Preacher Roe

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).

Early years

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 . At Harding, in a thirteen-inning game in1937, Roe gained national attention by striking out twenty-six batters.

Major League Baseball

St. Louis Cardinals

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 pitcher Johnny Podgajny, outfielder Johnny Wyrostek and cash., Baseball-Reference. Accessed November 11, 2008.

Pittsburgh Pirates

As a fastball pitcher with the Pirates, Roe had a record of 13-11 with a 3.11 earned run average in 1944 and a 14-13 record with a 2.87 ERA in 1945. His 148 strikeouts in the 1945 season led the National League and he...
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