Henri Rondeau
Henri Rondeau | |
---|---|
Outfielder / Catcher | |
Born: Danielson, Connecticut | May 5, 1887|
Died: May 28, 1943 Woonsocket, Rhode Island | (aged 56)|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 11, 1913, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 1, 1916, for the Washington Senators | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .206 |
Home runs | 1 |
Runs batted in | 37 |
Teams | |
|
Henri Joseph Rondeau (May 5, 1887 – May 28, 1943) was an American
Early years
Rondeau was born in Danielson, Connecticut, in 1887.[1] He played baseball as a boy in Danielson and began playing organized baseball as a second baseman for the Perseverance team out of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in the Mill League.[2]
Professional baseball
Minor leagues
In 1909, while playing for the Perseverance team, Rondeau was discovered by
Detroit Tigers
On September 16, 1912, Rondeau was drafted by the
Minneapolis
After his release from the hospital, he was traded by the Tigers to the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.[2] He hit .378 for Minneapolis in 19 games at the end of the 1913 season and continued to play well for Minneapolis in 1914, appearing in 150 games with a .308 batting average and .412 on-base percentage.[3] He was converted from a catcher to an outfielder in July 1914 by Minneapolis manager Joe Cantillon.[2]
Washington Senators
In August 1914, the Millers traded Rondeau to
On May 10, 1915, after a poor performance in his tryout with the Senators, Rondeau was sold by the Senators to the Minneapolis Millers. Clark Griffith stated at the time that he had given Rondeau a fair trial.[7] He compiled a .333 batting average in 129 games for the Millers.[3]
After another strong season with Minneapolis, Rondeau returned to the Senators in 1916. He appeared in 50 games, 33 as a left fielder and 17 as a right fielder, and compiled a .222 batting average and .311 on-base percentage. He appeared in his last major league game on July 1, 1916.[1] On July 5, 1916, Rondeau was returned to the Millers.[8]
In three major league seasons, Rondeau had a .206 batting average and .311 on-base percentage in 99 games and 272 at bats. He played 59 of his major league games as an outfielder and 16 games as a catcher.[1] As of the end of the 2015 season, Rondeau is the only major league baseball player in history named "Henri".[9]
Minneapolis
Rondeau returned in July 1916 for a third run with Minneapolis in between stints with the Washington Senators. This time, Rondeau remained with the Millers as a starting outfielder for nine more years, running through the 1924 season. He compiled a career high .382 batting average in 16 games during the 1916 season. In all, he batted over .300 seven times for the Millers: .382 in 1916, .378 in 1913, .333 in 1915 and 1920, .312 in 1923, .308 in 1914, and .302 in 1924.[3] Rondeau was one of 42 players from 1902 to 1952 to play in 10 or more seasons as a member of the American Association.[10] Minnesota manager Joe Cantillon in 1921 referred to Rondeau as "an institution" with the team.[11]
Little Rock and Hartford
After leaving the Millers, Rondeau played one more minor league season in 1925, splitting the season between the Little Rock Travelers and the Hartford Senators.[3] On September 1, 1925, while playing for Hartford, he collapsed during the eighth inning of a game and was carried to the clubhouse by his fellow players. A doctor stated that Rondeau had suffered a heart attack.[12]
Later years
Rondeau died in 1943 after a long illness at age 56 at his home in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.[13] He was buried at Precious Blood Cemetery in Woonsocket.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Henri Rondeau". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^
- ^ a b c d e "Henri Rondeau Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ A search of the Baseball-Reference.com web site reveals only one player named "Henri".
- ^ American Association Almanac Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine at www.americanassociationalmanac.com
- ^ "Pep Keeps Rondeau Young in Game". New Castle Herald. April 16, 1921. p. 13.
- ^ "Rondeau Collapses". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 12, 1925. p. 4.