Kenny Rogers

Kenneth Scott Rogers
(The Gambler)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 205 lb.
• High School Plant City High School
• Debut April 6, 1989
• Final Game September 14, 2008
• Born November 10, 1964 in Savannah, GA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

A great competitor, Kenny Rogers, "The Gambler", won 219 games in 20 big league seasons while losing only 156 - a winning percentage of almost .600 (.584). His nickname comes from the most famous song of his namesake, country singer Kenny Rogers.

Rogers was signed as a 39th round pick in the 1982 amateur draft by the Texas Rangers and scout Joe Marchese.

He threw a perfect game on July 28, 1994, three years to the day after Dennis Martinez had last accomplished the feat. He is most associated with the Rangers, playing for them for three different stints, representing 12 of his 20 seasons, and winning 133 games for them. However, all four of his postseason appearances were with other teams: the New York Yankees, with whom he won the 1996 World Series, the New York Mets in 1999, the Minnesota Twins in 2003 and the Detroit Tigers in 2006, with whom he also pitched in the World Series. He was originally a reliever, and made only 12 starts over his first four seasons, but after he was moved to the starting rotation full time in 1993, he never looked back.

In 2005, he was charged with misdemeanor assault on a cameraman. He was suspended 20 games by Commissioner Bud Selig for the incident, but the suspension was later reduced to 13 games by an arbitrator. He appeared in the 2005 All-Star Game giving up 2 runs in his inning of work. His participation was controversial, since it took place right after the incident with the cameraman.

In Game 2 of the 2006 World Series, Rogers, pitching for the Detroit Tigers against the St. Louis Cardinals, appeared to have a brown smudge on the palm of his pitching hand during the 1st inning. Fox Sports broadcasters Tim McCarver and Joe Buck commented that the smudge appeared to be pine tar. The smudge was not on his palm in subsequent innings. The Tigers went on to win the game, 3-1.

In his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame in 2014, he received a single vote and dropped off the ballot.

Notable Achievements

• 4-time AL All-Star (1995 & 2004-2006)
• 5-time AL Gold Glove Winner (2000, 2002 & 2004-2006)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 5 (1993, 1995, 1998, 2004 & 2006)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1993, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 & 2006)
• Won a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1996

Related Sites

• Kenny Rogers at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page