1973–1985 · P

Steve Rogers

6' 2", 175 lbs·Lived to 77·Bats R / Throws R

All-Star

The Almanac's Take

Rogers exploded onto the scene with one of the most dominant rookie seasons in modern history, posting a microscopic 1.54 ERA that was nearly two and a half times better than league average. That 1973 campaign in Montreal established him as an elite pitcher, though he'd never quite reach those otherworldly heights again.

The southpaw carved out a solid 13-year career built on consistent excellence rather than peak dominance. His 3.17 ERA and 125 ERA+ across nearly 2,840 innings tell the story of a workhorse who consistently outperformed league average by a meaningful margin. Five All-Star selections reflect his sustained quality, even as his strikeout rate remained modest for his era.

What made Rogers special was his durability and reliability — the kind of pitcher who gave you 200 innings and an ERA in the low threes year after year. His .138 career batting average serves as a reminder of just how hopeless pitchers were at the plate during the pre-DH National League era.

Career Highs

1.54

Best ERA · 1973

Most W · 1982

206

Most K · 1977

1.060

Best WHIP · 1973

Career Arc · OPS

13 seasons

Career Arc · ERA

13 seasons

Statistical Comps

Johnny Cueto

95%

2022 season

K/9 5.8 · BB/9 1.9 · HR/9 0.85 · SP · FB 91.4 mph · Whiff% 15

Adam Wainwright

95%

2022 season

K/9 6.7 · BB/9 2.5 · HR/9 0.75 · SP · FB 88.4 mph · Whiff% 16

Dean Kremer

95%

2022 season

K/9 6.3 · BB/9 2.4 · HR/9 0.79 · SP · FB 93.2 mph · Whiff% 20

Career · Hitting

13 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1973	MON	17	41	1	.098	.318	45
1974	MON	38	79	3	.139	.367	53
1975	MON	35	77	5	.169	.439	63
1976	MON	35	74	4	.149	.309	45
1977	MON	40	96	3	.104	.244	33
1978	MON	30	71	3	.113	.261	37
1979	MON	40	77	2	.156	.389	53
1980	MON	38	81	7	.160	.413	58
1981	MON	23	55	3	.145	.339	49
1982	MON	35	85	4	.129	.370	52
1983	MON	36	82	2	.146	.325	46
1984	MON	31	49	1	.143	.381	54
1985	MON	8	14	1	.143	.357	50
Career		406	881	39	.138	—	—

Career · Pitching

13 seasons

Year	Team	G	IP	W	L	ERA	ERA+	SO	WHIP
1973	MON	17	134.0	10	5	1.54	243	64	1.060
1974	MON	38	253.7	15	22	4.47	81	154	1.321
1975	MON	35	251.7	11	12	3.29	112	137	1.335
1976	MON	33	230.0	7	17	3.21	109	150	1.222
1977	MON	40	301.7	17	16	3.10	129	206	1.170
1978	MON	30	219.0	13	10	2.47	149	126	1.142
1979	MON	37	248.7	13	12	3.00	133	143	1.247
1980	MON	37	281.0	16	11	2.98	129	147	1.181
1981	MON	22	160.7	12	8	3.42	105	87	1.183
1982	MON	35	277.0	19	8	2.40	160	179	1.119
1983	MON	36	273.0	17	12	3.23	120	146	1.231
1984	MON	31	169.3	6	15	4.31	88	64	1.470
1985	MON	8	38.0	2	4	5.68	68	18	1.868
Career		399	2837.8	158	152	—	—	1621	—

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