The Rodgers Brothers

The Rodgers Brothers

Lots of Bahamian Baseball First

Growing up in the Bahamas in the early days they played Cricket and Softball, the year Andre Rodgers went of to play professional baseball in the United States of America in 1954 the Bahamas Baseball Association was formed, so at 20 years old Andre left to play in the Minor Leagues of Baseball with the New York Giants, and in 1957 Andre was called up to the Major Leagues becoming the first Bahamian to do so. In 1954 the Bahamas Baseball Association was formed and Adrian Rodgers was named best pitcher for the first three seasons with the baseball team called Penny Bankers, Andre played major league for Giants, the Cubs and the Pirates, as a result all of his brother followed him into baseball spring camps and all of them played some minor league baseball except Roy, who got hurt during a Pirates training camp, Adrian was with Gaints, also Lionel, and Randy was with Pirates. the Rodgers brothers is the only bahamian baseball players to have four to play in professional baseball.

Andre Rodgers He was born on December 2nd 1934 Died December 13th 2004 age 70 Growing up in the Bahamas in the early days they played Cricket and Softball, the year Andre Rodgers went of to play professional baseball in the United States of America in 1954 the Bahamas Baseball Association was formed, so at 20 years old Andre left to play in the Minor Leagues of Baseball with the New York Giants, and in 1957 Andre was called up to the major team becoming the first Bahamian to play major league baseball. in 1958 the team moved to San Francisco, and so Andre was also a member of the first San Francisco Giants, see the Documentary by Gina Rodgers Sealy: The Gentle Giant the Andre Rodgers Story

Adrian Rodgers Adrian The First Best Pitcher in the B.B.A While Andre was playing professional baseball Adrian started playing in the newly formed Bahamas Baseball Association, where he won best pitcher the BBA’s first three seasons, in 1956 he was signed by the Giants farm system at the age of 18, he played he played short stop, second base and pitch, the following year he went to the Braves farm system for another year and the following he was picked up the Cardinals minor league system. after arm problems he returned home after the 1960 season, where play locally before he started to coach and manage he own teams in the BBA until 1986.

Lionel Rodgers Lional was a great Bahamian Baseball player. The Andre was called up to the Giants MLB Club the same year they signed his younger brothers, Lionel Rodgers at age 17 in 1957, at 6ft Lionel played outfielder, catcher & first base, in his first year in the minor leagues of baseball in the New York Giants system Lionel batted .331 in 43 games played, he played for four seasons in the minors batting ,302 in his final season in 131 games, Lionel Rodgers Died tragically in a accident at the age of 21,he was due to return to spring training, a bright future in the sport of pro baseball he was destine to play in the the Major Leagues of Baseball.

Roy Rodgers Roy Cowboy Rodgers was one of the best at First base’ If has ever saw Roy Rodgers played first base you would have wonder if there anyone who could beat this guy playing that position, and does ever miss the baseball when it is thrown his way, weather in the dirt, one hope line drive or ground ball Cowboy picked them all at first. He spent time with the Pirates in spring and got hurt during spring training and he returned home. he also played on many Bahamian National teams that travel to the National Congress Baseball tournaments in Wichita Kansas, he was star in the local baseball league, he later join up with his brother on that Paradise Island Baseball team.

Randy Rodgers Randy was the youngest of the Rodgers brothers and the fastest. As the youngest brother Randy had plenty talent in front of him to learn the game of baseball from, seeing his older brothers going of to play in the minor leagues of baseball must have been a dream of his, with his brother Adrian home after playing at the minor league level sure was a help for him, as a matter of fact Randy was signed by the Pirates farm system to a minor league contract at the age of 19 in 1968 where he played for 2 season at the single A level. he returned and started playing not only local baseball, but also soccer where he name the number soccer player in the Bahamas, so Randy was known as good baseball and soccer player for many years in the Bahamas, but his play in baseball brought lot of fans to the baseball park.