Robin Roberts (baseball player)

Robin Evan Roberts (born September 30, 1926 in Springfield, Illinois, USA) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Phillies (1948-61), Baltimore Orioles (1962-65), Houston Astros (1965-66) and Chicago Cubs (1966).

Related Topics:
September 30 - 1926 - Springfield, Illinois - USA - Major League Baseball - Starting pitcher - Philadelphia Phillies - Baltimore Orioles - Houston Astros - Chicago Cubs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A workhorse, hard thrower, and a tough competitor, Roberts is considered by many as the best right-handed pitcher in Phillies history. In 1950 he led his Phillies Whiz Kids team, the youngest major league baseball squad ever fielded, to the first National League pennant in 35 years. Amazingly, Roberts started three games in the last five days of the season, winning the heavily favored Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, in a pennant-deciding, 10-inning game. It was his 20th victory, becoming the Phillies' first 20-game-winner since Grover Cleveland Alexander did it in 1917. Since then, the 1950 Phillies went in the baseball history known forever as the Whiz Kids.

Related Topics:
1950 - Whiz Kids - National League - Brooklyn Dodgers - Ebbets Field - Grover Cleveland Alexander - 1917

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Between 1950 and 1955 Roberts won 20 games, with NL highs from 1952-55. Six times he led the league ingames started, five times in complete games and innings pitched, and once pitched 28 complete games in a row. A fabulous control pitcher, Roberts never walked more than 77 batters in any regular season. Beside this, he helped himself as a fielder as well as his bat, hitting 55 doubles, 10 triples, and five home runs with 103 RBI. His only weakness as a pitcher was surrendering the longball.

Related Topics:
Won - Games started - Complete games - Innings pitched - Walked - Doubles - Triples - Home run - RBI

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite his 28 victories in 1952, Roberts enjoyed his best season in 1953 posting a 23-16 record and also leading the NL pitchers in strikeouts with 198. In a career-high 346.2 innings pitched he walked just 66 batters, and his 2.75 ERA was second in the league behind Warren Spahn 2.10, narrowly missing the Triple Crown.

Related Topics:
1952 - 1953 - Strikeout - Innings pitched - ERA - Warren Spahn - Triple Crown

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In his 19-seasons career, Roberts compiled a 286-245 record with 2,357 strikeouts, a 3.41 ERA, 305 complete games, 45 shutouts, and 4,688.2 innings pitched in 676 games. He holds the major league record for most consecutive Opening Day starts for the same team with 12, between 1950 and 1961.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Robin Roberts was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976

Related Topics:
Baseball Hall of Fame - 1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~