The Philadelphia Phillies say Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts has died at the age of 83.
The Phillies, calling him “The greatest right-hander” in Phillies history” said in a statement that Roberts died of natural causes Thursday morning at his home in Temple Terrace, Fla.
Roberts led the Phillies to the 1950 National League pennant as part of the famed “Whiz Kids.” He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976 and came back every year to celebrate and partake in the annual induction ceremonies.
The right-hander was the most productive pitcher in the National League in the first half of the 1950s, topping the league in wins from 1952 to 1955, innings pitched from ‘51 to ‘55 and complete games from '52 to '56.
He won 286 games over his career and put together six consecutive 20-win seasons. Roberts had 45 career shutouts, 2,357 strikeouts and a lifetime ERA of 3.40.
In a statement, his son Jim Roberts spoke about his father’s love and loyalty to the Phillies and how he never missed a game on television. He would talk about the current team members all of the time.
“He really loved this team and was so thrilled that he was included in the World Series festivities the last two years,” Jim said. “He’d sit there and would comment, ‘Did you see Jimmy make that play…Chase can really play this game…My man Jayson is some kind of an athlete…Did you see that change-up from Cole…How strong is Ryan…Roy makes pitching look so easy and it isn’t…I wish I had Brad’s slider…Shane can fly, can’t he?’”
The team will honor the great righty by wearing his No. 36 on their sleeves for the rest of the season. They will also hang his jersey in the dugout during all home and away games -- similar to the tributes they paid to Harry Kalas last season.
Roberts is survived by four sons: Robin Jr. of Blue Bell, Pa.; Dan of Temple Terrace; Rick of Athens, Ga.; and Jimmy of Temple Terrace. One brother, John of Springfield, Ill.; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive the baseball great.
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Funeral arrangements are pending.
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