View source for Robin Roberts (baseball)

{{Short description|American baseball player (1926–2010)}}
{{for|the broadcaster|Robin Roberts (newscaster)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Robin Roberts
|image=Robin Roberts 1961.jpg
|caption=Roberts with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1961
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Switch
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1926|9|30}}
|birth_place=[[Springfield, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age |2010|5|6|1926|9|30}}
|death_place=[[Temple Terrace, Florida]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 18
|debutyear=1948
|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=August 26
|finalyear=1966
|finalteam=Chicago Cubs
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=286–245
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.41
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,357
|teams=
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1948}}–{{mlby|1961}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1962}}–{{mlby|1965}})
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1965}}–{{mlby|1966}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1966}})
|highlights=
* 7× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All Star]] ([[1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1950]]–[[1956 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1956]])
* 4× [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|NL wins leader]] (1952–1955)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|NL strikeout leader]] (1953, 1954)
* [[Philadelphia Phillies#Retired numbers|Philadelphia Phillies No. 36]] retired
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame|Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1976 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1976]]
|hofvote=86.9% (fourth ballot)
}}

'''Robin Evan Roberts''' (September 30, 1926 – May 6, 2010) was an American [[Major League Baseball]] [[starting pitcher]] who pitched primarily for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1948–1961). He spent the latter part of his career with the [[Baltimore Orioles]] (1962–1965), [[Houston Astros]] (1965–66), and [[Chicago Cubs]] (1966). Roberts was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1976 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1976]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=121283 |title=Robin Roberts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813205210/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=121283 |archive-date=August 13, 2009 |work= [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] }}</ref>

After retiring from Major League Baseball, he coached the [[South Florida Bulls baseball|University of South Florida college baseball team]] for nine seasons, leading them to six conference titles.

==Early life and education==
Roberts was born in [[Springfield, Illinois]], the son of an immigrant Welsh coal miner. He arrived in [[East Lansing, Michigan]] as part of an [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] training program.<ref name="msu">{{cite news |title=A Man for All Seasons – MSU Great and Hall-of-Famer Robin Roberts Remembers His Alma Mater and Playing Days |newspaper=New Educator |publisher=Michigan State University College of Education|date=Fall 2002 |url=http://www.educ.msu.edu/neweducator/Fall02/roberts.htm }}</ref>

He attended [[Lanphier High School]]. After [[World War II]], Roberts returned to [[Michigan State University|Michigan State College]] to play [[college basketball|basketball]], not [[college baseball|baseball]].<ref name="msu"/> Roberts led the Spartans' basketball team in field-goal percentage in 1946–1947, was captain of the team during the 1946–1947 and 1949–1950 seasons, and earned three varsity letters in basketball. He wore number 17 for the Spartans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spartan Records |newspaper=Michigan State Men's Basketball |date=2009–2010 |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0910MBBRecords.pdf |access-date=November 25, 2009 |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112091700/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0910MBBRecords.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> After his second season playing basketball, Roberts tried out for the Michigan State baseball team, becoming a pitcher because it was the position that coach [[John Kobs]] needed most.<ref name="msu"/>

After playing for Michigan State and spending his second summer playing in [[Vermont]] with the [[Barre (town), Vermont|Barre]]–[[Montpelier, Vermont|Montpelier]] Twin City Trojans, he was signed by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref name="vermont">[http://www.thevermontmountaineers.com/robinroberts.htm Robin Roberts, Twin City Trojans 1946–1947] from the [[Vermont Mountaineers]] website</ref>

==Professional career==
===Philadelphia Phillies===
Roberts made his [[Major League Baseball]] debut with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] on June 18, 1948. In [[1950 Philadelphia Phillies season|1950]], he led his Phillies, whose overall youth earned them the nickname the [[Whiz Kids (baseball)|Whiz Kids]], to their first [[National League (baseball)|National League]] pennant in 35 years. Roberts started three games in the last five days of the season, defeating the heavily favored [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] at [[Ebbets Field]], in a pennant-deciding, season-ending, 10-inning game. This marked his 20th victory of the season, and Roberts became the Phillies' first 20-game winner since [[Grover Cleveland Alexander]] in 1917. Roberts also started Game 2 in the [[1950 World Series]] against [[Allie Reynolds]]. He allowed two runs and ten hits in ten innings as the Phillies lost 2-1.

From 1950 to 1955, Roberts [[win (baseball)|won]] at least 20 games each season, leading the National League in victories from 1952 to 1955. He led the National League in [[games started]] six times, in [[complete game]]s and [[innings pitched]] five times, and he once pitched 28 complete games in a row, with one of those games lasting 17 innings. During his career, Roberts never [[Base on balls|walked]] more than 77 batters in any regular season. He helped himself with his bat, hitting 55 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 10 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]], and five [[home run]]s with 103 [[Run batted in|RBI]]s.

Roberts' 28 wins in [[1952 Philadelphia Phillies season|1952]], the year he was named the [[Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' MLB Player of the Year award]], were the most in the National League since 1935, the year when [[Dizzy Dean]] won 28 games.

Although he had 28 wins in 1952, Roberts had his best season, based on a career high [[wins above replacement]] (WAR) in [[1953 Philadelphia Phillies season|1953]], posting a 23–16 record<ref name="BR profile">{{cite web|url=https://baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberro01.shtml|title=Robin Roberts Career Statistics at Baseball Reference|website=baseball-reference.com|accessdate= September 25, 2024}}</ref> and leading National League pitchers in [[strikeout]]s with 198.<ref name="stats">{{Cite web |title=Yearly League Leaders & Records for Strikeouts |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_leagues.shtml |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In a career-high {{frac|346|2|3}} innings pitched, he walked just 66 batters, and his 2.75 [[Earned run average|ERA]] was second in the league behind [[Warren Spahn]]'s 2.10.

One of the most memorable highlights of his career occurred on May 13, 1954, when Roberts gave up a lead-off home run to [[Bobby Adams]] of the [[Cincinnati Reds]], then known as the Cincinnati Redlegs, but then went on to retire 27 consecutive batters to win 8–1, on a one-hit game.

Roberts consistently (11 out of 14 years) had a better winning percentage than did the Phillies in games in which he had no decision. Overall, the Phillies were 1,020–1,136 from 1948 to 1961, a winning percentage of .4731. Roberts was 234–199 in that span, for a winning percentage of .5404.

[[File:Robin Roberts 1963.jpg|thumb|Roberts pitched for the [[Baltimore Orioles]] from [[1962 Baltimore Orioles season|1962]] to [[1965 Baltimore Orioles season|1965]].]]
After the [[1961 Philadelphia Phillies season|1961 season]], Roberts was sold to the [[New York Yankees]], who acquired the slumping pitcher from the Phillies for slightly more than the $20,000 league [[waivers (MLB)|waiver]] price.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-10-17 |title=Yankees Buy Robin Roberts from Phillies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corvallis-gazette-times-yankees-buy-robi/5395805/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=United Press International}}</ref>

On February 6, 1962, the Phillies announced that Roberts' uniform number 36 would be retired by the team on March 21, 1962, when the Yankees would visit [[Jack Russell Memorial Stadium|Clearwater]] to play the Phillies in a spring training game. It was the first uniform number to be retired by the organization.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Roberts is 'Retired'|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=February 7, 1962|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fiQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5915,3321691&dq=phillies+uniform&hl=en|page=3-C}}</ref> Roberts started for the Yankees in the spring game, gave up four runs in three innings, and was the winning pitcher in the Yankees' 13–10 victory.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Yanks' Two Homers Help Beat Phils, 13–10; Mets 1–0 Victors Over Tigers |author=John Drebinger |newspaper=New York Times|date=March 22, 1962|url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F50811F6385C137A93C0AB1788D85F468685F9}}</ref> He was released by the Yankees in May 1962 without having appeared in a regular-season game for the Yankees.

===Baltimore Orioles===
Roberts signed with the [[Baltimore Orioles]] on May 21, 1962.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19620521&id=UotPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HFIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5235,583196&hl=en "Bird-Watcher's Note: Robin Becomes Oriole"] Associated Press, Tuesday, May 22, 1962</ref> He went 42&ndash;36 with a 3.09 ERA in {{frac|3|1|2}} seasons with the Orioles.<ref name="robertsleavesos">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19650728&id=zHwoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T8kEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1185,5439741&hl=en "Robin Asks, Is Waived From Birds"] Associated Press, Wednesday, July 28, 1965</ref>

In Roberts' final year in [[Baltimore]], he was the first road roommate and mentor to [[Jim Palmer]], who made his major league debut in relief of Roberts in the third inning of a 12&ndash;9 loss to the [[Boston Red Sox]] in [[Fenway Park]] on April 17, 1965.<ref>Klingaman, Mike [http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-palmer-anniversary-0417-20150417-story.html "Fifty years ago today, Jim Palmer began Hall of Fame career with Orioles"] ''The Baltimore Sun'', Friday, April 17, 2015</ref> Palmer said 47 years later, "Robin Roberts helped teach me even though he knew I was probably going to take his job."<ref>Wagner, Bill [http://www.capitalgazette.com/cg2-arc-126d9263-972e-5343-aee3-67e84e3d7570-20120717-story.html "Sports Comment: Palmer gets kick out of tribute"] ''Capital Gazette'' (Annapolis, Maryland), Tuesday, July 17, 2012</ref> Dissatisfied with his new role as a spot starter and long reliever, Roberts requested his release, which was granted by the Orioles on July 27, 1965.<ref name="robertsleavesos"/>

===Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs===
Roberts signed with the [[Houston Astros]] on August 5.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19650806&id=EEIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CeYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2304,3262013&hl=en "Robin Roberts Signed By the Houston Astros And Will Hurl Monday"] Associated Press, Friday, August 6, 1965</ref> He signed with the [[Chicago Cubs]] on July 13, 1966, with the additional capacity of assisting pitching coach [[Freddie Fitzsimmons]]. Roberts was also reunited with fellow Whiz Kid [[Curt Simmons]].<ref>Prell, Edward [http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1966/07/14/page/136/article/roberts-signs-with-cubs-as-hurler-coach "Roberts Signs With Cubs As Hurler, Coach"] ''Chicago Tribune'', Thursday, July 14, 1966</ref> His final major league game was with the Cubs on September 3, 1966, at [[Forbes Field]]. He was released by the Cubs on October 3, 1966.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=897&dat=19650728&id=AI5hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DE4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4162,4395085&hl=en "Mets (sic) Release Robin Roberts"] United Press International, Tuesday, October 4, 1966</ref> He pitched for the [[Reading Phillies]] during 1967.<ref>{{cite news |title=Robin Roberts Beaten, 1–0, In First Start With Reading |url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F10B17FC3B5F1A718DDDAF0A94DC405B878AF1D3 |newspaper=New York Times |page=54|date=April 26, 1967 |access-date=2009-08-11}}</ref>

===Baseball Hall of Fame===
Roberts was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1976. Ahead of the August 1976 induction, Roberts was named honorary captain of the National League for the [[1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], which was hosted by the Phillies at [[Veterans Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |date=July 6, 1976 |title=Roberts, Lemon All-Star Captains |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-roberts-lemon-all-star/165045229/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |page=3C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

== Coaching career ==

=== Germantown Academy ===
From 1971 to 1975, Roberts coached the [[Germantown Academy]] boys varsity baseball team in [[Fort Washington, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-08 |title=Germantown Academy Varsity Baseball |url=https://www.germantownacademy.net/athletics/teams/varsity-baseball#fs-panel-5339 |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=[[Germantown Academy]]}}</ref> The 1972 Germantown team went 22–1 and won the Inter-Ac League championship with a record of 10–0. Roberts' son was a member of that team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 Varsity Baseball Team |url=https://www.germantownacademy.net/athletics/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-directory/post-details/~board/athletic-hall-of-fame/post/1972-varsity-baseball-team |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=[[Germantown Academy]]}}</ref> An annual baseball player award is named in Roberts' honor. 

=== University of South Florida ===
After one season as a [[color commentator]] on Phillies broadcasts in [[1976 Philadelphia Phillies season|1976]], Roberts coached the [[South Florida Bulls baseball|University of South Florida baseball team]] in [[Tampa, Florida]] from 1977 to 1985. He led the team to its first [[1982 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Tournament in 1982]] and won six conference titles with the Bulls. He was named the Sun Belt coach of the year each season from 1978 to 1982. His uniform number 36 was the first to be retired by the team,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Baseball Record Book |url=https://gousfbulls.com/documents/2025/1/29/2025_BSB_Record_Book_FINAL.pdf |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=[[South Florida Bulls|USF Athletics]] |pages=12, 58}}</ref> and he was honored on the center field wall at the team's since demolished [[Red McEwen Field]]; he also is honored on the new [[USF Baseball Stadium]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

==Other endeavors==
During the baseball off-season, Roberts toured with the Robin Roberts All-Stars basketball team. The team played against other touring squads, such as the [[Harlem Globetrotters]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Roberts was also the president of the Gold King Seafood Company in [[Philadelphia]], even during his baseball career. This was central to an appearance Roberts made on ''[[What's My Line?]]'' in 1957, where the panelists had to decipher what else he did besides play baseball.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch What's My Line Season 8 Episode 20 S8E20 EPISODE #345|url=http://www.ovguide.com/tv_episode/whats-my-line-season-8-episode-20-episode-345-230788|work=Online Video Guide|access-date=May 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://youtube.com/watch?v=Fq6rfn8GDmQ What's My Line? - Robert Montgomery; Peter Lawford (panel) (Jan 13, 1957)] on [[YouTube]]</ref>

==Legacy==
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = PhilsRoberts.PNG
|Name   = Robin Roberts
|Number = 36
|Team   = Philadelphia Phillies
|Year   = [[1962 Philadelphia Phillies season|1962]]
}}
In his 19-season career, Roberts compiled a 286–245 record with 2,357 strikeouts, a 3.41 ERA, 305 complete games, 45 [[shutouts in baseball|shutout]]s, and {{frac|4,688|2|3}} innings pitched in 676 games. He is second to [[Jamie Moyer]] for the major league record for [[home runs allowed]] by a pitcher (505) and holds the record for most consecutive opening day starts for the same team with 12, from 1950 to 1961.

As a switch hitter, Roberts posted a .167 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (255-for-1525) with 107 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 55 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], 10 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]], 5 [[home runs]], 103 [[Run batted in|RBI]] and 135 [[bases on balls]]. Defensively, he recorded a .967 [[fielding percentage]].<ref name="BR profile" />

Roberts is the only pitcher in major league history to defeat the [[Atlanta Braves|Braves]] franchise in all three cities that the team has been based in: [[Boston]], [[Milwaukee]], and [[Atlanta]].

Roberts's record for home runs allowed can largely be attributed to his durability and his tendency to pitch inside the strike zone. Roberts threw {{frac|4,688|2|3}} innings during his 19-year career, 21st on the all-time innings pitched list. Roberts challenged hitters to put the ball in play, issuing relatively few walks (1.7 per 9 innings pitched) and strikeouts (4.5 per 9 innings pitched).

In 1962, the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] honored Roberts with the [[List of Philadelphia Phillies award winners and league leaders#Retired numbers|retirement of his uniform number]], 36.

In 1966, Roberts was inducted into the [[Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame]].

In 1969, in conjunction with [[Major League Baseball]]'s 100th anniversary, the Phillies conducted a fan vote to determine the [[List of Philadelphia Phillies award winners and league leaders#Phillies all-time team (1969)|Phillies all-time team]]. On August 5, 1969, at [[Connie Mack Stadium]], the Phillies honored the members of the all-time team, including Roberts as the only right-handed pitcher. He was also honored as the greatest Phillies player of all time.

In 1978, the Philadelphia Phillies inducted Roberts as the first Phillie in the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]] (along with Connie Mack as the first Athletics player in the Wall of Fame).

In 1983, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Phillies, Roberts was selected as one of only two right-handed pitchers on the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame#Centennial Team|Phillies Centennial Team]].

In 1985, during Roberts' last game as coach of the [[South Florida Bulls baseball]] team, the team retired his number 36.

In 1992, Roberts was one of 30 members of the charter class of former [[Michigan State Spartans|Michigan State University Spartan]] athletes, coaches, and administrators inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/trads/hall-of-fame.html|title=MSU Athletics Hall of Fame|publisher=Michigan State Official Athletics Site|access-date=2009-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212185407/http://www.msuspartans.com/trads/hall-of-fame.html|archive-date=February 12, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1998, the [[Wilmington Blue Rocks]] retired Roberts's number 36 at the Carolina League All-Star game held at the Blue Rocks' Frawley Stadium. He was the first former player to ever have his number retired by the team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.milb.com/news/article/201005069844624|title=Legendary Former Blue Rock Robin Roberts Passes Away|access-date=July 3, 2016|archive-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914115422/http://m.milb.com/news/article/201005069844624|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1999, he ranked No. 74 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml|title = 100 Greatest Baseball Players by the Sporting News : A Legendary List by Baseball Almanac}}</ref> and was a nominee for the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]]. In 2020, ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranked Roberts at number 72 on its "Baseball 100" list, complied by sportswriter [[Joe Posnanski]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Posnanski |first1=Joe |title=The Baseball 100: No. 72, Robin Roberts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1516443/2020/01/15/the-baseball-100-no-72-robin-roberts/ |magazine=[[The Athletic]] |date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>

On May 18, 2003, Roberts' number 36 was among the first two uniform numbers retired by the Michigan State baseball program.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spartan Baseball To Retire First Numbers In Program History Sunday, May 18 |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2003/5/17/spartan_baseball_to_retire_first_numbers_in_program_history_sunday_may_18.aspx |access-date=12 May 2023 |publisher=[[Michigan State Spartans|Michigan State University Athletics]] |date=May 17, 2003 |language=en}}</ref>

On July 21, 2003, Roberts returned to [[Montpelier, Vermont]], to accept two honors: The [[Vermont Mountaineers]] retired his number from his playing days with the Barre-Montpelier Twin City Trojans, and Governor [[Jim Douglas]] presented him a [[proclamation]] that made the day "Robin Roberts Day" in the State of Vermont.<ref name="vermont"/>

On April 3, 2004, the Phillies new ballpark, [[Citizens Bank Park]], officially opened, with a statue of Roberts outside the first-base gate.

Also in 2004, Roberts was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the [[Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame]].

[[Robin Roberts Stadium]] in Roberts's hometown of [[Springfield, Illinois]] is named in his honor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-12 |title=Robin Roberts Stadium |url=https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/robin-roberts-stadium-lanphier-park/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=SangamonLink |publisher=Sangamon County Historical Society}}</ref>

Roberts was an outspoken critic of [[Little League Baseball]]. His remarks on the organization appeared in a 1975 ''[[Newsweek]]'' article, titled "Strike Out Little League".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Clarence |date=1975-07-25 |title=Strike out the little league |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tipton-county-tribune/74368860/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |work=Tipton County Tribune |pages=4}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Bob Feller Act of Valor Award]] honored Roberts as one of 37 Baseball Hall of Fame members for his service in the United States Army Air Force during World War II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://actofvaloraward.org/hof-players/|title=WWII HOF Players – Act of Valor Award|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008204152/https://actofvaloraward.org/hof-players/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Roberts coached his son, Dan Roberts, in high school. His son went on to coach the [[Army Black Knights baseball|Army Black Knights]], leaving that job after an alcohol-related arrest, [[Batavia Muckdogs]], and [[Clearwater Threshers]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Justin |date=2000-06-22 |title=Ex-Army coach Roberts hired by team in NY-PL |url=https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2000/06/22/ex-army-coach-roberts-hired/51192505007/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Times Herald-Record}}</ref>

==Death==
[[File:RobinRoberts-patch.png|thumb|The [[Philadelphia Phillies]] wore a patch commemorating Roberts during the [[2010 Philadelphia Phillies|2010 season]].]]
Roberts died of [[natural causes]] on May 6, 2010, aged 83, at his home in [[Temple Terrace, Florida]].<ref name="dies">{{Cite news |last=Noble |first=Marty |date=2010-05-06 |title=Hall of Fame pitcher Roberts dies at 83 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100506&content_id=9840888&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140813215315/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100506&content_id=9840888&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=2014-08-13 |work=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> For the remainder of their [[2010 Philadelphia Phillies season|2010 season]], the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] wore a commemorative #36 patch on their uniforms and hung his jersey in their dugout during home and away games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/05/06/robin-roberts-phillies-great-dead-at-83/ |title=Robin Roberts, Phillies Great, Dead at 83 |publisher=MLB FanHouse |date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
*Seven-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] (1950–1956)
*Five-time top 10 in [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] voting (1950, 1952–1955)
*Six-time 20+ game winner (1950–1955)
*Four-time [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|win champion]] (1952–1955)
*Twice [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|led the league in strikeouts]] (1953–54)
*Led league in shutouts (1950)
*Six-time league leader in games started (1950–1955)
*Five-time league leader in complete games (1952–1956)
*Five-time leaguer leader in innings pitched (1951–1955)
*Pitched 300+ innings six times (1950–1955)
*Ranks 28th on the [[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders|all-time wins leaderboard]]
*Second-most [[home runs allowed]] by a pitcher, with 505
*Holds five [[Philadelphia Phillies team records]] as of 2010: most [[complete game]]s pitched, most games pitched, most innings pitched, most hits allowed, and most losses

==Books==
Roberts wrote two books about his baseball experiences, ''The Whiz Kids and the 1950 Pennant'' (1996, {{ISBN|1-56639-466-X}})<ref>[http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1269_reg_print.html The Whiz Kids and the 1950 Pennant] from the Temple University Press website</ref> and ''My Life in Baseball'' (2003, {{ISBN|1-57243-503-8}}), both co-authored with C. Paul Rogers, III, a [[Dedman School of Law|Southern Methodist University Law School]] professor.

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}

*[[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning]]
*[[Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award|List of Sporting News Pitcher of the Year]]
*[[Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award|List of Sporting News Player of the Year]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author=((The editors of the Sporting News))|title=Baseball A Doubleheader Collection of Facts, Feats, & Firsts|year=1992|publisher=The Sporting News Publishing Co.|location=St. Louis, Mo.|isbn=0-88365-785-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/baseballdoublehe00newy}}
*{{cite web|title=1950: When Philadelphia's Whiz Kids won the N.L. pennant; memories still rich for those who brought Phillies their first National League title in 35 years – Turn Back The Clock|first=Joe|last=O'Loughlin|date=November 2002|work=[[Baseball Digest]]|via=findarticle.com|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_11_61/ai_92521923|access-date=August 24, 2011}}
*{{cite web|title=Aug. 24, 1954: The Braves knock Phillies ace Robin Roberts out of the game for first time in 14 starts|first=Nicole|last=Pappas|date=August 22, 2011|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|url=https://community.baseballhall.org/page.aspx?pid=957|access-date=August 24, 2011|archive-date=October 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009135303/https://community.baseballhall.org/page.aspx?pid=957|url-status=dead}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Robin Roberts (baseball)}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|roberts-robin}}
*{{baseballstats |mlb=121283 |espn=26835 |br=r/roberro01 |fangraphs=1011046 |brm=robert006rob |retro=R/Prober102 |almanac=roberro01}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|3262b1eb}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080507060732/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/roberro01.php Robin Roberts] at The Baseball Page
*[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/tributes/obit_robin_roberts.jsp History: Tributes: Robin Roberts / 1926–2010]. MLB.com.

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