Lou Rochelli
Louis Joseph Rochelli
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
- Debut August 25, 1944
- Final Game August 29, 1944
- Born January 11, 1919 in Staunton, IL USA
- Died October 23, 1992 in Victoria, TX USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Illinois native Lou Rochelli spent nineteen seasons in professional baseball from 1939 through 1958. The infielder spent all of those seasons in the minor leagues with the exception of a short time in the major leagues with the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers. He made a short five game appearance with the Dodgers from August 25, 1944 to August 29. He played in five games at the second base position, had 17 at-bats and 2 base-hits for a .176 batting average. This was the sum-total for Lou in the big leagues.
Rochelli was inducted into the armed forces after the 1944 season and spent the 1945 season serving with the United States Navy during World War II. He was back for the 1946 year and had a split season with the Mobile Bears of the Southern Association and the St. Paul Saints of the American Association, where he appeared in 107 games and hit at a .241 clip. During spring training of 1946 it was Rochelli who, despite nominally being the incumbent AAA 2nd baseman, taught Jackie Robinson how to make the double play pivot at second. Robinson had previously only played shortstop and some outfield.
During Lou's minor league career he hit over the .300 mark in three seasons, the first came in 1940 when he hit .333 with 13 home runs and the other two came in 1954 and 1955, hitting .309 and .306 respecfully. His minor league stats show that he appeared in 1,431 games and hit for a .268 minor league average.
Rochelli also spent twelve seasons as a player-manager from 1947 through 1958, winning the league title and play-off championship with the Victoria Rosebuds of the class B Big State League in 1957. Lou's teams came up, over his 12 year managerial reign, with 848 wins and 763 losses for a .526 winning percentage, in 1611 games.
Lou moved to Victoria, TX in 1957 when he managed the minor league team there. After baseball he worked for Radio Shack in Victoria until his death on October 22, 1992. Louis Joseph Rochelli was 73 years of age.
Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]
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