Billy Rogell
| Billy Rogell | |||
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| Shortstop | |||
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Born: November 24, 1904 Springfield, Illinois |
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Died: August 9, 2003 (aged 98) Sterling Heights, Michigan |
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| MLB debut | |||
| April 14, 1925, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| August 25, 1940, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .267 | ||
| Home runs | 42 | ||
| Runs batted in | 609 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William George "Billy" Rogell (November 24, 1904 – August 9, 2003) was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940. After his playing career, he spent 36 years as a member of the Detroit City Council.
Born in Springfield, Illinois, Rogell was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox prior to the 1925 campaign after two seasons in the Southwestern League. The Red Sox quickly tried to convert the switch-hitting Rogell into solely a right-handed batter, thinking that he would benefit from more appearances from the right side, hence more chances to drive balls off the Green Monster. “They just screwed me up for a couple years,” Rogell would say later.
He appeared in 58 games for the last-place Red Sox—49 at second base—while hitting .195 in 169 at-bats. He was sent back to the minors for more grooming during the 1926 season before being recalled by Boston for 1927.
Rogell played in 82 games, hitting .266 while splitting time between third and second. The Red Sox again finished in the cellar, losing 100 games for the third year in a row.
During the 1928 season he appeared in games at short, third, second, as well as all three outfield positions, and the Red Sox released him at the conclusion of the season.
Rogell played 1929 for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association, batting .336 and driving in 90 runs. Following the season, amid offers from a handful of teams, Rogell signed with the Detroit Tigers, where he would spend the next ten seasons.
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