Mickey Rocco
Encyclopedia
Michael Dominick Rocco was a Major League Baseball
player for the Cleveland Indians
from 1943 to 1946. He was the Tribe's regular first baseman
for the majority of the World War II
years.
Rocco twice led American League
first sackers in fielding percentage
(1943 and 1945), and led in putouts and assists
in 1944. He had a lifetime fielding percentage of .994 in 431 appearances at first base and participated in 399 double plays. In almost three complete seasons in the starting lineup (1943-1945) Rocco averaged 9 home runs, 57 runs batted in, and hit .259. He led the league in games played
(155), at bats (653), and outs
(509) in 1944.
Rocco received less playing time when the war was over. He was traded by the Indians with cash to the Chicago Cubs
for first baseman Heinz Becker
on June 26, 1946, and never again played in a big league game. Career totals include 440 games played, 444 hits
, 30 HR
, 186 RBI, 219 runs scored
, and a lifetime batting average
of .258. His on base percentage
was .327, and he had a slugging percentage of .372.
Rocco died in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota at the age of 81.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
from 1943 to 1946. He was the Tribe's regular first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for the majority of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years.
Rocco twice led American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
first sackers in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(1943 and 1945), and led in putouts and assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
in 1944. He had a lifetime fielding percentage of .994 in 431 appearances at first base and participated in 399 double plays. In almost three complete seasons in the starting lineup (1943-1945) Rocco averaged 9 home runs, 57 runs batted in, and hit .259. He led the league in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(155), at bats (653), and outs
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
(509) in 1944.
Rocco received less playing time when the war was over. He was traded by the Indians with cash to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for first baseman Heinz Becker
Heinz Becker
Heinz Reinhard Becker was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians...
on June 26, 1946, and never again played in a big league game. Career totals include 440 games played, 444 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 30 HR
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 186 RBI, 219 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and a lifetime batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .258. His on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
was .327, and he had a slugging percentage of .372.
Rocco died in his hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota at the age of 81.
Career highlight
- On September 9, 1945 Rocco had two singlesSingle (baseball)In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
, two doublesDouble (baseball)In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and two home runs in a doubleheaderDoubleheader (baseball)A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
sweep over New YorkNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in front of a crowd of 72,252 at Yankee StadiumYankee StadiumYankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
.