Saul Rogovin – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Saul Rogovin pitched through eight seasons in Major League Baseball before he hung up his spikes in 1957. He left behind a perfectly balanced record that really sums up his career.

The Brooklyn-born right-hander threw for four different teams during his time in the majors. He played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Rogovin wrapped up his MLB career with exactly 48 wins and 48 losses, posting a 4.06 ERA across 152 games from 1949 to 1957. Fans probably remember him best for his 1951 season, when he led the American League with a 2.78 ERA while pitching for the White Sox. Manager Paul Richards, who really believed in him, played a big part in that.

But Rogovin’s story goes beyond the stats. He faced the challenges that so many players did in baseball’s golden era, from arm troubles to just trying to find his place. He started as a failed position player, became a league-leading pitcher, and then pulled off a surprising second act as a teacher. That journey says a lot about the pressures of professional baseball and what it takes to build a meaningful life after the game.

Early Life and Background

Saul Walter Rogovin was born on October 10, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York, to Jacob and Bessie Rogovin. His path from Brooklyn infielder to major league pitcher started at Abraham Lincoln High School.

He helped his high school team win the Public League title with a game-winning home run. That was probably the moment people started to notice him.

Family and Upbringing in Brooklyn

Saul grew up in Brooklyn during the 1920s and 1930s. Jacob and Bessie Rogovin raised him in a working-class neighborhood where baseball was everywhere.

The Rogovins lived through the Great Depression, which really shaped Saul’s ideas about hard work and sticking with things. Brooklyn had the Dodgers, so baseball was just part of daily life.

Young Saul found his love for the game in the streets and sandlots of Brooklyn. He spent hours practicing and working on his skills.

His family backed his athletic dreams, even though money was tight.

Education and Abraham Lincoln High School

Saul went to Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn and played as an infielder for the team. His talent stood out during those years.

The biggest moment came when he hit a game-winning home run to clinch the Public League title for his school. Scouts and coaches around the area took notice of his power hitting.

After graduation, Saul tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers in Georgia. They didn’t offer him a contract, so he had to look elsewhere to keep his baseball dreams alive.

Entry into Professional Baseball

Saul started his professional career with a Class D team in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He earned just $60 per month before the club folded.

In 1941, he worked on the assembly line at Brewster Aircraft and played for their plant team. That’s where Dolly Stark, a National League umpire, spotted him and told Giants manager Mel Ott to check him out.

At a tryout in Lakewood, New Jersey, Ott liked Saul’s power and signed him to Jersey City as an outfielder. He played just two games before the team sold him to Chattanooga of the Southern Association.

There, he played third base until coach Red Lucas suggested he try pitching. On the last day of the 1945 season, Saul pitched a four-hit shutout against the Birmingham Barons. That’s when he found his true spot on the mound.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Saul Rogovin pitched for eight seasons across four teams from 1949 to 1957. He finished with a 48-48 record and a 4.06 ERA.

His best stretch came with the Chicago White Sox, where he led the American League with a 2.78 ERA in 1951.

Debut with Detroit Tigers

Rogovin made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers on April 28, 1949, at age 27. That first game was rough—he lasted just 1.1 innings against the St. Louis Browns and gave up 4 hits and 3 earned runs.

The Tigers sent him back to Buffalo after only 5⅔ innings and a 14.29 ERA. But his solid work in the minors brought him back up.

1950 Season Performance:

• Record: 2-1
• ERA: 4.50
• Games: 11

He hit a grand slam homer in 1950, which was a big highlight for Detroit. Still, his pitching struggles and arm problems started after he pitched on a cold, damp night during spring training.

The Tigers grew tired of his inconsistency and eventually traded him. Manager Red Rolfe’s choice to leave Rogovin in during that cold exhibition game caused arm issues that stuck with him.

Chicago White Sox Years

Paul Richards, who had mentored Rogovin in Buffalo, picked him up from Detroit in 1951 for Bob Cain. That reunion worked out right away.

Richards managed Rogovin’s workload carefully, starting him every fifth day and keeping him out of the bullpen. Rogovin responded with a 2.78 ERA in 1951, leading the American League.

1951-1953 Statistics:

• 1951: 12-8 record, 2.78 ERA (AL leader)
• 1952: 14-9 record, 3.85 ERA
• 1953: 7-12 record, 5.22 ERA

In 1952, he pitched a 15-inning complete game and struck out 14 batters. Seven of his eight losses in 1951 were by one run, and the eighth by two runs.

His time with Chicago ended on a sour note after he got caught sleeping in the clubhouse during a big game against the Yankees. General manager Frank Lane traded him to Cincinnati on December 10, 1953.

Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles Tenure

After a tough stint with Cincinnati’s minor league team in Havana, Rogovin reunited with Paul Richards, now managing Baltimore. The Orioles signed him in 1955, but things didn’t last long.

He called his 10-inning complete game win over Washington “the best game I ever pitched,” but he only managed one win against eight losses. Baltimore released him in July 1955.

Final Years (1955-1957):

• Baltimore: 1-8 record, released mid-season
• Philadelphia: 5-3 record, 3.08 ERA (1955)
• Philadelphia: 4.96 ERA (1956-1957)

The Philadelphia Phillies picked him up after Baltimore let him go. He immediately shut out Cincinnati on July 20, 1955, and then tossed another shutout against the Cardinals.

Rogovin changed up his pitching style late in his career, adding a sinker and change-up since his fastball wasn’t what it used to be. “They can have the fastball,” he said, joking about his new approach.

He ended his major league run after four games with Philadelphia in 1957, closing out with exactly 48 wins and 48 losses.

Career Achievements and Highlights

Rogovin packed a lot into his eight seasons. That 1951 American League ERA title is probably his biggest achievement, but he also turned in some memorable performances with the Chicago White Sox.

American League ERA Title in 1951

Rogovin won the American League ERA crown in 1951 with a 2.78 earned run average. It was his first season with the Chicago White Sox after Detroit traded him.

That ERA title was the high point of his career. He went 12-8 for both teams combined. Seven of his eight losses were by just one run, and the last by two.

Paul Richards, his manager, played a huge part in that success. Richards limited Rogovin’s workload, starting him every fifth day and keeping him out of the bullpen.

Notable Games and Milestones

Rogovin put up some standout games that really showed off his pitching. In 1952, he threw a 16-inning complete game against the Boston Red Sox, striking out 14 batters.

He tossed multiple shutout wins for different teams. With the Phillies in 1955, he shut out the Cincinnati Reds on July 20, then came right back with another shutout against the Cardinals.

In 1956, he retired 32 straight batters over two games. He also hit a grand slam home run for Detroit in 1950, which is pretty rare for a pitcher.

Career Statistics and Records

Rogovin wrapped up his eight-year career with a perfectly balanced record. He posted 48 wins and 48 losses across 152 games, with a 4.06 ERA.

He pitched 802 innings in the majors. In those games, he threw 10 shutouts and racked up 388 strikeouts.

His best year was 1952, when he won 14 games and had a 3.85 ERA. Even with arm troubles, he stayed effective when healthy, especially during his Chicago years.

Retirement from Baseball and Legacy

Saul Rogovin’s baseball career ended in 1957 after arm problems and fewer opportunities led to his final demotion to the minors. He made a mark for Jewish representation in professional baseball during the 1950s.

Factors Leading to Retirement in 1957

Rogovin retired from professional baseball after setbacks piled up in his last seasons. In 1957, he pitched only four times for the Phillies before they sent him down to Miami.

His arm problems, which started after that cold spring training game, only got worse. The injuries made it tough for him to stay effective.

“I don’t blame the Phillies,” Rogovin said about his final demotion. “They have a bunch of promising kids who throw hard, but I never got a real chance.”

He showed some flashes with the Miami Marlins, but landed on the disabled list in August 1957. The team released him the next spring, and that was it for his pro career.

At 34, Rogovin finished his major league career with a 48-48 record and a 4.06 ERA. That ERA was just a bit below average for his era.

Impact on Jewish Baseball Community

Rogovin became a key figure in Jewish baseball history at a time when few Jewish players reached the majors. His eight-year run from 1949 to 1957 gave Jewish fans and young players someone to root for.

The New York Jewish Sports Hall of Fame honored him as a member. That recognized both his athletic achievements and his role as a Jewish athlete in pro sports.

His 1951 season with the White Sox was his crowning moment. Leading the American League with a 2.78 ERA, Rogovin became one of the few Jewish pitchers ever to top a major statistical category.

After baseball, Rogovin struggled with life outside the game. “Being out of baseball hurt me inside, hurt me so bad that I couldn’t go to a game for years,” he admitted to New York Times columnist Red Smith in 1979.

Later, he worked as an English teacher in Brooklyn high schools. Students often didn’t believe their middle-aged teacher had once pitched in the majors—at least, not until he showed them his baseball card.

Life After Baseball

Saul Rogovin struggled to find his place after he retired from professional baseball in 1957. At 51, he went back to school and earned a degree in English literature from City College of New York. That move sparked a teaching career that finally brought him the kind of fulfillment baseball never quite did.

Academic Pursuits at City College of New York

He spent years working as a liquor salesman, feeling lost without baseball. Then, at 51, Rogovin made a bold move and enrolled at Manhattan Community College in 1974. That was more than 30 years after he first tried college.

When he filled out his application, a dean told him he’d have to take a physical education course, even at his age. Rogovin just pulled out his baseball card and asked if his major league career could cover that requirement. The dean agreed, so that was settled.

After two years at Manhattan Community College, Rogovin transferred to City College of New York. He focused on English literature and earned his degree in 1979. That moment really marked a turning point for him after years of feeling the void left by his baseball days.

Teaching Career and Literary Contributions

Rogovin started teaching English at Hughes High School in New York in 1979. He later moved to Eastern District High School in Brooklyn.

His students didn’t believe their middle-aged teacher had played in the majors until he showed them his baseball card. That usually did the trick.

In his classroom, Rogovin taught works by several major American authors:

• Langston Hughes poetry
• John Steinbeck novels
• Ernest Hemingway short stories

“After I left the game there was a void, something empty I couldn’t fill, until I became a teacher,” Rogovin told the New York Daily News. He found joy in education, saying, “The kids make you young.”

He taught students from some tough Brooklyn neighborhoods. Rogovin never earned more than $17,500 a year as a player, but he found more satisfaction in teaching than he ever did with his 48-48 major league record.

Personal Life and Remembrance

Saul Walter Rogovin’s life after baseball had its share of personal struggles and ultimate triumph, especially through education and teaching.

His family life changed through two marriages. He died in 1995 after battling bone cancer.

Family and Personal Interests

Saul Rogovin was born to Jacob and Bessie Rogovin in Brooklyn. His parents supported his early baseball dreams while he attended Abraham Lincoln High School.

He married twice. His first marriage was to Doreen Lipsit on January 30, 1955, at Rodeph Shalom Temple in New York. The Sporting News covered the ceremony.

Later, he married his second wife, Evelyn, who called him “Saully.” She stayed by his side through his last years and illness.

After he retired from baseball, Rogovin struggled with depression for a while. Eventually, he found new purpose in education.

At 51, he returned to college after more than 30 years away from academics. He attended Manhattan Community College, then transferred to City College of New York.

There, he earned a degree in English literature, which set the stage for his second career as a teacher.

Passing and Tributes

In his later years, Saul Rogovin battled bone cancer. He passed away at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York on January 23, 1995, at 71.

Evelyn, his second wife, stayed with him during his struggle with the disease. The New York Times ran his obituary on January 26, 1995.

Rogovin left a mark on his students at Hughes High School and Eastern District High School in Brooklyn. He seemed to find real satisfaction teaching English literature to inner-city kids.

Sometimes, he’d pull out his old baseball bubble-gum card just to convince skeptical students that he really played in the majors. “The kids make you young,” he once said, and you can almost hear the fondness in his voice.

His story isn’t just about baseball, honestly. It’s about second chances, and how some former athletes manage to discover new purpose after their sports careers end.