Dave Rozema | |||
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Rozema in 1985 while a member of the Texas Rangers
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Pitcher | |||
Born: Grand Rapids, Michigan |
August 5, 1956 |||
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MLB debut | |||
April 11, 1977, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
April 30, 1986, for the Texas Rangers | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win-Loss record | 60-53 | ||
Earned run average | 3.47 | ||
Strikeouts | 448 | ||
Teams | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
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David Scott Rozema [rose'-muh] (born August 5, 1956) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1977 through 1986 for the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers. Listed at 6' 4", 185 lb., Rozema batted and threw right handed. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
'Rosey', as he was nicknamed, was originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 22nd round of the 1974 MLB Draft, but he decided to stay at school. He then played for Grand Rapids Community College in 1974 and was drafted in January 1975 by the Detroit Tigers.
In 1976, Rozema played for the Montgomery Rebels in the Tigers' farm system and led the Southern League pitchers with a 1.57 earned run average. The Rebels were 86-51 in 1976 and won the league championship.
Rozema debuted in the major leagues at age 20 with the Detroit Tigers in 1977. On April 21, he shut out the Boston Red Sox, 8–0, for his first major league win. He finished his rookie season with a 15-7 record and a 3.09 ERA, ending eighth in the voting for the American League Cy Young Award, while ranking third in the league in winning percentage (.682), fifth in adjusted ERA+ (138), sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.71) and eight in complete games (16).
That season, Rozema finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Baltimore Orioles' Eddie Murray, being selected by The Sporting News as the Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Besides, Rozema formed part of a distinguished group of rookies with the 1977 Tigers that included Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Lance Parrish and Steve Kemp.