RIP. I feel like I just heard him interviewed recently, though I can’t remember exactly when that was. He was always in tremendous health for a man his age. He was also a terrific interview. And, of course, a great pitcher in his day.

Farewell #36.

One of my strangest memories of going to Phillies games as a kid was the last game Roberts pitched in Connie Mack Stadium. He was finishing up his career in 1966 with the Chicago Cubs and I heard that he was going to start a night game against the Phillies. I had always wanted to see Roberts pitch – in those days I don’t think I’d even ever seen him on TV – so I talked my parents into letting me go. I had to take public transportation since we had only one car and my dad was using it, so by the time I got to the park it was the top of the second inning. The Phillies led 3-0. After a few minutes I learned that Roberts was already out of the game: faced six batter, gave up four hits and a walk and was lifted in the first inning, perhaps the shortest outing of his career. So, I never saw him pitch a game. But for years I had his autograph on a Phillies yearbook that I took to a sportsman’s dinner at our church when he was the guest of honor. I probably still have it somewhere in storage.