 He spent much of his seven-year (1964–70) professional career in the Red Sox organization, although Boston would lose him on waivers once, trade him twice, and reacquire him twice in the space of four seasons.An outfielder, Schlesinger was signed by Boston in 1963 out of the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated with a degree in education.After hitting 37 home runs, driving in 117 runs, and batting .341 in the 1964 Class A New York–Penn League (then a full season circuit), he was protected under the bonus rules of the 1960s on the 1965 Red Sox roster coming out of spring training.