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Induction
Information
Elected to Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee in 1976, Player
Born: July 1, 1857, in Waterbury, Connecticut
Died: January 4, 1931, in Waterbury, Connecticut
ML Debut: 5/1/1880
Primary Position: First Baseman
Bats: L Throws: L
Played For: Troy Trojans (1880-1882), New York Gothams or
Giants (1883-1889, 1891, 1893-1894), New York Giants - Players Lg
(1890), Philadelphia Phillies (1892), St. Louis Browns (1894-1897)
Managed: St. Louis Browns (1896)
Bio
Roger Connor was the 19th century's home run king. His 138 career
homers established a major league record until surpassed by Babe
Ruth in 1921. Connor hit 10 or more home runs seven times (a 19th
century record), once hit three homers in one game (May 9, 1888),
and was the first ballplayer to hit an over-the-wall home run at the
Polo Grounds. The slugging first baseman bested the .300 mark in 12
seasons and once garnered six hits in as many at-bats (June 1,
1895).
Quote
"Roger was both active and nimble and did fully as well if not
better in the fielding line than his contemporaries. He had a
tremendous reach, a good pair of hands and was exceedingly good on
pickups, digging the ball out of the dirt…"
— Sam Crane
Did You Know... that on September 10, 1881, with two outs
in the bottom of the ninth and his team trailing by three runs,
Roger Connor won the game by hitting the first grand slam in big
league history? |