Books and articles about Roger Metzger

A speedy, switch-hitting shortstop who started for the Astros from 1971 until 1978, Metzger never hit better than .251 in the ML and had little power, but he led the NL in triples twice while playing his home games on the hard, spacious Astrodome turf. Acquired from the Cubs in exchange for Hector Torres, Metzger led NL shortstops in fielding percentage in 1973 and 1976, then was sold to the Giants during the 1978 season.


Alex Metzler 1903-1973. ;OF 1925-30 Cubs, A's, White Sox , Browns ;560 g, .285, 9 hr, 207 rbi.

Metzler became a regular with the White Sox in 1927 and batted over .300 that year and the next. He crashed into a wall in 1930, suffering a shoulder injury that ended his ML career. (JLE)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 31, 1974: At Houston, the Reds Don Gullett twirls a 2-hit, 4–0, shutout over the Astros. Roger Metzger has both Astro hits. » September 4, 1974: Don Wilson has a no-hitter through eight innings, but is lifted for a pinch-hitter by Houston manager Preston Gomez. Reliever Mike Cosgrove gives up a leadoff single to Tony Perez, and the Astros lose to the Reds 2–1. Jack Billingham, who has a sac bunt in the 2-run 5th, is the winner. Gomez made the same mistake in San Diego on July 21, 1970. The Reds score both runs in the 5th inning on two walks, a sac bunt and a 2-base throwing error by Roger Metzger. » April 6, 1978: In a rain-delayed season opener in Cincinnati, Houston's Terry Puhl leads off with a homer against Tom Seaver, who allows five runs in three innings. But led by Joe Morgan's pair of two-run doubles and a homer, the Reds prevail, 11–9. In the bottom of the 7th, with Morgan on 3B and George Foster on 1B, Dan Driessen strikes out and Foster is caught stealing 2B, Ferguson to Roger Metzger. Morgan tries to score on the play and is thrown out on the return. According to Retrosheet, this is apparently the first triple play begun with a strikeout. In 1982, the Twins will start a triple play with a strikeout.