Roger Weaver

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1954)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Roger Weaver

|image=

|caption=

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1954|10|6}}

|birth_place=Amsterdam, New York

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=June 6

|debutyear=1980

|debutteam=Detroit Tigers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=October 4

|finalyear=1980

|finalteam=Detroit Tigers

|statleague = MLB

|stat2label=Win–loss record

|stat2value=3–4

|stat3label=Earned run average

|stat3value=4.10

|stat4label=Strikeouts

|stat4value=42

|teams=

• Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1980}})

}}

Roger Edward Weaver (born October 6, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for one season. He pitched in 19 games for the Detroit Tigers during the 1980 season.

Weaver is from St. Johnsville, New York and played college baseball for the Oneonta Red Dragons. At Oneonta, he pitched and played the outfield. As a junior in 1975, he had an earned run average (ERA) of 0.79.{{cite news |title=Hawk's Whittaker Heads SUNYAC All-Star Squad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109569260/hawks-whittaker-heads-sunyac-all-star/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Poughkeepsie Journal |date=24 May 1975 |page=15}} In April 1975, he threw a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Bulldogs which was marred only by a fielding error.{{cite news |title=O-State No-Hitter Perfect Except Boot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109569718/o-state-no-hitter-perfect-except-boot/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=13 April 1975 |page=2-D}} Weaver received a degree in American history from Oneonta in 1976. He was selected by the Tigers in the 16th round of the 1976 MLB draft.{{cite web |title=16th Round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1976&draft_round=16&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=15 September 2022 |language=en}}

Weaver spent his first professional season with the Bristol Tigers and led the Appalachian League with a 1.43 ERA.{{cite news |title=Appalachian Averages... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109570190/appalachian-averages/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Johnson City Press |date=12 September 1976 |pages=29}} He spent the following season with the Lakeland Tigers and led the Florida State League with 22 saves and finished third in the league with a 1.58 ERA.{{cite web |title=1977 Florida State League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=cd6d58a6 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=15 September 2022 |language=en}} Weaver was sidelined by injury for most of the 1978 season{{cite news |title=Triplets may reactivate reliever |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109571768/triplets-may-reactivate-reliever/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=25 April 1979 |page=29}} but managed a 1.50 ERA in twelve innings pitched.{{cite web |title=Roger Weaver Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=weaver002rog |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=15 September 2022 |language=en}} His elbow tendinitis caused pain which carried over into the offseason and was "so intense" that he could not straighten his arm, had difficulty sleeping and planned to quit baseball and go into business with his father.{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Pete |title=Weaver at home in Trips' bullpen after career nearly shriveled away |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109571968/weaver-at-home-in-trips-bullpen-after/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Evansville Courier and Press |date=13 May 1979 |page=8-C}} Nonetheless, a year later, Evansville Triplets manager Jim Leyland called Weaver into his hotel room to tell him he was being called up to the major leagues.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Dave |title=Meet me in Detroit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109572313/meet-me-in-detroit/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=31 May 1980 |pages=12}}

Weaver made his major league debut on June 6, 1980{{cite web |title=Roger Weaver Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weavero01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=15 September 2022 |language=en}} at Milwaukee County Stadium against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched 1{{frac|2|3}} scoreless, hitless innings in relief of Dave Tobik.{{cite web |title=Detroit Tigers at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, June 6, 1980 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL198006060.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=15 September 2022 |language=en}} Weaver earned his first major league win on June 24, 1980 when he entered in relief of Dan Petry in the third inning and threw 3{{frac|1|3}} scoreless innings. Describing the feeling of recording his first victory, he told reporters "it's the best!"{{cite news |last1=Lowitt |first1=Bruce |title=Weavers had their night in AL |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109575007/weavers-had-their-night-in-al/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Star-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |date=25 June 1980 |pages=20}} In early July, Tigers pitching coach Roger Craig told Weaver that the organization planned to use him as a starting pitcher in the future, a role which he told the Detroit Free Press he preferred to pitching out of the bullpen. In early August, he was surprised to learn that he would be making his starting debut on August 3.{{cite news |last1=Bragg |first1=Brian |title=Rookie Weaver latest Tiger to get starting chance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109575526/rookie-weaver-latest-tiger-to-get/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=3 August 1980 |page=7D}} However, by the third inning of his first major league start, he developed a blister on his right middle finger and was replaced by Dave Rozema to start the fourth.{{cite news |title=Tigers to put 5-win streak on line tonight vs. Royals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109575717/tigers-to-put-5-win-streak-on-line/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |agency=Associated Press |date=4 August 1980 |page=C-1}} On or about August 17, the Tigers placed Weaver on the disabled list due to a sore shoulder.{{cite news |title=Tigers make roster shift |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109585509/tigers-make-roster-shift/ |access-date=15 September 2022 |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=18 August 1980 }} Weaver returned in time to finish the Major League season but his performance suffered. Through September 8, he had an ERA of 2.23; over his final six games, his ERA was 6.59.{{cite web |title=Roger Weaver 1980 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=weavero01&t=p&year=1980 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=20 September 2022 |language=en}}

He married Michele Lonsberry on October 17, 1987. Weaver has two sons, Zach and Michael Weaver, one daughter named Lauren.