Curt Roberts
Encyclopedia
Curtis Benjamin Roberts was a Major League Baseball
second baseman
. He was signed by the Boston Braves
as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season, and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
from 1954 to 1956. A native of Pineland, Texas
, he stood 5'8" and weighed 165 lb (74.8 kg). Roberts was a skilled defensive player who could not hit with enough proficiency to remain in the major leagues.
Roberts played for the Kansas City Monarchs
, the same Negro League organization which produced Jackie Robinson
and Satchel Paige
.
Roberts was obtained by Pittsburgh from Denver of the Western League
as part of a minor league
working agreement before the 1952 season. When he made his major league debut (April 13, 1954 at Forbes Field
), he became the first black player in Pirates history. In his first major league at bat
, he tripled
against starter Robin Roberts
of the Philadelphia Phillies
.
In a May 1954 game, Roberts was dropped to seventh in the Pirates' batting order versus the St. Louis Cardinals
. Prior to this game he hit leadoff. The change came because the Cardinals started a left handed pitcher. Roberts succeeded in getting a sixth inning single which accounted for two runs batted in.
He played in 134 games during his rookie
season, batting .232 with 1 home run
and 36 runs batted in. After that, he got into only 37 more games over the course of the next two seasons. He was sent to the Columbus Jets
of the International League
in late June 1956. He later became a member of the Athletics and Yankees organizations, but never again reached the big league level.
Career totals for 171 games include a .223 batting average (128-for-575), 1 HR
, 40 RBI, 54 runs scored
, and an on base percentage
of .299. In his 164 appearances at second base, he handled 856 out of 883 total chances
successfully for a fielding percentage
of .969, a little lower than the league average during his era.
Roberts died at the age of 40 in Oakland, California
when he was hit by an automobile while changing a flat tire on his own car.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He was signed by the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season, and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
from 1954 to 1956. A native of Pineland, Texas
Pineland, Texas
Pineland is a city in Sabine County, Texas, United States. The population was 980 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pineland is located at ....
, he stood 5'8" and weighed 165 lb (74.8 kg). Roberts was a skilled defensive player who could not hit with enough proficiency to remain in the major leagues.
Roberts played for the Kansas City Monarchs
Kansas City Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. J.L. Wilkinson was the first Caucasian owner at the time...
, the same Negro League organization which produced Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
and Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
.
Roberts was obtained by Pittsburgh from Denver of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
as part of a minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
working agreement before the 1952 season. When he made his major league debut (April 13, 1954 at Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
), he became the first black player in Pirates history. In his first major league at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, he tripled
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
against starter Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts (baseball player)
Robin Evan Roberts was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who pitched primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies . He spent the latter part of his career with the Baltimore Orioles , Houston Astros , and Chicago Cubs...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
In a May 1954 game, Roberts was dropped to seventh in the Pirates' batting order versus the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Prior to this game he hit leadoff. The change came because the Cardinals started a left handed pitcher. Roberts succeeded in getting a sixth inning single which accounted for two runs batted in.
He played in 134 games during his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, batting .232 with 1 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 36 runs batted in. After that, he got into only 37 more games over the course of the next two seasons. He was sent to the Columbus Jets
Columbus Jets
The Columbus Jets were a Minor League baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio from 1955 to 1970. The team moved from Ottawa, Canada where they were known as the Ottawa Athletics. The Jets were a member of the International League. From 1955-56 they were the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in late June 1956. He later became a member of the Athletics and Yankees organizations, but never again reached the big league level.
Career totals for 171 games include a .223 batting average (128-for-575), 1 HR
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 40 RBI, 54 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .299. In his 164 appearances at second base, he handled 856 out of 883 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
successfully for a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .969, a little lower than the league average during his era.
Roberts died at the age of 40 in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
when he was hit by an automobile while changing a flat tire on his own car.