Rex Hudler - Playing Career

Playing Career

He played for 6 different Major League Baseball teams and at every position except pitcher and catcher throughout his career: the New York Yankees (1984–1985), Baltimore Orioles (1986), Montreal Expos (1988–1990), St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1992), California Angels (1994–1996), and Philadelphia Phillies (1997–1998).

He also played for the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League in 1993. Hudler saw playing time in the minor leagues with the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League in 1986 and 1987. Hudler then saw playing time with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians of the American Association in 1988 as the starting third baseman. During his playing career in Japan, he contributed to the team's back-to-back league championship and its second-ever Japan Series championship since its first title in 1978.

Prior to signing with the Yankees, Hudler was visited by Notre Dame, who hoped that he would suit up for their football team. A 1978 graduate of Bullard High School (Fresno, California), Hudler played baseball, soccer and football, earning first-team All-America honors as a wide receiver. He was a 1999 inductee into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.

Rex actually earned his "Bug-Eater" moniker in St. Louis during a game when he picked up an enormous junebug off his hat and when dared to eat it by his Cardinal teammate, Tom Pagnozzi, got the players in the dugout involved and they paid him $800 to eat the junebug.