Frank Rooney

Frank Rooney
born Frank Rovný

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut April 18, 1914
• Final Game June 6, 1914
• Born October 4, 1890 in Podebrady, Austria-Hungary
• Died April 6, 1977 in Ironwood, MI USA

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Biographical Information

Frank Rooney had an Irish-sounding name but he was born with the surname Rovný in Poděbrady, which at the time was in Austria-Hungary. This area is now part of the Czech Republic.

Frank played for the Indianapolis Hoosiers in the Federal League during the first half of the 1914 season, at first base when he was in the field, and sometimes pinch-hitting. He was 29 years old at the time.

Rooney became the first Czech player to hit a home run in the major leagues when he took southpaw Ad Brennan deep on May 30, 1914 at brand-new Weeghman Park in Chicago, now known as Wrigley Field. He finished his brief big-league career 7-for-35 with one homer and eight RBIs. As of 2023, no other player born in what is now the Czech Republic has ever homered in the major leagues. In fact, no Czech-born player has even played in the majors since Rooney (Jack Quinn, Elmer Valo, and Carl Linhart were all born in what is now Slovakia).

Frank played at least 13 years in the minors, and also appeared in the Federal League in 1913, a year before it became a competing major league, hitting .300 exactly. The minor league database is very incomplete, so it is possible he played close to 20 years in the minors.

He had a long life, living to the age of 92.

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "May 30, 1914: Frank Rooney becomes first Czech player to homer in the major leagues," SABR Baseball Games Project.