Jesse Rogers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jesse Rogers |
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| Catcher/Outfielder | |||
| Born: February 16, 1934 Kansas City, Missouri |
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| Died: March 30, 2013 (aged 79) | |||
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Jesse James Rogers, Jr. (born February 16, 1934 – died March 20, 2013) was an American baseball player. He played in the Negro Leagues and Minor Leagues during the 1950s and 1960s. Rogers was known for his powerful hitting. He was nicknamed Mr. Long Ball because of his many home runs.
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Playing in the Negro Leagues
Jesse Rogers played as a catcher and an outfielder. He traveled and played games with the famous Kansas City Monarchs team in 1953 and 1954. This was part of the Negro Leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African American players.
His Minor League Baseball Career
Rogers spent seven years playing in the minor leagues. He played from 1953 to 1955, and then again from 1957 to 1960.
Starting with the New York Giants
He began his career in 1953 with the New York Giants organization. He played for the Class-D Oshkosh Giants. That year, he hit for a .276 batting average. He also hit 15 home runs in 124 games. Rogers was so good that he made the Wisconsin State League All-Star team.
Success with St. Cloud and Wilkes-Barre
In 1954, Rogers played for the Class-C St. Cloud Rox. He had an even better year, hitting .307 with 23 home runs in 128 games. He was named to the Northern League All-Star team. The next year, 1955, he hit .285 with 15 home runs. He played for the Class-A Wilkes-Barre Barons and Johnstown Johnnies, and also the Sioux City Sous.
Later Years in the Minor Leagues
After taking a break in 1956, Rogers signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1957. He played briefly for the Class-A Reading Indians. In 1958, he joined the Chicago Cubs organization. He hit .281 with 24 home runs in 128 games for the Class-A Pueblo Bruins.
In 1959, he played for the Class-A Lancaster Red Roses and the Triple-A Fort Worth Cats. He hit 18 home runs and had 64 runs batted in (RBI) that year. His final season was in 1960. He played for the Double-A San Antonio Missions, hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 90 RBI.
Overall, Jesse Rogers had a strong minor league career. He hit .280 with 784 hits and 118 home runs in his seven seasons.
About Jesse Rogers' Life
Jesse Rogers was born in Kansas City, Missouri. After his baseball career, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years. He retired from that job in 1989. Rogers married Winifred O. Barnett in 1955. They had five children together.
