DUDEK, BIlly

DUDEK

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/30/2016 at 19:31:54

Billy Dudek, 2015
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Part of Graceland and Lamoni High School lore, Billy Dudek joins his Hall of Fame father, William "Duke" Dudek, and brother Casey on the wall of honor, the bearer of a great athletic dynasty.

One of the greatest athletes in Demon history, Dudek left Lamoni as the second all-time leading scorer on the basketball court. But it was as a baseball player where the multitalented Dudek most thrived, ending his run in red and black as the all time home run king and the owner of Lamoni's first perfect game pitched.

Moving uptown to Graceland College in 1991, Billy was an immediate hit for the Jacket baseball team. An instant leader, Dudek became the first Graceland ballplayer to earn conference player of the week honors after a show-stopping performance in his first conference match after belting two triples and two doubles in a 6 for 8 day against Evangel. This breakout was just the first of four weekly honors for Dudek.

Billy was Mr. Everything for the Yellowjacket nine, always floating near the top in virtually every offensive category. The left-handed lead-off hitter extraordinaire was an on base machine for Graceland, pestering opponents with grinding plate appearances and then running with virtual impunity once between the sacks.

Dudek's senior campaign at Graceland was a season for the ages. Leading the team in triples, runs, hits, on base percentage, and stolen bases, Billy was team MVP, voted a unanimous 1st Team All-Conference selection, and was runner-up HAAC player of the year. He swiped 35 bases in 36 attempts despite playing a limited schedule for the Jackets.

In addition to his accomplishments on the field for Graceland, Billy was selected for an all-star team which traveled through Belgium and Holland to play baseball. Dudek went on to play professionally overseas in Germany with the Elmshorn Alligators. While playing for the Alligators, he led the team in RBI's, homeruns, triples and stolen bases, and hit for an incredible .408 batting average.

The Recreation major stays active in his post-playing career, and remains proud to have contributed to his family's legacy of accomplishment at Graceland.

Billy was inducted into Graceland's Yellowjacket Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

SOURCES: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php; gujackets.com/roster.php

Submission by Sharon R Becker, January of 2016