Wilber “Bullet” Rogan

Bullet Rogan was born in 1893 in Oklahoma City, but his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he began playing for a semipro team, Fred Palace’s Colts, in 1911. Rogan was a catcher for the team, which included pitcher Dick Whitworth. 

Later that year, Rogan dropped out of school and enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Philippines with the all-black 24th Infantry for three years. He then reenlisted with the 25th Infantry, another African American unit, stationed in Hawaii. He was recruited to play for the regimen’s baseball team, the Wreckers. 

After his discharge from the Army in 1920, Rogan joined the Kansas City Monarchs. He quickly became their ace and biggest attraction. In addition to pitching, Rogan played the outfield. In 1924, he pitched and hit the Monarchs to the Black World Series championship.  In 1925, he was 17-2 and hit .381. 

In 1926, Rogan became player-manager for the Monarchs. He continued as manager until 1932, when he began barnstorming with a black all-star team that toured Hawaii and the Philippines in 1933-34. 

In 1936, at the age of 43, Rogan appeared in the East­West All-Star game. 

Rogan died in Kansas City, Missouri in 1967 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.