In 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers won the National League pennant – going\u00a0 96-57-2 behind a lineup that included such stars as Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese and Carl Furillo. They faced the fourth-place Phillies with Robin Roberts on the hill, six times.\u00a0 Roberts won all six matchups, threw six complete games, allowing just 16 earned runs (2.67 ERA). In Phillies\/Dodgers games Roberts did not<\/em> pitch that season, Brooklyn went 10-6.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Who’s Your Daddy \u2013 A Baseball Roundtable Series<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In this series, BBRT presents lineups of players who performed\u00a0unexpectedly\u00a0well against baseball’s top pitchers. (An explanation of the inspiration behind the Who\u2019s Your Daddy?<\/em> series can be found at the end of this post.)\u00a0\u00a0As always, I would stress that the pitchers included in the Who’s Your Daddy? series are among the “best in the business.”\u00a0 They are selected not because of the players who performed well against them, but rather because success among hitters when they were on the mound was the exception rather than the rule.\u00a0 We’ve looked at pitchers from a wide range of eras – from Bob Feller to Nolan Ryan to Max Scherzer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Before we get started on this edition,\u00a0 here are links to the previous editions of this series. Please note: For still active pitchers, the stats are as they stood on the date of the post.<\/strong><\/p>\n I should note there’s not many surprises in this edition of “Whose Your Daddy?” Nothing like how Will Clark owned Nolan Ryan, Jerry Lynch’s .714 average versus Sandy Koufax or Junior Spivey’s six hits, one walk and one HBP in his first seven plate appearances versus Greg Maddux. This lineup is loaded with Hall of Famers; those you expect might do well against an exceptional moundsman.<\/p>\n Also, in this \u201cWho\u2019s Your Daddy?\u201d post, I will diverge a bit from tradition.\u00a0\u00a0 I would like to both look at the lineup whose numbers<\/em> seem to indicate they had Roberts’ number<\/em> and also make my case for Roberts being among the game’s\u00a0 most underrated pitchers (despite being in the Hall of Fame).<\/p>\n Robin Roberts enjoyed a 19-season MLB career (1948-66 \u2026 Phillies, Orioles, Astros, Cubs) \u2013 with 14 of those campaigns in a Phillies\u2019 uniform. Roberts was a seven-time All Star, who won 20 or more games in six \u00a0consecutive seasons (1950-55).<\/p>\n The Fabulous \u201850s<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From 1950-59, Robin Roberts went 199-149, 3.32.). During that period, his Phillies went 767-773-8. \u00a0In those ten seasons, Roberts threw 3,011 2\/3 innings.\u00a0 Yes, for a decade he averaged<\/em> over 300 innings pitched per season. He also tossed 237 complete games and 30 shutouts.\u00a0 From 1950-55 (six seasons), Roberts \u00a0led the NL in wins four times, starts six times, complete games four times, innings pitched five times and strikeouts twice.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Roberts wrapped up his career with a 286-245, 3.41 stat line, with 305 complete games and 45 shutouts. He is in MLB\u2019s top 50 all-time in wins\u00a0 (28th); innings pitched\u00a0 (4,688 2\/3 \u2013 21st); games started (609 – 20th<\/sup>); complete games (38th<\/sup>); and shutouts (29th<\/sup>). Just to be fair on stats, he also led the league in home runs allowed five times and is second all-time in home runs allowed (505).<\/p>\n Robin Roberts won three varsity letters in basketball at Michigan State, serving as captain of the team for two seasons.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Roberts’ best season was 1952, when he won an MLB-best 28 games (seven losses), put up a 2.59 ERA (third-best in the NL), led MLB in starts (37), complete games (30); and innings pitched (330). In August and September of that season, he appeared in\u00a0 14 games (13 starts); going 12-1, 2.83 (with one save). Over those two months, he tossed 12 complete games, including a 17-inning outing against the Braves on September 6.<\/p>\n I Like to Finish What I Start<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n From August 28, 1952 through July 5 1953, Robin Roberts completed 28 consecutive starts.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So, why do I think Roberts is underrated and should be counted among the all-time greats? Let me make my case.<\/p>\n Consider the fact that Roberts won 136 more games than Sandy Koufax.\u00a0 Of course, Koufax career was cut short (arm issues) \u2013 just 12 seasons to Roberts\u2019 19.\u00a0 (I would maintain that Roberts 3,000+ inning workload in the 1950s had an impact on his arm and performance in the 1960s.) So, how about the best four seasons for Koufax and Roberts?\u00a0 For Koufax that would be his final four campaigns (1963-1966). \u00a0In that period, Koufax won three Cy Young Awards and one MVP Award and was generally considered baseball\u2019s best pitcher (some say the best ever).\u00a0 Roberts\u2019 four peak years would be 1952-55.\u00a0 Let\u2019s compare.<\/p>\n Now, before anyone goes on the offensive, I am not saying Robin Roberts\u2019 \u201cpeak four\u201d matched Koufax, only that when you talk about MLB\u2019s best pitchers, they should be discussed in the same paragraph. Clearly, you have to acknowledge, Koufax\u2019s 1.86 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings over his top four (as compared to 3.18 and 4.7 for Roberts. (But then again, how about Roberts 118 complete games to Koufax\u2019s 89?)<\/p>\n This Kind of Surprised Me<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Hall of Famer Greg Maddux was noted for challenging hitters – making them earn their way on base and not wasting a pitch.\u00a0 Over his career, Maddux walked just 1.80 batters per nine innings. Roberts was even stingier at\u00a0 1.73.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Let me take my argument in favor of Roberts being underrated a bit further.\u00a0 How about Bob Gibson? In his 17-season MLB career (1959-75, Gibson won 251 games (174 losses); was a five-time twenty-game winner; led the league in ERA once, wins once, complete games once and strikeouts once. Now, Roberts did play two more seasons than Gibson, so let’s just look at Roberts\u2019 first 17 campaigns. Roberts won 271 games (20 more than Gibson) in his first 17 campaigns (although he did have 54 more losses); won 20 or more games six times to Gibson\u2019s five; led the league wins four times to Gibson\u2019s once; never led the NL in ERA to Gibson\u2019s one ERA title; led in compete games five times to Gibson’s once; and led in strikeouts twice to Gibson\u2019s once. \u00a0Gibson did have a notable edge in ERA \u2013 2.91 to 3.40 (again, over 17 seasons) and in strikeouts per nine innings 3,117 (7.2 per 9 innings) to 2,357 (4.5 per 9 innings). Still, I would maintain, Gibson and Roberts belong in the same sentence \u2013 particularly when talking about how they\u00a0 measured up against their peers.<\/p>\n Side note: I received Joe Posnanski’s latest book “The Baseball 100” for Christmas (it was at the top of my list). I was pleased to read that Posnanski also sees Roberts as underrated and suggests he “belongs in every discussion of the greatest pitchers ever.”\u00a0 By the way, if “The Baseball 100” is not in your library already, I highly<\/strong> recommend you add it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n A final note:\u00a0 If I had to vote for the greatest pitcher of all time, I’d most likely go with Walter Johnson.<\/p>\n __________________________________________________<\/strong><\/p>\n He (Robin Roberts) looks like the kind of pitcher you can\u2019t wait to swing at, but you swing and the ball isn\u2019t where you thought it was.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hall of Famer Willie Stargell<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Now, let\u2019s take a look at the Robin Robert\u2019s \u201cWho\u2019s Your Daddy?\u201d lineup.\u00a0 One bit of explanation here. This is a \u201cweighted\u201d ranking.\u00a0 Doing well against Roberts in the 1950s is counted more heavily than raking against him in the 1960s.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Consider:<\/p>\n I will drop in the occasional \u201cBetter Late Than Never\u201d<\/strong><\/em> player this post, acknowledging those who performed exceptional well versus Roberts in the latter part of his career,<\/p>\n Better Late Than Never Prime Example \u2013 Manny Jimenez<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Kansas City Athletics\u2019 outfielder Manny Jimenez (he also played for the Pirates and Cubs) is the perfect example of a \u201cBetter Late Than Never\u201d player for this Robin Roberts\u2019 post. Jimenez was a .217 career hitter (1962-64, 1966-69). Jimenez faced Roberts 28 times in his career (all in the 1962-64 time period). He went 13-for-27 against him \u2013 and that .481 average is the highest for any player with at least 25 careers at bats versus Roberts. Jimenez also had three home runs and six RBI in 10 games versus Roberts – and struck out just once.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Two Sides of the Coin<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Twins\u2019 Sandy Valdespino played just two games against Roberts\u00a0 – May 6 & 31, 1965. In four plate appearances he recorded three singles and a walk \u2013 the most plate appearances and at bats \u00a0of any batter never retired by Roberts. \u00a0On the other side of the coin. Cubs\u2019 outfielder Jim Bolger faced Roberts nine times\u00a0 (1955-58) and – although he fanned only once, in his very first plate appearance versus Roberts – he never reached base safely against him\u00a0 His nine plate appearances are the most of any batter with a .000 batting average and on-base percentage versus Roberts<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Finally, that lineup, the best (judged somewhat subjectively) lineup against Robin Roberts.\u00a0 N0te: Game logs (via Baseball-Reference.com are not complete (particularly pre-1955).\u00a0 I have noted instances were logs are missing from the records.<\/p>\n Catcher \u2013 Roy Campanella \u2026 13 home runs in 56 games<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Hall of Famer Roy Campanella \u2013 a star in the Negro Leagues (.322 average from 1937-45) \u2013 broke into the National League in 1948 (the 21-year-old Roberts rookie season). \u00a0Campy handled Roberts pretty well over his first three seasons, touching him up \u00a0for\u00a0 a .341 average, with four home runs and nine RBI in 15 games. \u00a0Roberts caught up with Campanella a bit after that \u2013 holding him to a .247 career average against him. However, Campanella continued to be a thorn in terms of power and pressure. His 13 career home runs against Roberts are the third-most by any opponent and his 30 RBI are tied for fifth.<\/p>\n In his first at bat against Roberts, Roy Campanella struck out swinging.\u00a0 In his next 14 plate appearances against him (over two seasons), Campanella went seven for ten, with three doubles, one home run, four walks and one more whiff.<\/p>\n Roy Campanella played 18 MLB seasons (1937-45 \u2013 Negro Leagues; 1948-1957 – National League). He was a three-time Negro League All Star and an eight-time National League All Star. He was also a three-time NL MVP. In 1942, while with the Baltimore Elite Giants, he led the Negro National League in batting average, runs scored, doubles, runs batted in and walks. His best season was in 1953 (Brooklyn Dodgers), when he hit \u00a0.312, with 41 home runs and a league-topping 142 RBI. \u00a0His final major league stat line was .283-260-1,017.<\/p>\n You Can Count on Me<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Roy Campanella was on the field for a Robin Roberts’ “big moment.” It was the final day (October 1) of the 1950 season. The Dodgers (89-64) were facing the Phillies (90-63).\u00a0 A Dodgers’s win would force a playoff for the pennant, a Phillies win gave them the crown.\u00a0 The Dodgers went with big Don Newcombe, an All Star in 1949 and 1950 and 19-10, 3.71 coming into the game. The Phillies went with Robin Roberts (a 1950 All Star), who was 19-11, 3.06 coming into the contest.\u00a0 On hitch, however, it was Roberts third start in five days. How did he do under immense pressure and on short rest? Roberts tossed a ten-inning complete game, giving up just five nits and one run, as the Phillies won the game (and the pennant), by a 4-1 score.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Honorable Mentions: <\/strong><\/em>Joe Garagiola <\/strong>(a career .257 hitter) hit .449 versus Roberts (19 games). Five game logs are missing from Garagiola\u2019s totals versus Roberts. Smokey Burgess<\/strong> went .337-5-10, with six walks and just one strikeout in 33 games (90 plate appearances) versus Roberts. \u00a0\u00a0Bill Sarni<\/strong> enjoyed a five-season MLB career (1951-51, 1954-56 \u2026. Cardinals & Giants) right in the midst of Robin Roberts\u2019 \u00a0prime. A .263 career hitter (in 390 games), Sarni hit .342 (13-for 38), with four home runs and six RBI in 11 games versus Roberts (two games are missing from the game logs).<\/p>\n First Base \u2013 Stan Musial\u00a0 \u2026\u00a0 .384 average<\/strong><\/p>\n Over his career, Stan Musial hit .331, with a .417 on-base percentage and a .559 slugging percentage.\u00a0 Against Roberts, he bettered those number in all categories – .384, .432, .680, respectively.\u00a0 Musial collected \u00a0the most hits and most \u00a0doubles against Roberts of any player and was tied for fourth in triples and second in RBI. Note: 10 game logs are missing from Stan Musial\u2019s totals versus Roberts.<\/p>\n In Roberts\u2019 six peak year -1950-55 – when he won 20 or more games every season and led the NL in wins four times (putting up an overall 138-78, 2.93 record) – Musial hit .395 against him, hitting over .400 against him in four of those campaigns.<\/p>\n In 220 plate appearances versus Roberts, Musial struck out only 12 times. \u00a0Musial faced Roberts in 13 seasons and hit .400 or better against him seven of them. From Opening Day 1955 through September 8, 1959, Musial faced Roberts 74 times and struck out once.<\/p>\n A Big Day for The Man<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On June 22, 1955, Robin Roberts and his Phillies faced the Cardinals in St. Louis.\u00a0 In that game, Musial hit a two-run home run in his first at bat, a solo home run in his second at bat, ground out in his third at bat and tripled in his fourth and final at bat. Roberts, by the way came into the game with a 9-6, 2.32 record on the season.\u00a0 Notably, Roberts went the distance in a 9-6 Phillies win (despite giving up three homers and four runs in the bottom of the first inning.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Stan Musial played in 22 MLB seasons (1941-44, 1946-63), all for the Cardinals. He was an All Star in 20 seasons, a seven-time batting champ (he hit under .300 in only four seasons). He led the NL in runs scored five times, hits six times, doubles eight times (three times collecting 50 or more), triples five times (twice reaching 20), RBI twice, walks once and total bases six times. He was a three-time MVP. His best season was 1948, when he went .376-39-131 \u2013 leading the NL in average, RBI, runs, doubles, triples, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and total bases.<\/p>\n Honorable Mentions:<\/em>\u00a0 Soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Gil Hodges<\/strong> hit .285-10-31 against Roberts in 73 games. The ten long balls are the sixth-most against Roberts, the 31 RBI tie for second and his 65 hits are third. \u00a0Bill White<\/strong> faced Robert 41 times and went .378-4-13. While 12 of White’s 41 plate appearances against Roberts came after 1959, his pre-1960 numbers against him were .393-2-7 in eight games.<\/p>\n Trivia Tidbit: Stan Musial had 1,815 career hits at home and 1,815 career hits on the road.<\/p>\n Better Late Than Never<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Willie McCovey hit .452 versus Robin Roberts in 12 games from 1959-1966. In his very first game against Roberts (July 30, 1959), he went four-for -four, with two singles and two triples, three runs scored and two RBI.\u00a0 Three of McCovey’s 14 career hits against Roberts went for extra bases – and all three were triples. He drove in\u00a0 total of five runs versus Roberts.\u00a0 \u00a0Thanks to Roundtable Reader Jerry Stever for the comment that led to this “Better Late Than Never” addition.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Second Base (tie) \u2013 Bill Mazeroski \u2026 .324 average; Jackie Robinson \u2026 \u00a0nine home runs <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski was a career .260 hitter with a Golden Glove (eight of them, actually) at second base.\u00a0 He fared better at the plate against Robin Roberts, compiling a .324 average, with three home runs and seven RBI in 29 games. In eight seasons against Roberts, Mazeroski hit over .300 six times and struck out just four times in 80 plate appearances.<\/p>\n Off to a Good Start<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In his first game against Robin Roberts (August 16, 1956), Bill Mazeroski went three-for-three with two singles and a home run \u2013 as the Pirates topped the Philllies 4-1 in Philadelphia. Mazeroski was a rookie and Roberts was in ninth season (and had led the NL in wins the four previous campaigns).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Mazeroski played 17 MLB seasons (2,163 games), going .260-138-853. He was an All Star in seven seasons. His best season was 1958, when he hit .275, with 19 home runs and 68 RBI (and won his first Gold Glove). Mazeroski makes this lineup by virtue of hitting 64 points above his career average versus Roberts.<\/p>\n Jackie Robinson hit below his .313 career average versus Roberts, but he made it here on the basis of his power and impact. His nine home runs tied for the seventh-most against Roberts, while his 21 RBI are 12th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n Hall of Famer Robinson played in eleven MLB seasons (1945, Kansas City Monarchs\u00a0 \u2026. 1947-56 Brooklyn Dodgers). In 1945, he hit .375 and led\u00a0 the Negro American League in doubles (13), home runs (4) and on-base percentage (.449). With the Dodgers, he led the National League in stolen bases twice and won the NL batting championship with a .342 average in 1949. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1947 and the League MVP in 1949. His best season was clearly 1949, when he hit .342, with 203 hits, 122 runs scored, 38 doubles, 12 triples, 16 home runs, 124 RBI and a league-leading 37 steals.\u00a0 Robinson\u2019s final stat line was .313-141-761, with 200 stolen bases and 972 runs scored.<\/p>\n Honorable Mention:<\/em> Jim Gilliam<\/strong> faced Roberts 196 times (between 1953 and 1966). A .266 career hitter, Gilliam hit .311 versus Roberts (in 53 games). Gilliam\u2019s 57 hits are seventh-most against Roberts by any batter.<\/p>\n Third Base – Eddie Mathews \u2026 11 homers and 30 RBI<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Eddie Mathews faced Roberts 203 times in his career. The .271 career hitter, hit .323 versus Roberts, with 11 home runs and 30 RBI. Mathew\u2019s 11 round trippers ties for the fourth-most against Roberts; his 30 RBI are fifth; his 13 doubles fourth; and his four triples tie for fourth.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Roberts.jpg\")
<\/a>In this post, the 15th<\/sup> in the Baseball Roundtable \u201cWho\u2019s Your Daddy?\u201d<\/strong><\/em> series, we\u2019ll look at a Baseball Roundtable-selected\u00a0 lineup that performed exceptionally well against Hall of Famer Robin Roberts over their careers. Not surprisingly, the starting nine includes eight Hall of Famers. More on that later, but first a look at what \u201cWho\u2019s Your Daddy?\u201d is all about.<\/p>\n\n
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