Robin Roberts

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Lore & Background

Roberts led the Phillies to their first National League pennant in 35 years in 1950, starting three games in the last five days of the season and defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers in a pennant-deciding 10-inning game for his 20th win. From 1950 to 1955, he won at least 20 games each season, leading the National League in victories from 1952 to 1955. He once pitched 28 complete games in a row, with one of those games lasting 17 innings. Roberts' 28 wins in 1952 were the most in the National League since 1935. He had his best season by WAR in 1953, posting a 23–16 record and leading NL pitchers in strikeouts with 198. On May 13, 1954, he gave up a lead-off home run but then retired 27 consecutive batters for a one-hit game. After the 1961 season, he was sold to the New York Yankees, but was released in May 1962 without appearing in a regular-season game for them. He signed with the Orioles and went 42–36 with a 3.09 ERA. He later pitched for the Astros and Cubs, and his final major league game was on September 3, 1966.

In Their Own Story

After winning the National League pennant in 1950, Roberts faced the heavily favored Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field for the season-ending game. Starting three games in five days, he secured his 20th victory of the year by defeating the Dodgers in a 10-inning thriller. This milestone made him the Phillies' first 20-game winner since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1917. Although he started Game 2 of that World Series against Allie Reynolds and allowed two runs over ten innings, the Phillies lost 2–1. The following season, Roberts was named the Sporting News MLB Player of the Year after recording 28 wins, the most in the National League since Dizzy Dean in 1935. Even during his playing career, Roberts balanced baseball with a role as president of the Gold King Seafood Company in Philadelphia, an occupation that baffled panelists on 'What's My Line?' in 1957.

Reader's Guide

Roberts was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. He coached the University of South Florida college baseball team for nine seasons (1977–1985), leading them to six conference titles and their first NCAA Tournament in 1982. He also coached Germantown Academy from 1971 to 1975, where the 1972 team went 22–1 and won the Inter-Ac League championship. His uniform number 36 was the first retired by the Phillies organization, retired on March 21, 1962. 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 (1950–1961).

Did You Know?

• Roberts never walked more than 77 batters in any regular season.
• He helped himself with his bat, hitting 55 doubles, 10 triples, and five home runs with 103 RBIs.
• Roberts is the only pitcher in major league history to defeat the Braves franchise in all three cities: Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta.
• He was the first road roommate and mentor to Jim Palmer in 1965.
• During the off-season, he toured with the Robin Roberts All-Stars basketball team, playing against squads like the Harlem Globetrotters.