Randy Rubenzer

Inaugural Class of 2009

Outfielder, 3^rd Basemen

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1979-2001

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During his 23-year career with the Jim Falls Sturgeons, the heavy hitting Randy Rubenzer established himself as one of the toughest outs to ever set foot in a CRBL batter’s box.

A left-handed stick, Rubenzer was a respected and recognized offensive force, playing in 15 All-Star games (1983-1985, 1987-1992, 1994-1998, 2000) and getting elected to a league record 10 All-CRBL teams (1983-1986, 1988,1990,1991,1995-1997).  He hit .300 or better in 17 seasons, doing so consecutively from 1983 to 1997.  Exceeded the .400 mark in seven of those seasons — .468 in 1984 (22 for 47), .433 in 1986 (29 for 67), .674 in 1988 (29 for 43), .489 in 1990 (23 for 47), .481 in 1991 (26 for 54), .426 in 1997 (26 for 61), and .419 in 2000 (18 for 43).  His stratospheric mark of .674 in 1988 led the league and set a single season record that may never be reached.  He also led the league in hits that year with 29, doubles with 11, runs scored with 27, and walks with 21 while driving in 23 runs during what could be considered one of the handful of greatest seasons ever in league play.  His other league leading outputs were in 1985 when he tied for the top mark with 7 doubles, in 1986 when he was alone in first with 10 doubles, and in 1990 with 22 walks.  Reached 20 or more hits in a season a league record 13 times.

Randy’s standout play coincided with the emergence of the Sturgeons in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s as an offensively explosive and formidable foe.  From 1986 to 1993, Jim Falls was 86 and 49 (.637 %), winning a North Division title and playing for a league championship in 1989, qualifying for the WBA from 1986 to 1992, and making it to the Final 8 in 1991.  Rubenzer’s other WBA appearance with the Sturgeons came in 1983.

An all-around player, Randy was equally adept at picking the hot corner as he was shrinking the gaps in Jim Falls’ outfield.  In the mid-1980‘s, he also served as a useful right-handed pitcher for the Sturgeons, grabbing an ERA title in 1985 with a mark of 1.96 (4 ER/18.1 IP).  In 1986, he went 7 and 1 with a 2.96 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched while lacing his .433 average at the dish.  1987 saw Randy eat up another 53.2 innings in collecting a 5 and 4 record for the WBA bound Sturgeons.

Upon induction, he ranks 4^th in batting average, 9^th in games played, 6^th in singles, 2^nd in doubles, tied for 2^nd in triples, 9^th in homeruns, tied for 3rd in RBI’s, 5^th in runs scored, 3^rd in total bases, 8^th in slugging percentage, tied for 11^th in stolen bases, and 6^th in walks.

Fittingly, Rubenzer was the first league hitter to surpass the 400 hit mark for a career, reaching this milestone in 1999.