard." - Sportswriter Shirley Povich in the Washington Post (08/31/1937)

Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball player for the Detroit Tigers (1934, 19371945), Boston Red Sox (19461947), Chicago White Sox (1947) and Philadelphia Athletics (1948). Rudy, his nickname, was a power-hitting first baseman, who helped behind the plate, and was a top five home run leader in nine separate seasons!





Rudy York | 1938 Goudey Heads-Up Baseball Card (#284) | Baseball Almanac Collection



In September 1927, Babe Ruth hit seventeen home runs, the first Major League player to ever hit that many home runs during any month in baseball history! Why did we mention this here? Because Rudy York surpassed the Bambino in August 1937, setting THREE new - still standing - records for Most Home Runs Ever Hit in Any Month by a Rookie, Most Home Runs Hit in any Month by an American League Player, and Most Home Runs Hit in any Month by a right-handed American League batter!





Did you know that when Rudy York was traded to the Boston Red Sox, in January 1946, for infielder Eddie Lake, he had hit 239 home runs in Detroit - the second most by any Tigers player in history? Do you know what Hall of Famer had more? [Answer]

Rudy York Historic Game | The Indianapolis Star | July 28, 1946 | Page 42