Dave Roberts

Who was Dave Roberts?

David Arthur Roberts was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for eight teams from 1969 to 1981. He was second in the National League with a 2.10 earned run average in 1971 for the San Diego Padres, after which he was traded to the Houston Astros, where he spent the four most productive years of his career. Over his major league career he won 103 games.

Born in Gallipolis, Ohio, Roberts changed organizations 11 times in his pro baseball career. "The way I look at it," he said, "either I'm a bum or everybody wants me."

He was one of the best Jewish pitchers all-time in major league history through 2010, ranking fourth in career games, fourth in wins and strikeouts behind Sandy Koufax, Holtzman, and Steve Stone, and seventh in ERA.