John Roseboro is a part of a long line of Dodger catchers well regarded for their abilities behind the plate. He was one of the best defensive catchers in the game; which coincidentally, led to constant talk about a Dodgers catcher problem. You see, much like today, folks look down on a catcher who is all glove but no bat. On the other hand, I would suggest that the real measure of a catcher is not what he bats at the plate, but how his pitching staff performs with him behind it.
Roseboro manned the position for 3 World Series Championship teams, and was a quintessential part of a pitching staff that blew away the competition. Seven times in his career as the Dodgers primary catcher the staff recorded an ERA of 3.50 or less; three times it was under 3.00.
Something I didn't know about Roseboro until recently was his gift of song. In the mid-60's, Chevrolet was a sponsor of Dodger games on the radio, so they had Roseboro, along with some other Dodgers, sing the famous tune "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" for their commercials. Dodger announcer Jerry Doggett said that Roseboro was a singer "whose singing career was destined to go absolutely nowhere." Unfortunately, I have yet to find a recording.
Below are complete scans of every page from John Roseboro's 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet. Click any pic to embiggen.
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