Born in Springfield, Illinois, Rogell was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox prior to the 1925 campaign after two seasons in the Southwestern League.

The Red Sox quickly tried to convert the switch-hitting Rogell into solely a right-handed batter, thinking that he would benefit from more appearances from the right side, hence more chances to drive balls off the Green Monster.

Rogell struggled out of the gate and the club acquired shortstop Mark Koenig from the Yankees mid-season and plugged him into the lineup.

Koenig, the same age as Rogell but already a household name, had been an integral part of the Yankees' famed Murderers' Row lineup in 1927 and was still considered by many as one of the premier shortstops in the American League.

Though his start in Detroit was unimpressive, by the time the 1931 season had ended it was clear to the Tigers that they had found their shortstop of the future.

A sure-handed fielder, he and Hall of Fame double-play partner Charlie Gehringer would give the Tigers one of the best keystone-combinations in baseball history.

The 1933 season also marked the first time Rogell, Gehringer, Owen, and first baseman Hank Greenberg appeared in the same lineup.

Rogell, leading off in front of four future Hall of Famers (Cochrane, Gehringer, Greenberg, as well as Goose Goslin), had the best season of his career, hitting .296, driving in a career-best 99 runs and scoring 114.

Rogell was part of a prolific offensive infield that combined for a major league record 462 runs batted in.

After driving in a run with a single to right in the fourth inning of game four, Spud Davis was replaced by Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean as a pinch runner at first base.

Dean, always known for his quick wit and humorous nature, remarked after a visit to the hospital, "The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing."

Again led by their stellar infield, the Tigers won the pennant by three games over the Yankees and earned a trip to face the Chicago Cubs for the world championship.

While Bartell would be a key part of the 1940 pennant winning Tiger club, Rogell entered a hornets' nest the moment he set foot into the Cubs' spring training camp.

Rogell, defending his former mates, got into a posturing match with manager/catcher Gabby Hartnett, who finally shouted, "You don't belong here!"

He spent the year riding the bench, as the Cubs rode their way into the second division of the National League, and retired at the conclusion of the season.

On one occasion, after both failing to cover second on a steal attempt, Cochrane charged out from behind the plate shouting at Rogell and Gehringer.

After a brief stint in the minors as a player and coach, he returned to Detroit and began his civil service career in 1942.

He would serve on the council, with a two-year break in the late forties, until 1980, playing a key role on the city's planning commissions.

He divorced his wife, married a waitress from a bar he often visited, moved back to Detroit, and caught up with some of his old teammates.