Jack Rothrock
Encyclopedia
John Huston Rothrock was a utility player
in Major League Baseball
who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5'11", 165 lb., Rothrock was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. He was born in Long Beach, California
.
Rothrock was a line drive
hitter and aggressive baserunner. He entered the majors in 1925 with the Boston Red Sox
, playing for them through the 1932 midseason before joining the Chicago White Sox
(1932), St. Louis Cardinals
(1934–1935) and Philadelphia Athletics
(1935, 1937). In 1927 was considered in the American League MVP
vote, then in 1928 played all nine positions, plus pinch-hitting
and pinch-running
duties. He became just the second American League
player ever to play all nine positions in one season.
Rothrock hit a career-high .300 with 23 stolen base
s for the 1929 Red Sox, then in 1933 hit .278 with 39 extra-base hits and a .343 on-base percentage. His most productive season came with the 1934 National League
champions Cardinals, when he posted career-numbers in home run
s (11), runs
(106), and RBI
(72), while hitting .284 with a .336 OBP and leading the league with 154 games played
. He also led the victorious Cardinals with six RBI in the 1934 World Series
.
In an 11-season career, Rothrock was a .276 hitter (924-for-3350) with 28 home runs and 327 RBI in 1014 games, including 498 runs, 162 doubles
, 35 triples
, 75 stolen bases, and a .336 OBP. In 868 fielding appearances, he played at center field (194), left field (138), right field (311), shortstop
(78), second base (63), third base
(48) and first base (38), as well as a catcher
(1) and pitcher
(1).
Rothrock died at the age of 74 in San Bernardino, California
.
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5'11", 165 lb., Rothrock was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. He was born in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
.
Rothrock was a line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
hitter and aggressive baserunner. He entered the majors in 1925 with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, playing for them through the 1932 midseason before joining the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1932), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1934–1935) and Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1935, 1937). In 1927 was considered in the American League MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
vote, then in 1928 played all nine positions, plus pinch-hitting
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
and pinch-running
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
duties. He became just the second American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
player ever to play all nine positions in one season.
Rothrock hit a career-high .300 with 23 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s for the 1929 Red Sox, then in 1933 hit .278 with 39 extra-base hits and a .343 on-base percentage. His most productive season came with the 1934 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
champions Cardinals, when he posted career-numbers in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (11), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(106), and RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(72), while hitting .284 with a .336 OBP and leading the league with 154 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. He also led the victorious Cardinals with six RBI in the 1934 World Series
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
.
In an 11-season career, Rothrock was a .276 hitter (924-for-3350) with 28 home runs and 327 RBI in 1014 games, including 498 runs, 162 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 35 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 75 stolen bases, and a .336 OBP. In 868 fielding appearances, he played at center field (194), left field (138), right field (311), shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
(78), second base (63), third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
(48) and first base (38), as well as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
(1) and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
(1).
Rothrock died at the age of 74 in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
.