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preacher roe died:(

Elwin Charles Roe (born February 26, 1916 – November 9, 2008) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Dodgers from 1938-1954. He posted an exceptional 22-3 won-loss record for the Dodgers in 1951. Roe's overall career statistics were hurt by the fact that he was away from baseball during World War II and that he pitched for the Pirates at a time when they were the worst team in the National League. Contrasting the fielding of the Dodgers and the Pirates, he once said that a pitcher should pay to pitch for the Dodgers, whereas the Pirate's second baseman and shortstop were like goalposts with the ball bouncing between them.

Ralph Kiner, he said, stood in a hole in the outfield. He caught balls hit to his hole but otherwise did not field. One can get a great flavor of 'Ole Preach', as he was called, by reading Roger Kahn's famous book The Boys of Summer.

Roe was an exceptional pitcher, but notorious as a poor hitter. In 1953, he hit a home run at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, causing fans to roar in surprise and delight. Dodger broadcaster Red Barber told his radio audience, "Well, old Number 28 has hit a home run, and we'll never hear the end of it, folks!"

After being taken out of a game in the second inning, Roe commented that, "Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you."

Preacher was still pitching in the majors at age 39, unusual at the time. When asked to explain his longevity, he replied "Clean livin' and the spitball." In 1955 after his retirement he appeared on Sports Illustrated and showed the kids of America how to throw a spitball.

Preacher Roe lived in West Plains, Missouri, where for many years he operated a small grocery store and also has a street named after him (Preacher Roe Boulevard), which included US 160 north of the US 63 bypass until the city rerouted US 160 and Route 17 around 2000. US 160 still runs as Preacher Roe Boulevard south of US 63.

A community ball field in Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas, 18 miles from Roe's birthplace of Ash Flat, is known as Preacher Roe Park.

The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings (2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine. Roe is prominent in many of these stories.

Roe passed away November 9, 2008 after a battle with colon cancer.






Preacher Roe was 92.
was a great guy and a great signer
rip preacherman




Comments

  • rube26105rube26105 Posts: 10,225 ✭✭
    imageimage
    my 52 from earlier
  • julen23julen23 Posts: 4,558 ✭✭
    classic name...

    unforgettable

    j
    image
    RIP GURU
  • jimradjimrad Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭
    Gone not forgotten.
    Positive transactions with: Bkritz,Bosox1976,Brick,captainthreeputt,cpettimd,craigger,cwazzy,DES1984,Dboneesq,daddymc,Downtown1974,EAsports,EagleEyeKid,fattymacs,gameusedhoop,godblessUSA,goose3,KatsCards,mike22y2k,
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  • baseballfanbaseballfan Posts: 5,487 ✭✭✭
    RIP

    i really wish i could have seen da bums play, if i could go back in time it would be from 50-58 to watch baseball, and buy baseball cards!!
    Fred

    collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.

    looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started

  • Mr. Roe was a great man. I had dinner with him in 2001, at Shoneys, in West Plains, Missouri. He was not a rich man moneywise, but he sure had some great baseball stories to share. We lost another one of the good ole' boys. He was a pretty darn good pitcher, too. R.I.P. Mr. Roe.
  • joestalinjoestalin Posts: 12,473 ✭✭
    One of the more popular players in the set pictured below. RIP.

    Kevin
  • When I started collecting as a kid in the late 70s, my dad used to give me $5-$10 bucks when I went to the small local card shows. After one show, he asked me what players I got. I listed off the typical Yaz, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn type stuff, then I said I got a Preacher Roe card (a '51 Bowman I'm pretty sure.) He was astonished, I think, that Roe even had a card, let alone that a little kid would want to buy one in the late 70s. A good memory from collecting as a youngster.
    #10 PSA Set for Topps Baseball currently on eBay under seller deeppurple1.
  • julen23julen23 Posts: 4,558 ✭✭
    e-prune,

    is your title a reference to Lysergic acid diethylamide?

    just wondering, b/c i have had electric nacho chips & electric sugar cubes....

    and loved life.

    j
    image
    RIP GURU
  • RonBurgundyRonBurgundy Posts: 5,491 ✭✭✭
    rip
    Ron Burgundy

    Buying Vintage, all sports.
    Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items


  • << <i>e-prune,

    is your title a reference to Lysergic acid diethylamide?

    just wondering, b/c i have had electric nacho chips & electric sugar cubes....

    and loved life.

    j >>



    No, nothing quite that interesting. The Electric Prunes were a psychadelic band from the mid to late 60s.
    #10 PSA Set for Topps Baseball currently on eBay under seller deeppurple1.
  • i always loved his 52 topps card...never knew the guy though.
    my t-205's


    looking for low grade t205's psa 1-2
  • fiveninerfiveniner Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭
    image

    R.I.P One of legends of Boys Of Summer.
    Tony(AN ANGEL WATCHES OVER ME)
  • NugenNugen Posts: 107 ✭✭
    I am currently reading Boys of Summer and will have to go tothat chapter tonight. RIP Preach
  • Preacher Roe is the reason that I started collecting Brooklyn Dodger cards. I work with one of his cousins who knew I liked baseball and recommended Boys of Summer to me. Here are a couple of my Preacher items:
    image
    image
    image
    image

    This one is an original George Burke photo (very similar to the autoed piece but slightly different and original):
    image

    R.I.P. Preacher. image

    Chris
    Chris
    My small collection
    Want List:
    '61 Topps Roy Campanella in PSA 5-7
    Cardinal T206 cards
    Adam Wainwright GU Jersey
  • bman90278bman90278 Posts: 3,453 ✭✭✭
    May he rest in peace and our Lord bring him to eternal life. Looks like he lived a long life and he certainly grew up in an era where he saw a great deal of change in his life and in the world.

    Brian
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