Dave Rozema

Dave Rozema
Pitcher
Born:(1956-08-05)August 5, 1956 Grand Rapids, Michigan,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 11, 1977, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
April 30, 1986, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	60–53
Earned run average	3.47
Strikeouts	448
Teams
Detroit Tigers(1977–1984) Texas Rangers(1985–1986)
Career highlights and awards
World Serieschampion (1984)

David Scott Rozema(/ˈroʊzmɑː/ROHZ-mah;born August 5, 1956) is an American formerprofessional baseballpitcherwho played ten seasons inMajor League Baseball(MLB), for theDetroit TigersandTexas Rangers.Listed at 6' 4 ", 185 lb., Rozema batted and threw right-handed.

Early years

Rozema was born inGrand Rapids, Michigan,in 1956. He attendedGrand Rapids Central High School.In his junior and senior seasons, he was an all-city pitcher for the baseball team, compiling records of 11-3 and 11-5.He was drafted by theSan Francisco Giantsin the 22nd round of the 1974 June amateur draft,but he did not sign with the Giants, instead enrolling atGrand Rapids Community College.

Professional baseball

Minor leagues

In January 1975, Rozema was drafted by theDetroit Tigersin the fourth round of the 1975 supplemental draft.He signed with the Tigers on January 22, 1975,and was assigned to theClass AClinton Pilotsmanaged byJim Leyland.Rozema began the 1975 season in the bullpen, but impressed Leyland, and was promoted to the starting rotation. He relied principally on his fastball, but learned to throw a slider while with Clinton.He appeared in 27 games for the Pilots, compiling a 14-5 record and a 2.09earned run average(ERA).In July 1975, he was selected by theDetroit Free Pressas the "Tiger of the Future".

In 1976, Rozema was promoted to the Tigers' Double-AMontgomery Rebels.Despite missing two months with an elbow injury,he compiled a 12-4 record with a 1.57 ERA.Montgomery managerLes Mosssaid of Rozema: "That kid has all the tools. If he keeps pitching like that, he won’t be around here long. He’s an outstanding prospect."

1977 season

Rozema attended the Tigers' 1977 spring camp as a nonroster player, but impressed managerRalph Houkand made the major league roster without ever having played a game at the Triple-A level. He made his major league debut at age 20 and, 10 days later, threw a four-hit shutout against theBoston Red Sox.Despite missing the last three weeks of the season with a shoulder injury, he finished his rookie season with a 15-7 record and a 3.09 ERA and led the Tigers in wins, ERA, complete games (16), and innings pitched (218), and ranked third in the league inwinning percentage(.682), fifth inadjusted ERA+(138), sixth instrikeout-to-walk ratio(2.71), and eighth incomplete games.

He won post-season honors as the American League Rookie Pitcher of the Year and the Tigers' rookie of the year.He also finished fourth in the voting forRookie of the Yearand ninth for the American LeagueCy Young Award.Rozema formed part of a distinguished group of rookies with the 1977 Tigers that includedJack Morris,Alan Trammell,Lou Whitaker,Lance ParrishandSteve Kemp.

Middle years: 1978-1981

After a promising rookie year, Rozema never won more than nine games in a season. In 1978, he finished with a 9-12 record, 11 complete games and an adjusted ERA+ of 124. In 1979, he again had an above-average adjusted ERA+ of 124, but he started only 16 games and had a record of 4-4. Afterwards, Rozema's ERA fell off to a rate only slightly better than the league average, as he won six games in 1980 and five in 1981.

1982 season and karate kick

Rozema got off to a tremendous start in 1982, compiling a 3-0 record and an ERA of 1.63 (adjusted ERA+ of 248) in his first eight games. In a televised game against theMinnesota Twinson May 14, a bench-clearing brawl erupted after Twins pitchers hit bothChet LemonandEnos Cabell.Rozema ran from the dugout and attempted to deliver a flying karate kick to the Twins'John Castino,but he missed Castino and tore eightligamentsin his knee. As a result, Rozema had to be carried off the field on a stretcher. He required a knee surgery the next day and was put on the disabled list for the rest of the 1982 season.

In October 2006,Sports Illustratedselected Rozema as one of the "10 Greatest Characters in Detroit Tigers History". His selection was based on (1) the "karate kick" misfire, (2) a subsequent injury the same year in which Rozema fell on a flask in his back pocket and needed 11 stitches in his hip, (3) an incident in which he shoved a bar glass into the face of teammate Alan Trammell resulting in 47 stitches near Trammell's eye, (4) missing a team bus when he overslept after judging a wet T-shirt contest, and (5) usingBrillo padsto wash his new car.

On July 9, 2008, the minor league team in Rozema's home town, theWest Michigan Whitecaps,gave away an unusual promotional item, "Dave Rozema Karate Kick Bobbleleg" figures.

Later years: 1983-1986

Rozema with the Texas Rangers in 1985

Rozema came back from the injury in 1983 with an 8-3 record and 3.43 ERA in 105 innings pitched. In addition, he played on the1984 Tigers teamthat won theWorld Series.During the regular season, he started 16 games, compiling a 7-6 record with a 3.74 ERA in 101 innings pitched, but did not appear in the post-season.

On December 27, 1984, Rozema signed as afree agentwith the Texas Rangers a contract for an estimated total of $500,000 to $600,000.He appeared in 34 games for the Rangers in 1985 (all but four in relief) and had a 4.19 ERA in 88 innings pitched. After compiling a 5.91 ERA at the start of the 1986 season, Rozema was released by the Rangers during the midseason. He then was signed as a free agent by theChicago White Soxon May 20, 1986, but did not play for them.

In a 10-season career, Rozema posted a 60-53 record with a 3.47 ERA in 248 pitching appearances (132 starts),striking out448 batters whilewalking258 in 1106 innings of work.

Life after major league baseball

In the early 1990s, Rozema pitched for theSt. Petersburg Pelicansof theSenior Professional Baseball Association,and with theLondon Majorsof theIntercounty Baseball Leaguebased inLondon, Ontario,Canada.

On December 22, 1985, Rozema and his former teammateKirk Gibsonmarried sisters, JoAnn and Sandy Sklarski in a double ceremony at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church inGrosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

In 2003,Crain's Detroit Businessreported that Rozema was working as a salesman for Disposal Management LLC ofBloomfield Hills, Michigan,selling the company's services to waste generators in the Detroit area.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orSABR Biography Project