Charles Wilber “Bullet” Rogan

1889 – 1967 

Charles Wilber “Bullet” Rogan was one of the greatest players in the history of the Negro Baseball Leagues, a multifaceted star who earned enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Born in Oklahoma City, he moved as boy with his family to Kansas City, Kansas. 

Rogan attended Sumner High School and played on several local baseball teams before enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1914, reenlisted, and was recruited to play for the all-Black 25th Infantry’s powerhouse Wreckers baseball team. Among those he impressed was future New York Yankees manager Casey Stengal, a fellow Kansas Citian who’d played against Rogan and recommended him to the owner of the Kansas City Monarchs of the new Negro National League. 

Dominant as both a pitcher and hitter, Rogan helped the team win three consecutive league championships (1923-25) and a Negro League World Series title in 1924. He later managed the Monarchs — while continuing to play — and worked as an umpire in the Negro American League. Rogan died in Kansas City in 1967 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.