Elwin Charles Roe (known as Preacher Roe) (February 26, 1916 – November 9, 2008) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals (1938), Pittsburgh Pirates (1944–1947), and Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–1954).
Roe was born on February 26, 1916, in Ash Flat, Arkansas and grew up in Viola, Arkansas. The nickname "Preacher" came at age 3 when an uncle asked his name and Roe responded "preacher" because of a minister who would take him on ho...
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Elwin Charles Roe (known as Preacher Roe) (February 26, 1916 – November 9, 2008) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals (1938), Pittsburgh Pirates (1944–1947), and Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–1954).
Roe was born on February 26, 1916, in Ash Flat, Arkansas and grew up in Viola, Arkansas. The nickname "Preacher" came at age 3 when an uncle asked his name and Roe responded "preacher" because of a minister who would take him on horse-and-buggy rides. Roe attended Harding College (now University). At Harding, in a thirteen-inning game in 1937, Roe gained national attention by striking out twenty-six batters.
In the summer of 1938, Roe was signed by Branch Rickey, then general manager for the St. Louis Cardinals. Roe pitched in one game for the team that season, giving up six hits, two walks and four runs in 2⅔ innings. He spent the next five seasons in the Cardinals' minor league system before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 30, 1943 in exchange for...
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