Dave Roberts (roberda05)
From BR Bullpen
David Arthur Roberts
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 2", Weight 197 lb.
- Debut July 6, 1969
- Final Game May 16, 1981
- Born September 11, 1944 in Gallipolis, OH USA
- Died January 9, 2009 in Short Gap, WV, USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Not to be confused with three other major leaguers of the same name, Dave Roberts was a lefthander who pitched for several big league teams during a thirteen year career.
After playing in the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates farm systems, Roberts was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 1968 Expansion Draft and made his big league debut with the club in 1969. He joined the Padres rotation the next summer and in 1971 won 14 games and posted a 2.10 ERA, second in the National League to Tom Seaver. After that season, he was traded to the Houston Astros, for whom he had his best years came from 1972 to 1975. There, teamed with Larry Dierker, Ken Forsch, Tom Griffin, and J.R. Richard, he was part of a formidable rotation - when all were healthy, which was not very often. In 1973, Roberts posted 17 wins and recorded 6 shutouts for the Astros.
Roberts was traded to the Detroit Tigers following the 1975 season. In 1976, he had 16 wins and notched 18 complete games for the Tigers. Several years later, he got his only postseason experience appearing in one game in the 1979 National League Championship Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Roberts went 103-125 with a 3.78 ERA for eight teams over his career and was a good-hitting pitcher, slugging 7 home runs in 531 at bats.
After his playing days, Roberts was an assistant coach at Potomac State College from 1996 to 1998. He died in 2009 of cancer linked to exposure to asbestos, which occured when he had an off-season job as a boilermaker early in his career.
Roberts was the father of minor league outfielder Daron Roberts.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1968 Pitcher of the Year International League Columbus Jets
- 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1973 & 1976)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1971, 1973, 1974 & 1976)
- Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 (he did not play in the World Series)
