136: Bullet Joe Rogan - MLB

Sports' Forgotten Heroes

In 1920, the Negro National League started play and the historic Kansas City Monarchs took the field for the first time. Leading the way was a 5-foot-7 two-way ballplayer who was about to embark on a journey that didn't end until 1938 - Bullet Joe Rogan. What no one knew then was that Rogan was going to put up numbers that ultimately led him into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Rogan is considered by many to be one of the top 5 baseball players of all time. In fact, some say he is the greatest. On the mound, in the Negro National League he was 120-52 with an ERA of 2.65. But, when you combine the barnstorming tours and other leagues that Bullet played in, there is evidence that he won more than 350 games and struck out more than 2,000 batters. And, he did all of this without a windup. He just stood on the mound reared back and fired the ball. But, that's only half the story. Bullet was a star in the batter's box too. He hit cleanup for the Monarchs and for his NNL career, he hit .338 with an OPS of .934, connected for 50 home runs, drove in 419. He was an all-around superstar. But there is so much more to the Bullet Joe Rogan story and joining me on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes is a very special guest - The President of Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick. Bob shares some very fascinating stories with us, talks about how spectacular Bullet was and recalls so much more about the Negro Leagues and who Bullet compares to today ... and that might surprise you.