Roger Freed
Encyclopedia
Roger Vernon Freed was a Major League Baseball
outfielder and pinch hitter
. He played all or part of eight seasons between and for five different major league teams.
in and played in their farm system for five years. In 1970, he was voted the Most Valuable Player
in the International League
while playing for the Rochester Red Wings
, earning his first major league call-up in September. Freed went 2-for-13 in four games with one RBI. Freed was thought of highly enough that offseason to be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
for starting pitcher Grant Jackson and two other players,
. Over the course of the season, however, he slowly saw less and less playing time, and he would up playing 100 games that season, batting .221. That would be the closest Freed ever came to being a major league regular.
Freed spent coming off the bench as a pinch hitter. Freed did appear in more games in right field for the Phillies than anyone else, but his total was only 45 games as the Phillies rotated Tommy Hutton
, Mike Anderson, Oscar Gamble
and Bill Robinson through the position as well. That winter, the Phillies shipped Freed and Gamble off to the Cleveland Indians
for another outfielder, Del Unser
.
for pitcher Steve Blateric
. He played in six games for the Reds in , and then had his contract sold to the Sultanes de Monterrey in the Mexican League
.
He played in Mexico for all of , but resurfaced with the Montreal Expos
in . Playing for the Denver Bears, he received his second minor league MVP award, this time in the American Association
. Once again, a minor league MVP would earn Freed a September call-up, and Freed appeared in eight games in September for the Expos, going 3-for-15. At the end of the season, he was once again sent back to the minors, but in December he was rescued by the St. Louis Cardinals
, who selected him in the rule 5 draft
.
On the last day of the season, his average was .402, and he could have sat on the bench that last day and kept his average above the magical mark. However, the Cardinals were down 6-3 against the New York Mets
going in the 9th, and had put a rally together. A double by Mike Tyson
, a walk by Mike Anderson, and a single by Mike Phillips
had brought the Cardinals to within 6-4 with one out. The Mets removed pitcher Paul Siebert
and replaced him with Rick Baldwin
, and Baldwin was able to get Mike Potter
to fly out. The Cardinals' pitcher, Al Hrabosky
was due up, and Freed was called upon to pinch hit. Unfortunately, Freed grounded into a force play, and ended both the game and his chance at .400, winding up with an average of .398.
7-6 on May 1, 1979.
Freed was released during spring training in . He was signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies, but he never played in the major leagues again.
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...
outfielder and pinch hitter
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...
. He played all or part of eight seasons between and for five different major league teams.
Orioles
Freed was originally signed by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in and played in their farm system for five years. In 1970, he was voted the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
while playing for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, earning his first major league call-up in September. Freed went 2-for-13 in four games with one RBI. Freed was thought of highly enough that offseason to be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for starting pitcher Grant Jackson and two other players,
Phillies
In , the Phillies installed Freed as their regular right fielderRight fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. Over the course of the season, however, he slowly saw less and less playing time, and he would up playing 100 games that season, batting .221. That would be the closest Freed ever came to being a major league regular.
Freed spent coming off the bench as a pinch hitter. Freed did appear in more games in right field for the Phillies than anyone else, but his total was only 45 games as the Phillies rotated Tommy Hutton
Tommy Hutton
Thomas George Hutton is a former Major League Baseball player and is currently the color analyst for Miami Marlins baseball broadcasts on FSN Florida and Sun Sports - a position he has held since the 1997 season...
, Mike Anderson, Oscar Gamble
Oscar Gamble
Oscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...
and Bill Robinson through the position as well. That winter, the Phillies shipped Freed and Gamble off to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for another outfielder, Del Unser
Del Unser
Delbert Bernard Unser is a retired Major League Baseball center fielder and utility player who had a 15-year career from 1968 to 1982. Unser played for the Washington Senators from 1968 to 1971 and the Cleveland Indians in 1972...
.
Back in the minors
Freed never played a game for the Indians, spending all of in the minors. He was then traded to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for pitcher Steve Blateric
Steve Blateric
Stephen Lawrence Blateric is a retired professional baseball player who played three seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and California Angels of Major League Baseball.-External links:...
. He played in six games for the Reds in , and then had his contract sold to the Sultanes de Monterrey in the Mexican League
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol
The Mexican League is a summer minor league baseball league with teams based across Mexico. Along with the International League and the Pacific Coast League, it is one of three leagues playing at the triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It is the only Minor League...
.
He played in Mexico for all of , but resurfaced with the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
in . Playing for the Denver Bears, he received his second minor league MVP award, this time in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. Once again, a minor league MVP would earn Freed a September call-up, and Freed appeared in eight games in September for the Expos, going 3-for-15. At the end of the season, he was once again sent back to the minors, but in December he was rescued by the 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...
, who selected him in the rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
.400 -- almost
proved to be a special year for Freed. Although he played in only 49 games, Freed became a popular player in St. Louis as he came through with a series of clutch pinch hits, and as the end of the season drew near he was in the rarified air of a batting average over .400.On the last day of the season, his average was .402, and he could have sat on the bench that last day and kept his average above the magical mark. However, the Cardinals were down 6-3 against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
going in the 9th, and had put a rally together. A double by Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson (baseball)
Michael Ray Tyson , is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. He played in the majors from to for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs....
, a walk by Mike Anderson, and a single by Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips (baseball)
Michael Dwaine Phillips , is a veteran of professional baseball who played shortstop, second base, and third base in the majors from 1973-1983. The first-round draft choice of the San Francisco Giants in 1969, he saw action for the Giants, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and...
had brought the Cardinals to within 6-4 with one out. The Mets removed pitcher Paul Siebert
Paul Siebert
Paul Edward Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of five seasons in the majors, from until . Paul's father was former major league first baseman Dick Siebert....
and replaced him with Rick Baldwin
Rick Baldwin (baseball)
Rickey Alan Baldwin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed. In his three-season career, he played for the New York Mets ....
, and Baldwin was able to get Mike Potter
Mike Potter (baseball)
Michael Gary Potter is a former right-handed major league baseball outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals....
to fly out. The Cardinals' pitcher, Al Hrabosky
Al Hrabosky
Alan Thomas "Al" Hrabosky is a former Major League Baseball player from - for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves and is currently the color commentator on Cardinals regular season broadcasts on FSN Midwest...
was due up, and Freed was called upon to pinch hit. Unfortunately, Freed grounded into a force play, and ended both the game and his chance at .400, winding up with an average of .398.
Remaining career
Freed spent two more seasons with the Cardinals. In , he had 20 RBI in just 92 at bats, but his batting average had sunk to .239. Freed had another disappointing season in , although he did have one memorable moment, hitting a two-out, game-ending grand slam homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
7-6 on May 1, 1979.
Freed was released during spring training in . He was signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies, but he never played in the major leagues again.