Billy Rogell
From BR Bullpen
William George Rogell
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Weight 163 lb.
- Debut April 14, 1925
- Final Game August 25, 1940
- Born November 24, 1904 in Springfield, IL USA
- Died August 9, 2003 in Sterling Heights, MI USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Infielder Billy Rogell played 14 seasons in the big leagues, mostly for the Detroit Tigers. He appeared in two World Series. Rogell was in 1,235 games at shortstop, but also in 104 at third base and 78 at second base.
He came up originally at age 20 with the 1925 Red Sox. After being out of the majors in 1929, he came back in 1930 with the Tigers.
He was with St. Paul in 1929 and Montreal in 1940.
Rogell's New York Times obituary remembered him as Charlie Gehringer's double-play mate, and also as part of an infield that drove in 462 runs in 1934 - 139 for Hank Greenberg, 127 for Gehringer, 100 for Rogell and 96 for Marv Owen.
In a strange play in the 1934 World Series, a throw by Rogell knocked out baserunner Dizzy Dean who was pinch-running. It led to the quite possibly apochryphal headline "X-Rays of Dean's Head Revealed Nothing".
After his baseball days, states the Times, Rogell was on the Detroit City Council for 38 years.
[edit] Miscellany
Rogell was the last surviving player from the 1925 season.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1934)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1934)
- Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1935
