On this day in 1941 Phil Roof was born in Paducah, Kentucky. He was 18 when the Milwaukee Braves signed him as an amateur free agent in 1959, and made his big league debut by appearing in a single game as a catcher in April of 1961 before being returned to the minors.
Roof was a Brave for one game again in 1964 before being traded to the Angels, but his time in Milwaukee was not over. He came to the Seattle Pilots (who were still a couple of months away from becoming the Brewers) in January of 1970 as part of a six-player deal and went on to appear in 110 games behind the plate for the inaugural Brew Crew.
The Brewers moved Roof along in 1971, sending him to the Twins, but all told he hit .218/.293/.345 in 151 games with the franchise. Until relatively recently he was almost certainly the most notable Brewer ever to be born in Kentucky. That honor now belongs to Corey Hart.
Thanks to the B-Ref Play Index for reminding me that Roof turns 72 today. With help from Brewerfan.net, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:
- 2012 Brevard County Manatee Hector Gomez, who turns 25.
- 2001-03 Brewer Jeffrey Hammonds, who turns 42.
- 1994-98 Brewer Jose Mercedes, who turns 42.
- 1990-91 Brewer Kevin Brown, who turns 47.
- 1953-63 Milwaukee Brave and 1972-75 Brewer manager Del Crandall, who turns 83. We covered his birthday in this space last year.