Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-04
WIN, LOSE OR
NNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Roberts of the PhiIIies

CLEARWATER, FLA. April Amy number of present.
day pitchers throw faster than Robin Roberts Quite
break off sharper But only 29yearold right
handler of the Phlies has 20 games six
straight Only Roberts today Johnson
Grove, Mathewson and the few others who have turned
the trick.
saying yesterday Russell Field here IF you don't
walk too many the other side has got you all by
itself.
Besides" he added, thoughtfully q can't afford to
put too many base You know where led the league
again last year? Home of pitcher. They got
Al off me-"
side the Phlies clubhouse, asked if all those home
worried him.
Goodness gracious yes" he said. They worry the
deuce out of me-"
BALL PLAYERS WILL TELL you that Roberts probably
is the keenes student of pitching the Modesty
Robin declines the title "All do is try to pattern myself
after of the players really admire he said Il used
to like to watch Eddie Stanky There fellow without
too much ability but he made study of the game
Stan Musial is great student So Ted Williams
and Bob Teller only hope that someday I'll have chance
TO watch Feler pitch never did him. Imagine three
no-hltters and dozen -hitterS!"
What's your low-hit games?" he asked
Robin smiled rueully, Just about nil. I can't pitch
that way pitched nohitter. think
threw one-hitter Yes l did, once"
Roberts began hitting the magic mark in 1885, when
he won 20 Then followed successive with o. 49,
3d. % and % The he % games he walked only
As baters in 800 innings.
1T WAS NOT HIS 29-game but 1850 that gave
him the greatest thrill That's the pen
nant" he said Boy. that wonderful year Every
body going good When you win pennan everybody
has to be playing we'll. if fellow only hitting 24O
it's valuable because he has got to be winning
share of the games"
Robin thinks he has six or seven seasons left but he
refuses to speculate to whether he wind up with
wins my goodness, that's lot games" he commented
Il don't set any goals, aside from taking of family
If set and don't achieve it, then disappointed"
Not until last winter, Roberts says, did he realize he
had Joined such exclusive society the 20game winners
of six successive years 1T just occurred
me- he confessed After ALL important is to win
% games when your club finished fourth place?
idea is to win want it like it in 1885, when something
was riding every every pitch and finally you
playing in the World Series.
"AS FAR AS I'M concerned there's nothing like good
ball One thrill I'll always remember is when
the Dodgers last year 80 shooting for my goth win
and Don Newcombe pitching against us.
"Puddn' Head Jones was the hero of that game He'd
only been having fair year but he beat NeWcombe with
big hit and my, got bang out OF it That's what makes
the game, fellow like Jones plugging away and beating
the big team.
we beat the Dodgers like that in the late season.
wouldn't be surprised If those close didn't take
thing out of Newcombe for the World Series.
THE closest ever came to no-htter,' Robin added
was in game against the Giants had the no-hitter
stil going with one out in the ninth inning. Then Alvin
Dark to bat
You know really got kick out of battling with
Dark, though he foued of five pitches and
then singled to break up. The Giants got couple of
more hits after Darks, but it was a real thrill"
ROBERTS UNDOUBTEDLY will go down as one Of the
best bargains in modern Phies history He cost
the club only $25,000 which in the form of bonus
Reminded that he easily could have received more Robin
smiles.
I have no regrets" he said II just wanted to play
ball"
He had come out OF Michigan state and worked out
with the Philles during trip to Chicago no never
warmed up for any other club he said II guess could
have shopped around, but didn't bother
THE Pills wanted to sign me after the first time
worked out said Let me think about it for day or So
"A little later they offered $4,000 to sign / grabbed
" shuckS, $4,000 would have been enough