Roy R. Pfleger
(First row, third player)

Roy Pfleger was born in Minford, Ohio on June 15, 1909.    

His stats are listed as:  Shortstop, Second Baseman, Third Baseman; Bats left, throws right; 5'9"; 175 lbs.;

Roy died on July 27, 1969 in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 60 years old.

Pfleger played baseball with his brothers Floyd, Earl, and Elmer on the Beaver community team in the 1920's.  After Roy graduated from Minford High School, he played baseball at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. 

After leaving Ohio University, Roy went to Huntington, West Virginia to play in the Appalachian League.  He played in different states during his professional career.  In 1938, Roy played in Sacramento, California when the league was led by a teammate, Ted Williams.

Roy went on to manage the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada team.

The Portsmouth Times, April 12, 1933, p. 8

Roy Pfleger Has Ohio Fielding Post

When the Ohio University baseball team opens hits 1933 season against the strong University of Illinois team here Friday and Saturday, Roy Pfleger, Minford senior, will be starting his last year on the green and white diamond squad.

Though several good sophomores are working for the position, Pfleger's fielding and hitting ability virtually assure him of the post.  He is a consistent hitter, completing the last two seasons among the leading hitters of the squad.  A brother, Earl, is remembered as one of the best first basemen to graduate from Ohio in recent years.

The Illinois team will play the initial game Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, and will oppose the Bobcats in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. 

The Sandusky Star Journal
June 3, 1933

Roy Pfleger, Minford, Ohio, shortstop on Ohio University's baseball team, entered professional baseball with the Huntington club of the Middle Atlantic league at the close of the college season here.  Pfleger was sent to Huntington by Billy Doyle, scout for the Detroit Tigers.  Last year Bill Gilvary, Ohio University pitcher, went to the Dayton club of the Middle Atlantic League. 

The Portsmouth Times, June 4, 1933, p. 26

Roy Pfleger Making Good in Huntington

Roy Pfleger, when he used to do the chores on his father's farm at White Gravel, near Minford, dreamed of the day when he would become a big league ball player.  That dream may soon blossom into a reality.

Pfleger is playing short for the Huntington club in the Mid-Atlantic league and his fielding and batting have been of an extremely high class order, according to Scout Billy Doyle.  Several games have been broken up by Pfleger's big bat and he has nipped several uprisings at the plate by his fast fielding.  He used to play at Ohio University and baseball scouts, who have seen him in action say he is headed for the big show when his boyhood dream will be a reality.  Pfleger is well known in Portsmouth and Scioto County.

The Portsmouth Times, September 7, 1933, p. 10
Pfleger Night

Roy Pfleger, who has been playing consistent ball for the Huntington, West Virginia team in the Mid-Atlantic League, will be honored tonight when "Pfleger Night" will be observed by the Huntington fans.  The team will play the Springfield club.

Pfleger is the new football and basketball coach at Minford High and already taken up his work there, driving back and forth every day.  He looks like a big league prospect, according to Billy Doyle.  Despite the fact that he is on a listless, tail-end ball club, Pfleger has performed consistently all season and is regarded as the best shortstop in the M-A loop. 

The Portsmouth Times, May 13, 1936, p. 23

Pfleger is Making Good at Minneapolis
Former Minford Boy Cracks Out 3 Homers in 10 Days

Roy Pfleger, Minford boy, continues to play sensational ball in both hitting and fielding for Minneapolis in the American Association.  Last Sunday he distinguished himself before a large Minneapolis crowd by smashing a home run in the 10th inning to win from Louisville, 4 to 3.  It was Pfleger's third homer in the last 10 days.

He is playing second base and hitting first in the lineup.  He is the property of the Detroit Tigers and is with Minneapolis on option. 

The Portsmouth Times, May 14, 1936, p. 17

Two Homers in Inning

Roy Pfleger, Minneapolis reserve infielder had his name in the American Association's record book today along with swell prospects for a regular job with the Millers.

Playing second base in place of Andy Cohen yesterday, Pfleger became the fourth player in 34 years of association slugging to cloust out two home runs in one inning as the Millers blistered Toledo 14 to 0.  He turned on his loud hitting in a highly-eventful 8th inning during which Donie Bush's men scored nine runs at the expense of Oliver Thomas, Mud Hens relief hurler.  Arch McKain gave the Hens only five singles. 

The Portsmouth Times, May 13, 1937, p. 16

Pfleger Smashes Homer with Three Runners on Sacks

Roy Pfleger, Minford boy, continues to jarrup the leather for the Minneapolis Millers.  he clouted two home runs yesterday against Lousiville, one of them coming with the sacks clogged to give the Millers a flying start against Louisville.

Stanley Spence of South Portsmouth, was up one time and cracked out a single.  Spence is in the outfield for the Millers.  Pfleger plays second base.

The Portsmouth Times, May 15, 1936, p. 17

Pfleger Cracks Out Two More Homers in A. A.

Roy Pfleger, Minford boy, playing with the Minneapolis team poled two homers yesterday making four he clouted in successive days for another record in the American Association.

Since he began to bang the pellet out of the park, the Millers have started to climb and look to be a real pennant contender in the A. A.

Pfleger is hitting all kinds of pitchers and A. A. sport writers claim he is the sensation of the association. 

Click here for a program and scorecard from the 1936 Minneapolis Miller's game vs. Milwaukee Brewers.

The Portsmouth Times, June 18, 1937, p. 1

Roy Pfleger Stars 

Roy Pfleger of Minford is contributing materially to the Minneapolis Millers' success in the American Association.  Pfleger is fielding at second base in brilliant style and hitting timely.  The Millers are heading the American Association.

The Portsmouth Times, April 17, 1940, p. 9

Minford Ball Player Injured in Coast Tilt
Roy Pfleger Suffers Compound Fracture of Leg

 Roy Pfleger of Minford, who is the new utility infielder of Bennie Borgmann's Sacramento team, suffered a compound fracture of his right leg in a collision with R. W. Hawkins, second baseman of the Portland team in the Coast League.

Pfleger was in the act of completing a double play when Hawkins crashed into him.  The Minford boy, who until this season played with Minneapolis in the American Association, is a patient in a hospital in Sacramento.  According to his physicians, his injury is serious.

Pfleger was sold to the Nashville team several weeks ago, but refused to report there.  He later was obtained by the Cardinals and then was sent to Sacramento. 

The Portsmouth Times,  April 10, 1941, p. 24

Roy Pfleger Named Head of Hamilton

Roy Pfleger, who formerly played with the Minneapolis Millers in the American Association and later with Bennie Bergmann when he was a manager of Sacramento team in the Coast League, has just signed his first minor league manager contract.

Pfleger, who spent the winter in the coal business of Minford, has been named as the new pilot of the Hamilton, Ontario team in the Canadian League.  He left Wednesday for Albany, Georgia where his team will do its training.  He was accompanied by his wife, and their daughter, Betty Lou, 4.

Shortly after the 1940 season was started, Pfleger suffered a broken leg in sliding into second base in a game between Portland and Sacramento at the latter city and was out of the game virtually all of last season.  Pfleger, who plays short, second or third, is espected to play second for the Hamilton team.

The Portsmouth Times
April 19, 1943, p. 10

As part of the business of cleaning up affairs here, Rochester President Oliver French announced he had given an outright release to Roy Pfleger, the Minford slugger whose contract the Wings have held.  Pfleger had decided to stick to farming.

Click here for Roy's obituary. 

For complete stats, go to  https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pflege001roy#