Later that year, Sudakis made his major league debut as a September call-up and immediately took over the starting third base job over incumbent Bob Bailey.

[2] In his rookie season of 1969, Sudakis clubbed fourteen home runs (second on the team to right fielder Andy Kosco), four of which came in consecutive games from August 15 through 19.

[3][4] In 1970, with rookie prospects Steve Garvey and Billy Grabarkewitz joining a crowded Dodgers infield, Manager Walter Alston experimented with Sudakis at catcher.

[8] During spring training 1973, the Texas Rangers acquired Sudakis from the Mets for minor league journeyman Bill McNulty.

[10] Following a 10–0 victory over the Cleveland Indians on September 29,[11] the Yankees' flight to Milwaukee for a two-game set against the Brewers to end the season was delayed three hours.

Dave Pagan, Walt Williams and All-Star Bobby Murcer were all injured in the altercation,[13] and Sudakis did not appear in either of the final two games of the season.

[17] On September 27, 1985, Sudakis and Theodore Earl Turina were arrested on cocaine possession charges by undercover narcotics officers.

Orange County Sheriff's Lieutenant Tom Conner said that Sudakis was armed with a handgun at the time of the arrest and that a second weapon was also seized.