Wilber "Bullet" Rogan (July 28, 1893 - March 4, 1967), born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, first played professional baseball with the Palace Colts of Kansas City, Kansas, in 1911.

In October 1911 he joined the United States Army, and served in the Philippines and Hawaii. He built a reputation as a great pitcher and versatile fielder for army baseball teams, especially the famous 25th Infantry Wreckers . On furlough in 1917, Rogan played professionally for the Kansas City Giants and the All Nations Club of Kansas City, but returned to the army for three more years. In mid-season 1920, the owner of the All Nations team, J.L. Wilkinson , recruited Rogan and several teammates for his Kansas City Monarchs, a new team in the Negro National League.

From 1920 to 1938 Bullet Rogan played for the Monarchs, at various times playing all nine positions. He was one of the best pitchers of the 1920s, leading the league in wins four consecutive years, from 1922 to 1925. Rogan is usually considered one of the top three or four pitchers in the history of the Negro Leagues. He also hit .409 in 1924 to win a batting title.

Rogan essentially stopped pitching after the 1928 season, but continued to play regularly as an outfielder for many years. He had become manager of the Monarchs in 1926, a position he held off and on until 1938. In 1929 he piloted the team to a pennant. In his managing role he was a strict disciplinarian, probably because of his army training. After retiring as a manager, he became an umpire in the Negro Leagues.

Bullet Rogan was second only to Martin Dihigo in baseball history in his ability to move effortlessly from position to position on the field, and along with Dihigo and Babe Ruth, Rogan was one of the great "double threats", or players who can both hit and pitch successfully. After his baseball career, Rogan became a postal worker. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Known Statistics: 151 Wins-65 Losses, .348 Career Batting Average, 62 Home Runs.

References

Holway, John (2001). The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues. Fern Park: Hastings House. ISBN 0-8038-2007-0.