Andre Rodgers

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Kenneth Andre Ian Rodgers (Andy)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.

School St. John's College (Nassau)

Debut April 16, 1957
Final Game September 30, 1967
Born December 2, 1934 in Nassau, Bahamas
Died December 13, 2004 in Nassau, Bahamas

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[edit] Biographical Information

Andre Rodgers was the first native of the Bahamas to play in the major leagues. The rangy 6' 3" shortstop had never played the game of baseball at any level in 1954 when he was recommended to the New York Giants by a Nassau man. The son of a famous cricket player, he was playing the game for the St. John's College team in Nassau at the time.

The Giants told him he could come to their spring trainning facility in Melbourne, FL, at his own expense and if they signed him he would be reimbursed. The 19-year-old cricket player was signed in 1954 and sent to the Olean Giants in the class D Pony League where he hit .286.

He moved up to St. Cloud Rox of the class C Northern League in 1955 where he not only won the batting title hitting .387, but he also led the league with 175 base hits and 133 runs scored. He was named to the postseason All-Star team at shortstop. He made it to the majors with the 1957 Giants.

Rodgers continued to put up big numbers in the minor leagues, winning the PCL batting title with a .354 average for the Phoenix Giants, helping his team to the league title in 1958. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs after the 1960 season and in 1962 Andre hit .278 in 38 games as Ernie Banks moved over to first base.

On December 9, 1964 Andre was traded by the Cubs for Roberto Pena and cash and his final three years were spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates as the former cricket player concluded an 11-year major league stay with a lifetime .249 mark. Rodgers had been in the minors all or part of seven of his baseball years, where he hit for a minor league career mark of .310 along with 96 homers.

Rodgers played for the Taiyo Whales in Japan in 1968, hitting only .210/.275/.370 in 49 games. He retired back in the Bahamas in his hometown of Nassau, where he died on December 13, 2004.

Andre's brother, Lionel Rodgers, played with the Fresno Giants in the California League in 1960. He was in a car crash and died on January 11, 1961.