Bullet Rogan

From BR Bullpen

Charles Wilber Rogan

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 7", Weight 160 lb.

Born July 28, 1889 in Oklahoma City, OK USA
Died March 4, 1967 in Kansas City, MO USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1998 BR page

[edit] Biographical Information

Bullet Rogan played for the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1938. He was one of the winningest pitchers in Negro Leagues history, as well as a top hitter, frequently playing an outfield position when not pitching. He started as a catcher with an amateur team in Kansas City, Kansas, and played every position except catcher in the pro leagues. He managed the Monarchs in the late 1920s, and umpired in Monarchs home games for years thereafter. Rogan was thought to be one of the first pitchers to work from a no-windup position.

Rogan also was a long-time California Winter League star. His 52 complete games is the CWL record and he ranks second in innings pitched and strikeouts (516 and 351 respectively, trailing only Satchel Paige in both categories). He is 5th with 5 shutouts and third with 42 wins (behind Paige and Chet Brewer).

Satchel Paige said this about Rogan in the book Blackball Stars: "Joe Rogan was one of the world's greatest pitchers. ...He was a chunky little guy, but he could throw hard. He could throw hard as Smokey Joe Williams-yeah."