Billy Rohr Stats

Billy Rohr was born on Sunday, July 1, 1945, in San Diego, California. Rohr was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 14, 1967, with the Boston Red Sox. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Billy Rohr baseball stats page.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"He (Foster Father Carl Rohr) saw the morning paper, and it showed Billy (Rohr) pitching to (Elston) Howard and his cap on the way off his head and onto the ground. 'That cap has been falling off ever since he was in the Little League. I don't know why, Billy never was sure. But he always did well when the cap was falling off, so I didn't ask too often about it.' A lot of kids say they want to get into the big leagues, and as long as the Rohrs can remember, Billy was talking big league. 'I never suggested that he do anything but stay in the game,' said the father. 'He was entitled to do what he wanted. He gave us a lot of joyful moments as a kid.'" - Staff Reporter Clif Keane in The Boston Globe (04/16/1967, Rohr 'Good Kid' Ever Since Adoption, Says Foster Father, Page 61)

Billy Rohr

Bill Rohr Autograph on a 1968 Topps Baseball Card (#314 | <a href='../baseball_cards/baseball_cards_oneset.php?s=1968top01' title='1968 Topps Baseball Card Checklist'>Checklist</a>)

Bill Rohr Autograph on a 1968 Topps Baseball Card (#314 | Checklist)

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Birth Name:   William Joseph Rohr
Nickname:   Bill or Billy
Born On:   07-01-1945  (Cancer)
Place of Birth Data Born In:   San Diego, California
Year of Death Data Died On:   Still Living (1,000 Oldest Living)
Place of Death Data Died In:   Still Living
Cemetery:   n/a
High School:   Bellflower High School (Bellflower, CA)
College:   None Attended
Batting Stances Chart Bats:   Left   Throwing Arms Chart Throws:   Left
Player Height Chart Height:   6-03   Player Weight Chart Weight:   170
First Game:   04-14-1967 (Age 21)
Last Game:   06-26-1968
Draft:   Not Applicable / Signing Bonus = $25,000

Billy Rohr

Billy Rohr Pitching Stats

1967 22 Red Sox 10 8 0 2 3 .400 5.10 2 1 0 42.1 195 43 24 27 4 22 2 16 3 2 0 -
1968 23 Indians 17 0 7 1 0 1.000 6.87 0 0 1 18.1 81 18 14 16 5 10 2 5 1 0 0 -
2 Years 27 8 7 3 3 .500 5.64 2 1 1 60.2 276 61 38 43 9 32 4 21 4 2 0 -

Billy Rohr

Billy Rohr Hitting Stats

1967 22 Red Sox 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 3 0 0 0 .000 .167 .000
1968 23 Indians 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
2 Years 27 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 3 0 0 0 .000 .154 .000

Billy Rohr

Billy Rohr Fielding Stats

1967 Red Sox P 10 8 127 9 0.9 8 1 7 1 0 n/a n/a n/a .889 1.70
1968 Indians P 17 0 55 6 0.4 5 1 4 1 0 n/a n/a n/a .833 2.45
P Totals 27 8 182 15 0.6 13 2 11 2 0 n/a n/a n/a .867 1.93
2 Years 27 8 182 15 0.6 13 2 11 2 0 n/a n/a n/a .867 1.93

Billy Rohr

Billy Rohr Miscellaneous Stats

1967 Red Sox 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.73 3.40 4.68
1968 Indians 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.50 2.45 4.91
2 Years 0 0 .000 0 0 n/a 0.0 2.8 0.0 0.66 3.12 4.75

Billy Rohr

Billy Rohr Miscellaneous Items of Interest

1967 Boston Red Sox 15 $9,000.00 - -
1968 Cleveland Indians 38 $11,000.00 - -

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William Joseph Rohr was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Boston Red Sox (1967) and Cleveland Indians (1968). Billy went 26-3 at Bellflower High School and was signed after graduating, their first lefty to make it to the majors! Do you know who was their first right-handed major league pitcher? [Answer]

Billy Rohr Cartoon

Billy Rohr Cartoon by Bill Gallo | The Daily News | April 15, 1967 | Page 28

Did you know that when Billy Rohr made the majors and took the mound in his very first game, on April 14, 1967, it was Opening Day in Yankee Stadium and the opposing pitcher was future hall of fame Whitey Ford -- appearing in his 432nd career game?

The stage was set, the actors were in place, but what happened next flipped the script - Rohr did not surrender a hit through eight innings - including an attempt to break up his no-hitter by sending up a pinch hitter named Mickey Mantle (who flied out to right field).

In the ninth inning, Rohr received a "little" help when Tom Tresh hit a fly ball to the outfield. Ken Coleman made the following call, "Fly ball, to deep left ...Yastrzemski is going hard ... way back ... way back ... and he dives and makes a tremendous catch! One of the greatest catches I've ever seen! ... Everybody in Yankee Stadium on their feet."

Joe Pepitone stepped to the plate next, swung hard at the following pitch, but flied out weakly to right field. Once again, the script was unique; the fans in Yankee Stadium cheered loudly for Rohr.

One out away from baseball history, Elston Howard at the plate. Rohr threw a pitch low and away, Howard swung - strike one. The crowd erupted in applause. Howard worked the count to 1-2 and Rohr threw a fastball across the plate, one that his catcher Russ Gibson called a perfect strike, but Cal Drummond (umpire) signaled ball. Frustrated, Rohr attempted to throw another low and away fastball, Howard watched it, the count was full.

Gibson and Rohr had only fed fastballs to Howard, and with a full count, he couldn't possibly expect a curveball. They were wrong, Howard looped it off then end of his bat, just enough to clear the leaping Reggie Smith.

Howard said after the game it was the first time he had been booed for getting a base hit in his own park! One pitch later, the 1-hitter was official as Charley Smith flied out to right field.

Billy Rohr Near No Hitter Debut

Billy Rohr | The Daily News | April 15, 1967 | Page 28

Billy Rohr met Jacqueline Kennedy and her son John-John in the club house after the game, received phone calls from Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, made an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and received a new contract ($8,000 to $9,000). It was, however, his real "15-Minutes of Fame" and he struggled soon after and was sent back to Triple-A.