Wally Roettger
Born: 8/28/1902 in St. Louis, MO, USA
Died: 9/14/1951 in Champaign, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1927-05-01 | Final Game: 1934-09-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Walter Henry Roettger
Biography
Wally Roettger was a versatile position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1927 to 1934. Born in 1902, he made a name for himself during a period marked by the transition from the deadball era into a more offense-driven style of play. Over the course of his career, Roettger appeared in 599 games, showcasing his skills primarily as an outfielder. He finished with a commendable batting average of .285, amassing 556 hits, including 19 home runs, and drove in 245 RBIs. His ability to get on base and contribute offensively was a significant asset to the teams he played for during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Roettger's playing style was characterized by a blend of solid contact hitting and occasional power, which made him a valuable player in the lineup. Though he was not known for his speed, with only 4 stolen bases recorded in his career, his overall offensive production and consistency at the plate solidified his reputation as a reliable player. Roettger's contributions to the game during his tenure left a lasting impact, as he navigated through an era that saw the evolution of baseball into a more dynamic and exciting sport. His legacy is remembered fondly by baseball historians, as he was part of a generation of players who helped shape the game in its formative years.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 599 | 1949 | 192 | 556 | 96 | 23 | 19 | 245 | 4 | 99 | 143 | 0.285 | 0.324 | 0.387 | 0.711 | -2223.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | STL | NL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1928 | STL | NL | 68 | 261 | 27 | 89 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 0.341 | 811.3 |
| 1929 | STL | NL | 79 | 269 | 27 | 68 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 0 | 13 | 27 | 0.253 | -954.2 |
| 1930 | NY1 | NL | 121 | 420 | 51 | 119 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 25 | 29 | 0.283 | -917.3 |
| 1931 | CIN | NL | 44 | 185 | 25 | 65 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 0.351 | 474.0 |
| 1931 | STL | NL | 45 | 151 | 16 | 43 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 0.285 | 474.0 |
| 1932 | CIN | NL | 106 | 347 | 26 | 96 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 23 | 24 | 0.277 | -395.2 |
| 1933 | CIN | NL | 84 | 209 | 13 | 50 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0.239 | -788.5 |
| 1934 | PIT | NL | 47 | 106 | 7 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.245 | -432.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.286 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | WS | SLN | 3 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 510 | 0 | 1081 | 27 | 16 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | SLN | OF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1928 | SLN | OF | 66 | 0 | 152 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 1929 | SLN | OF | 69 | 0 | 137 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1930 | NY1 | OF | 114 | 0 | 233 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 1931 | CIN | OF | 44 | 0 | 95 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1931 | SLN | OF | 42 | 0 | 73 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1932 | CIN | OF | 94 | 0 | 214 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 1933 | CIN | OF | 55 | 0 | 124 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1934 | PIT | OF | 23 | 0 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 243 |
| Center Field | 98 |
| Right Field | 179 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | IL | 1922, 1923, 1924 |