Sport Basketball Died September 14, 1951 Nationality American Positions Power forward | Name Wally Roettger Conference Big Ten Conference Role Baseball player | |
 | ||
College Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball | ||
Walter Henry Roettger (August 28, 1902 in St. Louis, Missouri – September 14, 1951 in Champaign, Illinois), was a professional baseball player who was an outfielder in the major leagues from 1927 to 1935. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Biography
Roettger attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1924. While at Illinois, he played basketball and baseball. In 1931 while playing for the Cardinals, he got the first hit (off Lefty Grove) and scored the first run in the 1931 World Series.
He became the head coach for baseball at the University of Illinois from 1935 to 1951 and an assistant coach for basketball from 1936 to 1949.
Roettger committed suicide in Champaign, Illinois.
Roettger had two brothers who were involved in Major League Baseball. Hal Roettger served as an assistant to baseball executive Branch Rickey for nearly 20 years until he died unexpectedly in the swimming pool of a Florida motel in 1955. Oscar Roettger was a major league pitcher and first baseman who later coached minor league baseball.