Phil Roof
Encyclopedia
Phillip Anthony Roof is an American
former professional
baseball
player, coach
and minor league manager
. He played for 15 seasons as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
in and from to , most notably for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics
and the Minnesota Twins
. Although Roof was a relatively weak hitter, he sustained a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities.
as an amateur free agent on May 26, 1959
. After playing for two seasons in the minor leagues
, he made his major league debut with the Braves on April 29, 1961
at the age of 20. However, after appearing in only one game, he was returned to the minor leagues. Roof appeared in one more game for the Braves in 1964
before being traded to the California Angels at the end of the season. He played in 9 games for the Angels in 1965
when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in June of that year. In December, the Indians traded Roof along with Joe Rudi
to the Kansas City Athletics for Jim Landis
and Jim Rittwage
.
Roof became the Athletics starting catcher in 1966
, posting career-highs in games played (127), hits (77), doubles (14) and runs batted in (44). He appeared in 114 games in 1967
, but only managed a .205 batting average
. Athletics' team owner Charlie Finley moved the franchise west to Oakland, California for the 1968
season, during which Roof was replaced by Dave Duncan
as the starting catcher. When Duncan failed to produce offensively, Roof returned to catch in 107 games during the 1969
season, helping the Athletics to finish in second place in the American League West
.
In January 1970
, Roof was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
for the team's inaugural season in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after spending its first year of existence as the Seattle Pilots. Roof played as their starting catcher, appearing in 110 games and posting a .227 batting average. The Brewers traded him to the Minnesota Twins
in June 1971
where he became a backup catcher. He recorded his highest batting average in 1975
, hitting for a .302 average in 63 games. In 1977
, Roof became the first player signed by the Toronto Blue Jays
for their inaugural season. He played in his final major league game on May 30, 1977 at the age of 36.
, accumulating 463 hits
in 2,151 at bats for a .215 career batting average along with 43 home run
s, 210 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .283. He ended his career with a .986 fielding percentage
. Roof was a good defensive player with a strong throwing arm, finishing second among American League
catchers in caught stealing
percentage in with a 48.8% success rate.
for the San Diego Padres
(1978), Seattle Mariners
(1983–88) and Chicago Cubs
(1990–91). He managed for 16 years in the Twins organization and won his 1000th game as a manager in before his retirement in .
Roof served as bullpen coach
for the Minnesota Twins
during spring training
and the first month of the 2011 season
while Rick Stelmaszek
was recovering from eye surgery. He is the brother of former major league outfielder
Gene Roof
and the cousin of former major league outfielder and manager Eddie Haas
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and minor league manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. He played for 15 seasons 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...
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...
in and from to , most notably for the Kansas City/Oakland 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....
and the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Although Roof was a relatively weak hitter, he sustained a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities.
Baseball career
Roof was signed by the Milwaukee BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as an amateur free agent on May 26, 1959
1959 Milwaukee Braves season
The 1959 Milwaukee Braves season was the seventh season for the franchise in Milwaukee and its 84th season overall. The Braves ended the National League regular season in a first-place tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers. With both clubs finishing with records of 86-68, a special best-of-three...
. After playing for two seasons in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, he made his major league debut with the Braves on April 29, 1961
1961 Milwaukee Braves season
- Offseason :* October 14, 1960: Red Schoendienst was released by the Braves.* October 14, 1960: Stan Lopata was released by the Braves.* December 3, 1960: Billy Martin was purchased by the Braves from the Cincinnati Reds....
at the age of 20. However, after appearing in only one game, he was returned to the minor leagues. Roof appeared in one more game for the Braves in 1964
1964 Milwaukee Braves season
The Milwaukee Braves season was the team's 12th and penultimate season for the franchise in Milwaukee. The fifth-place Braves finished with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses, five games behind the National League and World Series Champion St...
before being traded to the California Angels at the end of the season. He played in 9 games for the Angels in 1965
1965 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing 7th in the American League with a record of 75 wins and 87 losses, putting them 27 games behind the AL Champion Minnesota Twins...
when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in June of that year. In December, the Indians traded Roof along with Joe Rudi
Joe Rudi
Joseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
to the Kansas City Athletics for Jim Landis
Jim Landis
James Henry Landis is a retired American baseball player. Landis was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1952 shortly after graduating from Richmond High School...
and Jim Rittwage
Jim Rittwage
James Michael Rittwage is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for one season. He pitched for the Cleveland Indians for eight games during the 1970 Cleveland Indians season.-External links:...
.
Roof became the Athletics starting catcher in 1966
1966 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season involved the A's finishing 7th in the American League with a record of 74 wins and 86 losses. Paid attendance for the season was 773,929...
, posting career-highs in games played (127), hits (77), doubles (14) and runs batted in (44). He appeared in 114 games in 1967
1967 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season involved the A's finishing 10th in the American League with a record of 62 wins and 99 losses. This was the franchise's 13th and final season in Kansas City. After the season, the team relocated from Kansas City to Oakland. The paid attendance for the season was...
, but only managed a .205 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. Athletics' team owner Charlie Finley moved the franchise west to Oakland, California for the 1968
1968 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season was the team's first season in Oakland, following their relocation from Kansas City. Their first season in the Bay Area involved the A's finishing sixth in the American League with a record of 82 wins and 80 losses, 21 games behind the eventual World Series champion...
season, during which Roof was replaced by Dave Duncan
Dave Duncan (baseball)
David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball player and current pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
as the starting catcher. When Duncan failed to produce offensively, Roof returned to catch in 107 games during the 1969
1969 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's compiling a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. With its expansion to 12 teams in 1969, the American League had been divided into two 6-team divisions. In their first year in the newly-established American League West, the Athletics finished second, nine...
season, helping the Athletics to finish in second place in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
.
In January 1970
1970 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fourth in the American League West with a record of 65 wins and 97 losses, 33 games behind the Minnesota Twins...
, Roof was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for the team's inaugural season in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after spending its first year of existence as the Seattle Pilots. Roof played as their starting catcher, appearing in 110 games and posting a .227 batting average. The Brewers traded him to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in June 1971
1971 Minnesota Twins season
The 1971 Minnesota Twins finished 74-86, fifth in the American League West. 940,858 fans attended Twins games, the fifth highest total in the American League, the first time the Twins failed to attract over one million fans since moving to Minnesota....
where he became a backup catcher. He recorded his highest batting average in 1975
1975 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins finished 76-83, fourth in the American League West.-Offseason:* October 23, 1974: Pat Bourque was traded by the Twins to the Oakland Athletics for Dan Ford and Dennis Myers ....
, hitting for a .302 average in 63 games. In 1977
1977 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 1977 Toronto Blue Jays season was the first year of Major League Baseball played by the Toronto-based expansion franchise. The Blue Jays finished 7th in the American League East with a record of 54 wins and 107 losses.- Offseason :...
, Roof became the first player signed by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for their inaugural season. He played in his final major league game on May 30, 1977 at the age of 36.
Career statistics
In a fifteen-year major league career, Roof played in 857 gamesGames 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,...
, accumulating 463 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 2,151 at bats for a .215 career batting average along with 43 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, 210 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .283. He ended his career with a .986 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Roof was a good defensive player with a strong throwing arm, finishing second among 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...
catchers in caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage in with a 48.8% success rate.
Coaching and managing career
Roof also served as bullpen coachCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(1978), Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1983–88) and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1990–91). He managed for 16 years in the Twins organization and won his 1000th game as a manager in before his retirement in .
Roof served as bullpen coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and the first month of the 2011 season
2011 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins season was the 51st season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 111th overall in the American League. The team drew 3,168,107 fans during the year...
while Rick Stelmaszek
Rick Stelmaszek
Richard Francis Stelmaszek is a former Major League Baseball catcher, and the current bullpen coach for the Minnesota Twins....
was recovering from eye surgery. He is the brother of former major league outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Gene Roof
Gene Roof
Eugene Lawrence Roof is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the 12th round of the 1976 amateur draft...
and the cousin of former major league outfielder and manager Eddie Haas
Eddie Haas
George Edwin Haas is a former outfielder, coach, manager and scout in American Major League Baseball. Haas spent many years as a skipper in the farm system of the Atlanta Braves and replaced Joe Torre as Atlanta’s manager after the 1984 season...
.