2/26: Preacher Roe & Vic Janowicz...
- 1916 - LHP Elwin “Preacher” Roe was born in Ash Flat, Arizona. Preacher worked early in his career with the Pirates from 1944-47, where he was 34-47/3.73. He started off with two strong years, but an off season fractured skull in 1945 was followed by a pair off poor campaigns. Preacher was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers and bloomed (a spitter added to his arsenal helped him mightily), earning four All-Star berths and pitching in three different World Series.
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| Preacher Roe via Pirates |
- 1930 - C/3B Vic Janowicz was born in Elyria, Ohio. A gridiron All-America and Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State, Janowicz passed on football to sign for $75K as a bonus baby with the Bucs. He hit only .214 over two seasons (1953-54) as a bench player. He returned to football late in the 1954 season with the Washington Redskins, and was their starting halfback in 1955. An automobile accident in 1956 ended his athletic career.
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| Vic Janowicz via ESPN |
Re: Preacher Rowe, did you mean he added a spitball or a split finger pitch? I thought Burleigh Grimes was the last legal spitballer and that he retired in the 30s?
ReplyDeleteRe: Preacher Rowe, did you mean he added a spitball or a split finger pitch? I thought Burleigh Grimes was the last legal spitballer and that he retired in the 30s?
ReplyDeleteLOL, Will - who said he threw it legally? There are still scuffers and spitters tossing the horsehide.
ReplyDeleteWhat??! :-D I well remember the notorious scuff-baller Rick Rhoden. I always thought he was a more than good enough pitcher (and hitter) that he didn't have to do that, but I guess some guys always want to have an edge, legal or not. And of course baseball has a long history of cheating, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteAnything for that edge, I guess. And a lot of the fringe things get a nod and a wink, so...
ReplyDelete