Everybody Loves Jake, As Rogers Breaks Obscure 122-Year-Old MLB Record

DETROIT: Jake Rogers gets high-fives from Detroit Tigers teammates aft hitting a two-run location tally against the Athletics astatine Comerica Park connected July 8, 2026. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

MLB Photos via Getty Images

Comedian Ray Romano made millions of dollars and entertained millions of fans pinch a celebrated tv show “Everybody Loves Raymond”. Though he played a sportswriter, he ne'er had an MLB record, however. Even an obscure one.

Maybe not everybody loves Jake Rogers. But successful the past 3 weeks, moreover if only for a little time, 4 MLB teams did. The catcher group a grounds by playing for 4 different teams successful a whirlwind 21 days.

Rogers shattered the existing grounds pinch ease. In fact, he tin return different 21 days to perchance widen it to 5 … six … seven. But who’s counting?

Not Rogers. He would for illustration to enactment put and effort and thief the White Sox complete a stunning turnaround from 3 consecutive years of 100+ losses to winning the AL Central. Chicago (65-58) already has 5 much wins past each of 2025 and leads the second-place Detroit Tigers by 5.5 games.

The 31-year-old Rogers woke up connected July 28 arsenic a personnel of the Detroit Tigers for the ninth consecutive year. He had been touted arsenic a minor-leaguer successful 2021, deed 21 homers successful 2023, past mislaid his occupation erstwhile he was designated for duty that day. He was location successful Dallas erstwhile Detroit dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles for minor-league pitcher Zane Barnhart connected July 30.

The Orioles needed thief pinch their apical 2 catchers, Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo connected the injured list. He came connected for defense the adjacent night, past started the adjacent 2 games, going 1-for-5 astatine the plate.

On the time of the 2026 MLB trading deadline, the Orioles made a astonishment move by dealing all-star Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox for 4 prospects. They tossed successful Rogers and sewage backmost seasoned backstop Carlos Narvaez.

With Rutschman still hurt, Rogers was the backup to erstwhile backup Connor Wong. He sewage into 3 games, going 3-for-6 pinch a brace of doubles, 4 runs and 1 RBI.

A fewer days later, Rogers recovered himself correct backmost successful Detroit – playing for the Chicago White Sox, who person catcher injuries, too. He sewage a opinionated ovation from fans who remembered him hitting 21 homers for Detroit successful 2023 and understood what he had been doing for a mates of weeks. He went 0-for 4 against the Tigers. But he was happy the White Sox won.

“It’s been a crazy fewer weeks here, been a whirlwind to opportunity the least,” Rogers told Jasen Beck of MLB.com. “It’s been nosy to benignant of meet immoderate caller guys and benignant of bounce around, truthful to say. But it’s benignant of bully to get settled successful present pinch Chicago, funny to benignant of person a afloat turnaround and play my first crippled pinch (the White Sox) successful Detroit. Of people it happens for illustration that.”

What was Tigers head A.J. Hinch’s reaction?

“I texted him and told him, ‘Baseball’s really weird,’ ” Hinch said.

The Old MLB Record

Frank Huelsman took a akin trek astir the American League successful 1904, playing for half of its’ 8 teams astatine the clip successful 42 days. The outfielder really packed his bags 5 times, getting an other travel erstwhile Detroit bought him from Chicago connected May 30, past sent him backmost to the White Sox connected June 8.

Chicago sold him again 8 days later, to the St. Louis Browns and 28 days aft that he was traded to the Washington Senators.

Huelsman began his profession playing successful the National League astatine property 23 for the 1897 St. Louis Browns. Those Browns are really the St. Louis Cardinals. The franchise began successful the American Association successful 1882 arsenic the St. Louis Brown Stockings, became the Browns a twelvemonth later, moved to the NL successful 1892, utilized the nickname Perfectos successful 1899 and became the Cardinals successful 1900.

Huelsman’s champion – and past – MLB play was 1905 pinch Washington erstwhile he he deed .271. In 235 MLB games, he batted .258 pinch 5 homers and 97 RBI. Then he became a awesome minor-league player. He played until property 42 and had 3 fabulous seasons betwixt Great Falls (MT) and Salt Lake City In 1911-13 erstwhile he deed a mixed .407 pinch 120 doubles, 54 triples and 51 homers.

Sluggers Tour MLB

In 1977, MLB had only 4 divisions, the AL East and West; the NL East and West. Dave Kingman played for teams successful each four.

The slugger was nicknamed Sky King aliases Kong arsenic a 6-foot-6 subordinate who launched majestic location runs retired of ballparks erstwhile he wasn’t striking retired astatine maddening rates. Unlike Rogers, who was warmly welcomed astatine each spot connected his caller journey, Kingman’s often-surly disposition sometimes had him wearing retired his invited almost arsenic soon arsenic it was offered.

He opened the 1977 play pinch the New York Mets aft hitting 36 and 37 homers for them the erstwhile 2 years. After 58 games, he was traded to the San Diego Padres, who put him connected waivers aft 56 games. The California Angels claimed him, but aft 10 games dealt him to the New York Yankees. In 132 games overall, he had 26 homers.

Kingman signed arsenic a free supplier pinch the Chicago Cubs for 1977. In 1978, he had a career-high 48 homers. The Cubs traded him backmost to the Mets successful 1981, and had 37 homers successful 1982. He went to Oakland arsenic a free supplier successful 1984 and totaled 100 homers successful 3 seasons.

He totaled 442 homers and 1,816 strikeouts complete 16 seasons.

Jose Bautista was 1 of 8 others since 1901 to play for 4 clubs successful a season. As a rookie, he was pinch Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. He went to Toronto successful 2008 and became a superstar slugger, surpassing 35 homers and 100 RBI 4 times.

How About A 5-for-1 MLB Record?

Three pitchers stock the grounds of bouncing betwixt 5 teams successful 1 year:

• Oliver Drake (2018): Brewers, Indians, Angels, Blue Jays, Twins; 44 games, each successful relief, 1-1 record, 5.39 ERA.
• Mike Baumann (2024): Orioles, Mariners, Giants, Angels, Marlins; 57 games, each successful relief, 3-1 record, 5.55 ERA.
• José Ureña (2025): Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Twins, Angels; 19 games, 6 starts, 0-1 record, 1 saves, 4.58 ERA.

Drake, now 39, retired aft the 2020 play pinch a 10-10 grounds successful 196 games, each successful relief.

Baumann, 30, has a 15-6 grounds successful 134 MLB games including 4 starts. He sounded successful Japan successful 2025 and was pinch the Mets’ Triple-A squad successful Syracuse this twelvemonth until being released successful June.

Urena, 34, has a 44-78 grounds and six saves successful 278 MLB games including 158 starts. He is presently pitching successful Japan, perchance hoping to return to America and someway group different MLB grounds of immoderate kind.