Rogers McKee

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Rogers Hornsby McKee (born September 16, 1926 in Shelby, North Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Blue Jays in 1943 and 1944. As a 16-year-old rookie in 1943, he was the youngest player to appear in a National League game that season.

McKee is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He made his major league debut on August 18, 1943 in a home doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals at Shibe Park. The best game of his short career, however, came on the last day of the 1943 season. McKee started the second game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field and pitched a complete game, winning 11-3. The opposing pitcher (and loser) was rookie Cookie Cuccurullo, who was making his major league debut.

McKee appeared in only one game for the Blue Jays in 1944 (September 26), so in parts of two seasons he appeared in just five games, four in relief, with three games finished. He pitched a total of 15.1 innings and allowed 10 earned runs. His major league career ended, at the age of 18, with a 1-0 record and a 5.87 ERA.