Hall of Fame Pitcher Robin Roberts on 1950s & 60s Pitching Philosophy

Robin Roberts (September 30, 1926 – May 6, 2010) was a starting pitcher who pitched primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies (1948–1961). He spent the latter part of his career with the Baltimore Orioles (1962–1965), Houston Astros (1965–66), and Chicago Cubs (1966). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.

Roberts was born in Springfield, Illinois, the son of an immigrant Welsh coal miner. Robin arrived in East Lansing, Michigan as part of an Army Air Corps training program. He attended Lanphier High School and after World War II, Roberts returned to Michigan State College to play basketball, not baseball. Roberts led the Spartans' basketball team in field-goal percentage in 1946–1947, was captain of the team during the 1946–1947 and 1949–1950 seasons, and earned three varsity letters in basketball. After his second season playing basketball, Roberts tried out for the Michigan State baseball team, becoming a pitcher because it was the position that coach John Kobs needed most. After playing for Michigan State and spending his second summer playing in Vermont with the Barre–Montpelier Twin City Trojans, he was signed by the Phillies.