Edd J. Roush (May 8, 1893 – March 21, 1988) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1913 to 1931, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds where he was a two-time National League (NL) batting champion and led the team to the 1919 World Series championship. He also played for the New York Giants, Chicago White Sox as well as the Newark Peppers and the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the Federal League. Roush accumulated a .323 batting average over his 18-year playing career and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Early life

Roush was born in Oakland City, Indiana, on May 8, 1893, to parents Laura and William Roush, a dairy farmer.

He received the opportunity to play for the local semi-pro Oakland City Walkovers After collecting two hits the first game he became a starting outfielder. In 1911, once he learned that other players were receiving $5 () per game, he transferred to the rival Princeton, Indiana team. to play for Lincoln Railsplitters of the Western League. After only ten games he quit and returned to Oakland City. Bill McKechnie. After the Federal League disbanded in early 1916, the Giants picked up Roush, McKechnie and Bill Rariden. Midway through the 1916 season, the Giants traded Roush, McKechnie, and Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson to the Cincinnati Reds. but Hornsby could not catch his .341 average. At season's end, Roush led the National League in batting average and finished third in hits with 178, only 4 behind leader Heinie Groh.

In 1918, Roush finished the season with a .333 average, .002 behind Hall of Famer Zack Wheat. On April 29, 1918, the Reds originally beat the St. Louis Cardinals, but a protested play caused the game to be replayed on August 11. The play in question involved Roush, who slid to make a catch in the outfield. After he juggled the ball, he secured it in his glove to make the out and threw to third base as the runner left before the catch was made. On June 8, 1920, a lengthy argument took place on the field, and Roush fell asleep in the outfield. After infielder Heinie Groh was unsuccessful at waking Roush up, Roush was ejected for delay of game. Roush hit .339, and set career highs in hits, doubles, triples, RBI, and total bases. He failed to show up to spring training and continued to hold out until April 30 when he reached an agreement with the Reds. Roush had been sidelined a couple of times during the season with leg injuries, but he finished the year batting .385 over the last 37 games of the season to finish with a career-high .352 batting average, second to Rogers Hornsby.

Before the 1922 season would start, Roush entered negotiations with the Reds for the second straight year, this time demanding a 3-year contract for $18,000 () per year. After the initial demand, Roush held out for months prompting The Sporting News to say:

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He is the best silence keeper in baseball. Just says real early what he wants and then closes up. No gabbing or elaborate explanations. Transacts business the way he plays ball– no fuss, but exceedingly effective. Over the 49 games he played in 1922 he hit for a .352 average. 1923 would start similarly to the previous two years with a new holdout by Roush; this time he demanded a $25,000 () salary. The Reds countered with the salary he was making the previous season and began to fine him $50 per day of missed training camp. On April 15 the two sides reached an agreement. He missed time due to a fractured rib from August 29 to September 14, although it is still disputed when he broke the rib. He finished the year with a .351 average and led the league in doubles with 41. and on March 7, 1924, he died. In April Roush strained his side when he swung and missed at a pitch and was sidelined for eight games Roush would finish the year with a .348 average and led the league with 21 triples. Roush became team captain of the Reds in 1925 and led the team to a third-place finish, a disappointing end to the season as the Reds led the league in ERA for the third year in a row.

On July 21, 1926, team officials celebrated "Roush Day" at Redland Field in honor Roush and his decade spent with the team. At the end of the season it was clear that with three younger outfielders, Curt Walker, Cuckoo Christensen and Rube Bressler, the Reds would part ways with the 34 year old Roush. In February 1927 Roush was traded to the Giants for George Kelly and an undetermined amount of cash. From 1917 to 1926

Later career

Roush's career with the Giants started with a contract dispute. The Giants offered $19,000 (), and Roush rejected the offer, demanding $30,000 (). Roush met with John McGraw, the Giants manager, in a hotel room in Chattanooga, Tennessee to work out the details of the contract.

In 1927 Roush had a down year for the third place Giants, and batted only .304, the lowest average since 1916. and only appeared in 46 games. After receiving surgery on the torn muscles in February, he returned to form and hit .324 over 115 games for the Giants.

In early 1930 Roush threatened to retire than to receive a pay cut. After the two sides could not agree on a number Roush held out for the whole season. As the next season began, Roush refused to play for the Giants and retired from baseball. He was contacted by Reds President Sidney Weil to play for the team in 1931. After a short negotiation, both sides agreed to a one-year contract worth $15,000 (). Roush struggled in his last season in baseball, only managing to hit .271 in 101 games.

Roush finished his 18-year career with a .323 lifetime average, 268 stolen bases and 182 triples. He never struck out more than 25 times in a season and had 30 inside-the-park home runs. the heaviest bat used in baseball.

At the time of his retirement in 1931, he was second place behind Bid McPhee for hits and triples in Cincinnati Reds history. Hall of Fame pitcher Pete Alexander wrote of Roush, "Of all the batters I have faced ... Edd Roush and Ross Youngs are the trickiest. I won't say they are the hardest hitters but they are the trickiest, smartest."

Later life and honors

Roush served one season as the Reds coach alongside his good friend, manager Bill McKechnie, who had previously been his teammate. During his career he had saved his money and was able to retire after he finished playing. He built a house in Bradenton, Florida, and used it as a winter residence. He frequently attended spring training and told stories of the old days. Roush spent most of his time in his hometown of Oakland City, where he served on the town and school boards and ran the Montgomery cemetery for 35 years. In addition to Roush's selection into the Baseball Hall of Fame, chosen with McKechnie, he is also a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, inducted in 1960.

Considered the greatest player in Reds' history at the time, Roush was invited to throw out the first ball at the last game at Crosley Field on June 24, 1970. Joe Morgan called Roush "the best of us all".

In 1981, Ritter and Donald Honig included Roush in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.

Roush died at the age of 94 on March 21, 1988, in Bradenton, Florida. At the time of his death he was the last surviving Federal League participant and the last surviving 1919 World Series participant.

See also

  • List of Major League Baseball career batting average leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball batting champions
  • List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders

References

  • Edd Roush Oral History Interview (1 of 3) - National Baseball Hall of Fame Digital Collection
  • Edd Roush Oral History Interview (2 of 3) - National Baseball Hall of Fame Digital Collection
  • Edd Roush Oral History Interview (3 of 3) - National Baseball Hall of Fame Digital Collection