Robin Roberts
From BR Bullpen
Robin Evan Roberts
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
- School Michigan State University
- Debut June 18, 1948
- Final Game September 3, 1966
- Born September 30, 1926 in Springfield, IL USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1976
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
"He's smooth fast. He throws with such ease that he doesn't seem to be bearing down very hard, and his speed takes you all the more off stride." - Ralph Kiner
Robin Roberts pitched 19 years in the big leagues, winning 286 games. From 1950-55 he won 20+ games each season. One of baseball's great pitchers, Roberts was an absolute workhorse who eight times had over 20 Complete Games in a season, and averaged over 300 innings pitched during a 9-year period.
He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 22, 1976 by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Although he had no trouble getting in with 286 victories and his election has not been controversial, fellow pitchers Tommy John, Bert Blyleven and Jim Kaat, all with the same approximate number of victories, have so far not gotten in.
Roberts was at Michigan State University in 1946-47 and was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1948. In his one year in the minors before he came to the majors, he went 9-1 for Wilmington in 1948 and made his major league debut in June 1948.
His first 20-win season was for the Whiz Kids in 1950. The 1950 World Series would be his only post-season appearance although he was in seven All-Star games.
After his major league career he pitched for Reading in 1967, going 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA at age 40. Also at Reading that year was the 21-year-old Larry Bowa.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 7-time NL All-Star (1950-1956)
- 4-time NL Wins Leader (1952-1955)
- 5-time NL Innings Pitched Leader (1951-1955)
- 2-time NL Strikeouts Leader (1953 & 1954)
- 5-time NL Complete Games Leader (1952-1956)
- NL Shutouts Leader (1950)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 10 (1949-1956, 1958 & 1959)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 6 (1950-1955)
- 25 Wins Seasons: 1 (1952)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 14 (1949-1960, 1963 & 1964)
- 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 6 (1950-1955)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1976
[edit] Records Held
- Home runs allowed, career, 505
- Home runs allowed to one batter, career, 19 (to Duke Snider)
- Most Grounded Into Double Plays, career, by a pitcher: 37
