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STEVE LEEThe former New Port Richey retiree played in the slugging infield of the Detroit Tigers in 1930s.
William G. "Billy" Rogell, the last surviving member of the Detroit Tigers' famed "Infield of Dreams", died Saturday of pneumonia.
Theformer New Port Richey retiree, who passed away in a Michigan nursing home, was 98.
Rogell, a shortstop, led the Tigers to the 1934 World Series by teaming with first baseman Hank Greenberg, second baseman Charlie Gehringer and third baseman Marv Owen to combine for 462 runs batted in.
"That was his most proud accomplishment in baseball, to be a part of that," Rogell's stepson Tom Schlarman said Monday.
Rogell played the last month of that season with a broken ankle. In the 1934 World Series, in which Detroit lost to the Cardinals, he beaned Dizzy Dean with the ball while trying to turn a double play, knocking him out cold.
"You had to play tough in those days," Schlarman said.
Several years ago, Rogell gave Schlarman his American League championship ring from that season. He always wore that ring, Schlarman said, not the 1935 World Series ring that commemorated Detroit's victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Rogell, who lived in the Gulf Harbors area of New Port Richey from 1980 until 1999 before relocating to Sterling Heights, Mich., also served on the Detroit City Council for 38 years and was instrumental in the Detroit Metropolitan Airport being built. The primary airport road and a golf course in Detroit are named after Rogell.
"He was hardnosed as a ballplayer and as a politician," Schlarman said.
Born Nov. 24, 1904, in Springfield, Ill., Rogell grew up as an orphan on the south side of Chicago in the 1910s. His major league career spanned 15 seasons, including stints with the Boston Red Sox (1925-28), Tigers (1930-39) and Chicago White Sox (1940).
He finished his career with a .267 average, 42 home runs and 609 RBIs.
Rogell is survived by his wife, Vera; son Robert, daughters Cindy Dumser and Carol Young; stepson Tom Schlarman, brother Edward Rogell; and half-sister Dorothy Hawker.