Books and articles about Buck Rodgers

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Rodgers caught 155 games in 1962, breaking Mickey Cochrane's rookie record of 133, and finished second to Tom Tresh in AL Rookie of the Year voting. A switch-hitting starter for six years until beset by injuries in 1968, he was always considered a good handler of pitchers. Rodgers coached for the Twins and Giants, managed in the minors, and, while a Brewer coach, replaced the ailing George Bamberger as manager in 1980. He led Milwaukee to a second-half title in strike-torn 1981, but lost to the Yankees in a playoff and was fired in June of 1982. He became the Expos' manager in 1985 and was named NL Manager of the Year when Montreal finished third (91-71) in 1987. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 22, 1962: Roger Maris, who went all of 1961 without receiving an intentional walk, gets four in a 12-inning 2–1 win against the Angels to set an American League record. Maris receives five walks in all. Four Yankee pitchers (Whitey Ford, Jim Coates, Bud Daley, and Bob Turley) combine to give up just one hit in 12 innings. Ford leaves after seven innings because of back spasms, and Coates gives up the lone hit, a one-out 9th-inning single to Bob Rodgers. » August 28, 1962: Angels thumpers Lee Thomas, Leon Wagner, and Bob Rodgers hit consecutive home runs in the 4th inning of a 10–5 trouncing of Kansas City. » March 6, 1980: Brewers manager George Bamberger suffers a heart attack at the club's Sun City, AZ, training camp. Coach Buck Rodgers is named interim manager for Bamberger, who will undergo quintuple coronary bypass surgery on March 26th and will not return to the dugout until June 6th. » June 6, 1980: On "Welcome back, Bambi" Night in Milwaukee, the Brewers give their manager George Bamberger an 8–4 win over the Tigers. Bamberger suffered a heart attack in spring training and coach Buck Rodgers managed the team for the first 46 games. Bambi will retire on September 7th and Rodgers will again take over. Milwaukee is in 2nd place, three 1/2 games in back of New York. » September 5, 1980: Insisting his decision is not health-related, George Bamberger announces that he will step down as the Brewers manager following tomorrow's game against Texas. He will be replaced by Buck Rodgers. » June 2, 1982: Milwaukee fires manager Buck Rodgers and replaces him with batting coach Harvey Kuenn. » June 2, 1991: After six seasons and 49 games, manager Buck Rodgers is fired by the Expos and replaced by 3B coach Tom Runnells. "I knew and the players knew that Tommy Runnells was [GM] Dave Dombrowksi's man, opines Buck. "I wasn't." » August 25, 1991: Manager Doug Rader is fired by the Rangers and replaced by former Expos manager Buck Rodgers. » May 21, 1992: Four members of the California Angels, including manager Buck Rodgers, are hospitalized after the bus carrying the team swerves into a row of trees off the New Jersey Turnpike. Rodgers, the most seriously injured, incurs a broke right rib, left knee and right elbow. John Wathan takes over the team as interim manager. » May 17, 1994: Marcel Lachemann is named manager of the Angels, replacing Buck Rodgers. » August 19, 1998: The Expos beat Arizona, 8–2, giving Felipe Alou his 521st career win as manager of the Montreal Expos. Buck Rodgers had 520. Alou's good luck charm is P Dustin Hermanson, who allows three hits in seven innings. Hermanson was also the starting and winning pitcher in Alou's 400th, 450th, and 500th win.