Harry Rosenberg

Harry Rosenberg

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Weight 160 lb.
• Debut July 15, 1930
• Final Game September 20, 1930
• Born June 22, 1909 in San Francisco, CA USA
• Died April 13, 1997 in San Mateo, CA USA

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Biographical Information

The younger brother of Lou Rosenberg and one of eleven kids in the family, Harry Rosenberg worked as a shovel operator in San Francisco, CA. In 1930, he tried out for the San Francisco Missions and made the club, continuing to work his job in construction in the mornings.

His first year, Rosenberg displayed superb range in center field and hit .368, sixth in the Pacific Coast League and ahead of players like Buzz Arlett, Hank Severeid, Doc Cramer and Jigger Statz. John McGraw scouted Harry and was impressed. The New York Giants purchased Rosenberg's contract for $35,000-50,000. He initially refused to sign, unless he got a $5,000 bonus, but eventually he joined New York without a bonus.

As with other Jewish players signed by McGraw, there was a lot of publicity in New York, but Rosenberg only played in nine games and got five at=bats. Walking in his first plate appearance, he never got another walk or a hit.

Rosenberg would not return to the majors. The 21-year-old outfielder was with the 1931 Newark Bears, hitting .284, then with the Bridgeport Bees (.329) and the Indianapolis Indians (.330) to complete a busy year. In 1932, Rosenberg hit .318 for the Indians, then .281 the next season. He also appeared for the Fort Worth Cats (.325) in '33. With Indianapolis full-time in 1934, Harry batted .329. He returned to the PCL to stay in 1935 when he signed with the Sacramento Solons and posted a .354 average, around 8th in the league. Back with the Missions in '36 and '37, Harry hit .334 and .330; he was fourth in the Coast League in the latter campaign.

In 1938, Rosenberg hit .320 for the Portland Beavers, then followed that with years of .331 and .314 for the club. Moving to the Hollywood Stars in 1941, Harry had a .286 average, his first full season with a team in which he hit under .300. After not playing in 1942, he finished his career by batting .362 for the 1943 San Francisco Seals.

Sources: Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database, The Big Book of Jewish Baseball by Peter Horvitz and Joachim Horvitz