Vic Roznovsky – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Victor Joseph “Vic” Roznovsky finished up his Major League Baseball career in 1969 after five seasons as a backup catcher. That marked the end of a journey that took him from small-town Texas all the way to the big leagues.

The 6-foot-1 catcher from Shiner, Texas, played his final 13 games with the Philadelphia Phillies that year. He closed out a career that spanned three teams and even included a World Series championship with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.

Roznovsky ended his career in 1969 at age 30, finishing with a .218 batting average, 4 home runs, and 38 RBIs in 205 games between 1964 and 1969.

His offensive numbers might look modest, but he made a difference behind the plate. He served as a reliable backup catcher and that really shaped his spot in baseball history.

Roznovsky threw out 42% of attempted base stealers, showing off his defensive skills. He kept a solid .988 fielding percentage throughout his time in the majors.

Vic Roznovsky’s story gives us a glimpse into the life of a journeyman player during baseball’s classic era. It’s a story about the dedication and grit you need to compete at the highest level.

From his debut against the Houston Colt 45s at Wrigley Field to his last season in Philadelphia, Roznovsky’s career reflects the experiences of countless players who made up the backbone of Major League Baseball in the 1960s.

Overview of Vic Roznovsky’s Baseball Career

Vic Roznovsky put together a five-year MLB career as a backup catcher from 1964 to 1969. He played for three teams and picked up a World Series ring with the Baltimore Orioles.

His journey from a tiny Texas town to the major leagues really showed his determination and versatility behind the plate.

Early MLB Years and Debut

Roznovsky made his MLB debut on June 28, 1964, with the Chicago Cubs at age 25. He pinch-hit for Ernie Broglio in the eighth inning against Houston, grounding out to second base in his first plate appearance.

The Cubs called him up from their AAA Salt Lake City team after starting catcher Jimmie Schaeffer broke his hand. Roznovsky had been hitting .284 in 44 games when he got the call.

He made his first major league start on July 8, 1964, in the second game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants. He picked up his first MLB hit in that game, a single to center field off Ron Herbel in the sixth inning.

Career Statistics with Chicago Cubs (1964-1965):

• Games: 99
• Batting Average: .221
• Home Runs: 3
• RBIs: 15

Roznovsky hit his first major league home run on May 9, 1965, against Houston’s Ken Johnson at Wrigley Field. That solo shot landed in the right-field bleachers during a Mother’s Day game that was televised back to Texas.

His career took a big turn in 1966 when the Baltimore Orioles traded outfielder Carl Warwick to get him. The Orioles needed help at catcher after Dick Brown’s brain tumor diagnosis.

Retirement and Legacy

Roznovsky’s best season came with the 1966 Baltimore Orioles, who won the World Series. He served as backup to Andy Etchebarren but played crucial games when injuries hit the starting catcher.

His biggest moment that year happened on August 26, when he hit a game-tying home run as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth against Boston. That dramatic shot off Lee Stange helped keep Baltimore’s championship run alive.

Final MLB Career Numbers:

• Games: 205
• Batting Average: .218
• Home Runs: 4
• RBIs: 38
• Teams: Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies

After short stints with Baltimore through 1967 and Philadelphia in 1969, Roznovsky left baseball. He moved on to the construction industry, working for his father-in-law’s home building company in central California.

Roznovsky eventually became president of the construction company and led the Fresno area’s Building Industry Association. He passed away on January 18, 2022, at age 83 in Fresno, California.

Teams Played For and Key Transitions

Vic Roznovsky played for three MLB teams during his six-year career from 1964 to 1969. He started with the Chicago Cubs, moved to the Baltimore Orioles where he won a World Series ring, and finished with the Philadelphia Phillies for his final season.

Chicago Cubs Years

Roznovsky made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs on June 28, 1964, against the Houston Colt 45s at Wrigley Field. He came in as a pinch hitter for Ernie Broglio and grounded out to second base in his first at-bat.

During his first season, he appeared in 35 games, mostly as a catcher and pinch hitter. The Cubs used him sparingly as they figured out his big league potential.

1965 was his most productive season with Chicago. Roznovsky played in 71 games, recording career highs in games played and at-bats with 172.

He hit 3 home runs that year and threw out 12 base runners trying to steal. The Cubs used a catching committee that season, with Chris Krug making 46 starts, Ed Bailey 45, Roznovsky 44, and Dick Bertell 19.

His first MLB home run came on Mother’s Day 1965. Roznovsky always said this was his favorite memory—his mom watched the game from Shiner, Texas, and couldn’t even speak through her tears when he called after the game.

Baltimore Orioles Tenure

The Cubs traded Roznovsky to the Baltimore Orioles for the 1966 season. He served as a backup catcher alongside Larry Haney, helping out primary catcher Andy Etchebarren.

The 1966 season turned out to be historic for Baltimore. The Orioles swept the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 to win their first World Series title.

Roznovsky didn’t play in the World Series games, but he stayed ready in his Orioles uniform throughout the postseason. He still earned a World Series ring as part of the championship squad.

In 1967, he appeared in 45 games for Baltimore in what became his last season in the majors with the Orioles. His playing time dropped as the team leaned more on their main catching rotation.

Roznovsky spent all of 1968 in the minors with the Rochester Red Wings, Baltimore’s Triple-A team. That demotion really signaled the end of his major league days.

Philadelphia Phillies and 1969 Season

The Orioles sent Roznovsky to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1969 season. This gave him one last shot at playing in the majors.

His time in Philadelphia was short and limited. He played in just 13 games during the 1969 season, mostly as a backup catcher.

The 1969 season marked the end of Roznovsky’s professional baseball career. At age 30, he retired after six seasons in the majors.

His final MLB stats included 205 games played, 99 hits, 4 home runs, and 38 RBIs with a .218 batting average. Behind the plate, he kept a .988 fielding percentage and threw out 36 base runners for a strong 42% caught stealing rate.

Playing Style and Contributions as Catcher

Vic Roznovsky made his mark as a reliable backup catcher with strong defensive skills and some clutch hitting sprinkled in. His throwing arm and game-calling made him valuable to three different teams during his five-year career.

Catching Skills and Role

Roznovsky built up his catching skills through years of practice and help from experienced coaches. While in the minors, he worked with Syd and Andy Cohen in El Paso. Syd Cohen taught him about pitch calling, and Andy Cohen improved his infield skills.

His throwing arm really stood out. Roznovsky said he “played long catch every day” with a school friend, and that helped him “develop a tremendous arm.” Scouts first noticed this at a Pittsburgh Pirates tryout camp in 1957.

Hank Sauer, a former Cubs standout, praised Roznovsky’s defense in 1964. He said, “Vic can out-catch and out-throw anybody on the Cubs right now.”

Roznovsky mostly served as a backup catcher. He appeared in 71 games during his best season with the Cubs in 1965. The Cubs rotated their catchers that year, with Roznovsky making 44 starts alongside Chris Krug, Ed Bailey, and Dick Bertell.

His most important role came with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966. When Andy Etchebarren got hurt, Roznovsky stepped in for regular duty. He played through pain, including a split fingernail and a bruised knuckle from a foul tip.

Notable Pinch-Hitting Appearances

Roznovsky had a few memorable pinch-hitting moments that showed he could deliver in clutch situations. His major league debut came as a pinch-hitter on June 28, 1964, when he batted for Ernie Broglio against Houston.

His most significant pinch-hit came on August 26, 1966, for the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore trailed Boston 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth. Manager Hank Bauer called on Roznovsky to pinch-hit with the count at one ball and two strikes.

Roznovsky lined Lee Stange’s pitch into the right-field seats for his first home run as an Oriole. That clutch hit helped spark a comeback that contributed to Baltimore’s World Series season.

The pinch-hit home run really showed Roznovsky’s ability to handle pressure. His willingness to step up in tough spots made him valuable to his managers.

Career Statistics and Noteworthy Achievements

Vic Roznovsky played five years in Major League Baseball and put up modest offensive numbers, but he displayed solid defensive skills behind the plate. His career batting average of .218 fits the mold of a defensive-minded catcher from the 1960s.

Batting Performance: Average, Home Runs, and RBI

Roznovsky posted a career batting average of .218 across 205 games with the Cubs, Orioles, and Phillies from 1964 to 1969. Offensively, he produced 99 hits, 4 home runs, and 38 RBIs over five seasons.

His best year with the bat came in 1965 with the Cubs. He hit .221 with 38 hits in 71 games. That season, he recorded 3 home runs and 15 RBIs—his peak power numbers.

Career Offensive Totals:

• Batting Average: .218
• Home Runs: 4
• RBIs: 38
• Hits: 99
• Runs Scored: 22

His WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for his career was -0.8, which points to overall below-average contribution. The negative WAR mostly reflected his limited offensive production, even though he held his own defensively.

Defensive Records and Fielding Metrics

Roznovsky brought most of his value through his defense as a catcher. He finished with a .988 career fielding percentage, which matched the league average for catchers of his time.

His defensive stats show he handled his job well behind the plate. Roznovsky caught 148 games in his career, racking up 652 putouts and 67 assists. His Total Zone rating of 2 suggested he was a bit above average defensively.

Key Defensive Statistics:

• Fielding Percentage: .988
• Games Caught: 148
• Putouts: 652
• Assists: 67
• Errors: 9

He threw out 36 of 85 base stealers (42.4%) during his career. That rate beat the league average of 38.2% for his era. His caught stealing percentage peaked at 60.0% during his rookie year with the Cubs in 1964.

Baseball Reference credits Roznovsky with solid game-calling abilities and pitcher management skills, even if those qualities don’t show up in the basic stats.

Highlights of the 1969 Season and Final Games

Vic Roznovsky wrapped up his Major League Baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies, playing just 13 games in what turned out to be his final season. He’d spent the previous year in the minors with the Orioles’ AAA affiliate, but things wound down quietly after that.

Role with Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies picked up Roznovsky in a trade before the 1969 season. He ended up serving as a backup catcher, which meant he didn’t see a lot of action.

Roznovsky played in only 13 games during the 1969 regular season. The team mostly kept him in a reserve spot behind their regular catchers.

He brought a veteran presence to the Phillies’ pitching staff, drawing on experience from his years with the Cubs and Orioles. Even though he didn’t play much, he still tried to make his time count.

His 1969 stats really showed that limited role. At 30 years old, Roznovsky’s appearances were scattered, and the Phillies used him only occasionally.

Transition to Retirement

After the 1969 season ended, the Phillies released Roznovsky. That move closed the book on his professional baseball journey, which had lasted parts of five big-league seasons.

He finished with 205 games played and a .218 batting average. Over his MLB years from 1964 to 1969, he hit 4 home runs and drove in 38 runs.

Defensively, Roznovsky kept a solid .988 fielding percentage behind the plate. He also threw out 42% of attempted base stealers, which is nothing to sneeze at for a catcher.

Growing up in Shiner, Texas, he made it all the way from small-town ball to the majors. Roznovsky’s career took him through three different organizations, and he even picked up a World Series ring with the 1966 Orioles.

Legacy and Remembrance in Baseball History

You can still find Vic Roznovsky’s name in baseball card collections and in the stories his old teammates tell. Most fans remember him best for his part on the 1966 World Champion Orioles—a pretty special highlight.

Recognition Among Baseball Collectors

Collectors still look for Roznovsky’s cards from his playing days. That 1968 Topps card in particular seems to be a favorite for folks who love 1960s baseball memorabilia.

His cards tend to be especially valuable for collectors who focus on Orioles championship teams. The tie to the 1966 World Series makes his memorabilia stand out compared to most backup catchers from that era.

Baseball Reference has all his career stats, showing his 205 MLB games with three different teams.

After Roznovsky passed away in January 2022, his autographed cards and photos—especially those from his Orioles days—became even more sought after by collectors.

Impact on Teams and Teammates

Roznovsky picked up a World Series ring with the 1966 Baltimore Orioles, even though he didn’t play in the championship series. He backed up Andy Etchebarren during that historic season, and honestly, that’s no small feat.

His teammates talk about him as a dedicated player who really understood his place on the roster. Roznovsky got to share the field with some absolute legends, like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Frank Robinson, and Brooks Robinson.

When he talked to young players, Roznovsky always emphasized hard work and sticking with it. He told them to learn every pitcher’s strengths and to build up strong throwing skills.

He nailed a 42% caught stealing percentage, which says a lot about how he handled himself behind the plate. With a .988 fielding percentage, he stayed consistent in his backup catcher role, no matter which MLB team he played for.