Bip Roberts

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bip Roberts
position=Outfielder
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1963|10|27
Berkeley, California
debutdate=April 7
debutyear=by|1986
debutteam=San Diego Padres
finaldate=September 27
finalyear=by|1998
finalteam=Oakland Athletics
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.294
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1,220
stat3label=Stolen bases
stat3value=264
teams=
* San Diego Padres (by|1986, by|1988-by|1991)
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1992-by|1993)
* San Diego Padres (by|1994-by|1995)
* Kansas City Royals (by|1996-by|1997)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1997)
* Detroit Tigers (by|1998)
* Oakland Athletics (by|1998)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1992)

Leon Joseph "Bip" Roberts (born October 27, 1963 in Berkeley, California) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played from 1986 to 1998 for the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Oakland Athletics.

Currently with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for his third season as co-host for the San Francisco Giants pre-game telecasts. Roberts spent 12 years in the Major Leagues and played on six different teams before retiring in 1998 with his hometown team, the Oakland A's.

As a member of the '92 Cincinnati Reds, Roberts hit safely in 10 consecutive at-bats, tying a National League record. In that very same year, he was selected to the All-Star Game as he finished the season with an impressive .323 batting average and 44 stolen bases.

Aside from his work in the broadcast booth, Roberts generously donates his time to the Students Rising Above Foundation, which helps low income, at-risk Bay Area kids overcome tremendous obstacles.

In 2008, Bip took over as the head coach for the Skyline High School baseball team in Oakland, CA. He led them to the Oakland Athletic League title in his first year.

Bip is married with children and lives in the Bay Area. [ [http://bayarea.comcastsportsnet.com/Bios_Giants.jsp#roberts Giants Broadcaster Bios ] ]

Career

He was a speedy second baseman, largely associated with the San Diego Padres. Although he never led the league in any individual category, he was known as a solid all around player. Originally taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1st round of the Draft as a supplemental pick in 1982, After stealing a combined 90 bases in his two previous minor league seasons, Roberts was taken by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 Draft in December 1985, thus being required to stay on Padres Major League roster for the entirety of the 1986 Season.

Roberts's rookie season was somewhat of a disappointment, as he was only successful in 14 out of 26 steal attempts, but he was an excellent pinch hitter, but that alone did not save him a spot on the Padre's Major League roster and he would spend the next two seasons in the minors, where he would hit .306 in 1987 and .353 in 1988 with 10 triples in 98 games in 1987. His stolen base totals were also once again stellar, being 39 and 45 respectively, which caused San Diego to call him up at the end of 1988, where he played in 5 games, seeing time at third and second base, as well as pinch hitting.

Roberts had breakout seasons in 1989 and 1990, hitting .301 in 1989 with 21 steals and 81 runs in just 329 at bats. He proved to be versatile, playing all outfield positions, shortstop, second, and third. In 1990, Roberts ranked in the top 10 in the NL in Doubles (36), Steals (46), and Runs (104).

In 1991, Roberts again was injured limited to 117 games, but still managed to hit .281 with 26 stolen bases. A shocking move was made in December 1991, as hometown favorites were traded, when the Cincinnati Reds sent pitcher Randy Myers in exchange for Roberts, whom had hit two home runs in a game against the Reds in a single game in 1991.

In 1992, Roberts was selected as a National League All-Star, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Bip was also named the Cincinnati Reds team MVP, and was 8th in voting for the NL MVP. stealing 44 bases, and hitting .323. He also tied an NL record in 1992 with ten consecutive base hits.

After the 1993 season he re-signed with the San Diego Padres.

In 1994, Roberts also boasted an MLB best 24-game hitting streak for the Padres. The strike-shortened season compromised his season as he was hitting .320 with over 20 steals yet again. He was also second in the NL in singles, and broke up Pedro Martínez's extra inning perfect game in the 10th inning with a double.

While Roberts didn't play more than a half the 1995 season, he stole 20 bases, only being caught twice, while batting .304. In December, Roberts was dealt to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for first baseman Wally Joyner.

Roberts had trouble adapting to the American League, not hitting as well as he did in the NL, and losing a little speed. He was sent to the Cleveland Indians in mid-1997.

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/roberbi01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://bayarea.comcastsportsnet.com/Bios_Giants.jsp#roberts CSN Bay Area Bio]