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•  Roger has been a pitcher since the age of seven when he first played little league. He continued on to play, Babe Ruth League and High school.   

• During the time at Oneonta College he set four school records and became the first player in SUNY conference history to be named all-league in two positions – pitcher and outfielder.

• The Sophomore year at college brought Roger a stunning pitching record of 7 – 0 and he was batting over 300.

• Roger’s fastball had been clocked at 89 miles per hour.

• In his first major league game in June 1980 the tigers were playing the brewers in Milwaukee.  Roger relieved Dave Tobik in the eighth inning.  In his one and 2/3 inning pitched Roger struck out two and walked two.

• On 6/25/80 Roger won his first game in the majors.  He hurled three innings of scoreless relief to win his first major leaguer.  He gave up just two hits and walked three.

• One of Roger’s most outstanding games was his second relief win against Billy Martins Oakland “A’s”. Roger came in for relief in the fourth inning with the tigers trailing 2-1.  He retired 13 batters in a row to shut Oakland down 1-2-3 in the 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th. Innings.  

• Headlines in  local newspaper after the 3 run homer off from Rogers' pitch to  Reggie Jackson on 10/4/80: ON A VISIT TO HIS HOME TOWN  IN ST. JOHNSVILLE  SHORTLY AFTER THE 10/4 EPISODE Roger's  HOMETOWN FANS FONDLY  PRESENTED HIM WITH “REGGIE” CANDY BARS!     

• Statement from the Detroit Front Office - ROGER HAS ALREADY PROVED HIMSELF THIS 1980 SEASON THAT HE CAN PITCH AND WIN IN THE BIG LEAGUES.   

• Manager Sparky Anderson Indicated that Roger will be in the Starting Rotation as a member of the Tiger Mound Staff in 1981