Top Tigers: #96 Billy Rogell
By Blake VandeBunte • Dec 11th, 2008 • Category: Billy Rogell, Top 100 Tigers- Rank: 96
- Name: William George Rogell
- Tigers Tenure: 1930-1939
- Awards: None.
- Best Season: 1934. Rogell drove in 100 runs while hitting only three homers as he helped lead the Tigers to the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Rogell got to those 100 RBI while hitting only three homers for the entire season. He was great at getting on base, walking 74 times in addition to his 175 hits. He added 8 triples and 13 stolen bases. He also scored 114 runs one of the better marks in franchise history.
- Good Stuff: That 1934 season was something special for both Rogell and the Tigers. While he did put up some pretty decent offensive numbers, he was known more for his glove. Rogell was the Tigers shortstop for nearly his entire tenure and formed a very slick double play combo with Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer. Rogell would go on to spend 36 years as a member of the Detroit City Council. He died in the Detroit area in 2003 at the age of 98.
- Bad Stuff: Rogell had some good offensive seasons, but he really only stuck around because of his glove. In his 10 seasons with the Tigers, his OPS+ was over the 100 mark only twice. In fairness to Rogell, shorstop was not an offensive position in the 1930s like it is now. He was also primarily a singles hitter.
- Place In Tigers History: Rogell was a part of the 1935 World Champion Tigers and started at short for the entire season. I had to check this out as well: Only 11 players in baseball history managed to drive in at least 100 runs while hitting three or fewer home runs. Billy Rogell is in that exclusive club along with fellow Tiger, Bobby Veach.
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