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Awesome night card, pt. 36

How many times have you uttered the phrase, "I can't believe this guy is still in the league"? I know I've done it often.

But no one has surprised me more by his ability to keep showing up in a major league uniform than Rudy Seanez, featured on this 2008 Upper Deck night card. His career has spanned 20 years. Can you believe that? I can't. He pitched for the Dodgers on two different occasions, including appearing in 73 games in 2007, but I was never all that impressed with anything he did. Such is the life of a reliever.

The thing that most amuses me is how many teams want the guy and then how many teams don't want the guy. Some Rudy Seanez facts:

-- Teams traded for him five times
-- Teams released him six times (the Red Sox released him twice)
-- He has played for eight teams (Indians, Padres, Dodgers, Braves, Padres again, Braves again, Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, Marlins, Padres a third time, Red Sox again, Padres a FOURTH time, Dodgers a third time, Phillies)
-- He also has been a member of three teams for which he never played a major league game -- the Mets, Cubs and Angels.

Please note that Seanez is not left-handed. Lefties seem to hang on forever. But Seanez is a righty.

Some other Seanez facts, according to the quasi-reliable wikipedia:

-- He is 40 years old. He made his major league debut on Sept. 7, 1989.
-- He apparently is a dedicated weight-lifter and mixed martial arts follower who has trained with UFC fighters.
-- He's got a whole bunch of tattoos

Also, baseball-reference.com says his nickname is "Action Traction." What's that mean? He's good in the snow?

Seanez is now pitching for Salt Lake City, the Angels' Triple A farm team. I kind of hope it's not the end of the line for Rudy. I'd like to see him pitch in a fourth decade. Wouldn't that be something?

Comments

RWH said…
Judging by the state of the Angel bullpen this season, you can expect Rudy to be adding another makor league team to his resume very soon.
Captain Canuck said…
he was awesome with the Bravos the first time around... or was that the second??? I don't remember which....
madding said…
I ran across his 1990 Leaf rookie card last night, oddly enough. I was wondering if he was still around.
MMayes said…
I really thought Seanez was left-handed because of the way he's hung around like Jesse Orosco, Tony Fossas, et. al. Wow.