Skip to main content

RIP- Robin Roberts


The baseball world lost one its all-time greats on Thursday morning as Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts passed away at the age of 83. An official release from the Phillies stated that Roberts died of natural causes at his Florida home.

Roberts had a 286-245 career record with a 3.41 ERA. As a Phillie, Roberts posted a 234-199 record and completed 272 games. Also, from 1949-1960, he won at least 10 games each season. That streak of 12 straight seasons with double-digit victories is 2nd, only to Steve Carlton, in team history. Roberts also threw 3 one-hitters in his Phillies career. A seven time all-star, Roberts was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.

Roberts was attending Michigan State University on a basketball scholarship, when the Phillies convinced him to sign a professional baseball contract by offering him a $25,000 bonus. At 21-years-old in 1948, Roberts attended his first spring training, before being assigned to the Phillies minor league affiliate in Wilmington. In his first pro start, Roberts pitched a complete game and struck out 17 Harrisburg batters. By mid-June, Roberts was called up to the big leagues, after posting a 9-1 record, a 2.06 ERA and striking out 121 batters in 96 innings.

In his Major League debut at Shibe Park, he held the Pirates to 5 hits, but lost the game 2-0. He notched his first Major League win 5 days later, when he downed the Reds 3-2 in Philadelphia. Roberts had a 7-9 record in 20 starts by season's end. He posted a 15-15 record the following season, and matured into one of the game's best pitchers by 1950.

Roberts was part of the legendary 1950 pennant winning Phillies team, affectionately known as The Whiz Kids. In 39 starts that year, Roberts went 20-11 with a 3.02 ERA. In helping the Phillies advance to the World Series, Roberts needed to work overtime down the stretch. On October 1st, with the Phillies needing a win over the Dodgers on the final day of the season to clinch the pennant, Roberts stepped in to start his third game in 5 days. He was matched up against Dodgers ace Don Newcombe and both hurlers went into extra innings with the game tied 1-1. Roberts earned his 20th win of the season, when Dick Sisler hit one of the biggest homeruns in team history, a 3-run smash in the 10th inning, that clinched a World Series berth for the Phils.

1950 marked the first of six straight seasons that Roberts would win at least 20 games for the Phillies and it marked the first of six straight seasons that Roberts would lead the National League in starts.

Roberts' career with the Phillies would end in 1961. Following his departure from his first big league town, Roberts also spent time with the Orioles, Astros and Cubs before his career was over.

Roberts maintained close ties to the Phillies throughout retirement. According to his son, Jim, Mr. Roberts did not miss a Phillies game on television. He also would appear at various organization events, including annual visits to spring training.
Roberts' jersey number, 36, is retired by the Phillies and he is immortalized at the Phillies' current home venue, Citizens Bank Park, with a large "black & white" statue honoring him outside of the first base gate. Starting Friday, the Phillies will don black #36 patches on their jersey sleeves for the remainder of the season.

Rest in Peace, Robin Roberts (1926-2010)...

-------------------------------

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Comments

Sweet Dee said…
So sad that he's gone... Rest easy, Robin. And we don't need stats to remind us how great he was!
wally backman's mustache said…
RIP, Robby...

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage.   Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August.  Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH.   Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve