Bip Roberts facts for kids

Leon Joseph "Bip" Roberts was a talented American baseball player. He was born on October 27, 1963. Bip played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1998. He was known for playing second baseman and outfielder. He played for several teams, including the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds.

Bip Roberts' Baseball Career

Bip Roberts was a very fast second baseman. He is often remembered for his time with the San Diego Padres. The Pittsburgh Pirates first chose him in the 1982 draft. He was great at stealing bases in minor league baseball.

Joining the Padres

In December 1985, the San Diego Padres picked Bip. This happened in a special event called the Rule 5 draft. Because of this, he had to stay on the Padres' main team for the entire 1986 season.

As a rookie in 1986, Bip tried to steal bases 26 times and was successful 14 times. He also helped the team as a pinch hitter. After his rookie year, he spent two seasons playing in Triple-A.

Success in Triple-A

In Triple-A, Bip played very well. He hit for a high average of .306 in 1987. In 1988, his average was even better at .353. He also hit 10 triples in 98 games in 1987.

Bip continued to be excellent at stealing bases. He stole 39 bases in 1987 and 45 in 1988. Because of his great play, the Padres called him back up to the main team at the end of 1988. He played in 5 games, trying out different positions.

Making an Impact

In 1989, Bip hit .301 and stole 21 bases. He scored 81 runs for the Padres. He was a very versatile player. He played in the outfield, at shortstop, second base, and third base.

The 1990 season was a strong one for Bip. He was among the top 10 players in the National League for several stats. He had 36 doubles, 46 stolen bases, and scored 104 runs.

All-Star Season

In 1991, Bip played in 117 games despite some injuries. He still managed to hit .281 and steal 26 bases. In December 1991, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds sent pitcher Randy Myers to the Padres in return.

The 1992 season was a highlight for Bip. He was chosen to be a National League All-Star. In the All-Star game, he got 2 hits and had 2 RBI.

Bip was also named the Cincinnati Reds team MVP in 1992. He finished 8th in the voting for the NL MVP award. He stole 44 bases and hit for an impressive .323 average. He also tied an NL record by getting ten hits in a row.

Return to the Padres

After the 1993 season, Bip signed again with the Padres. In 1994, he had an amazing 24-game hitting streak. This was the best in all of Major League Baseball that year.

The 1994 season was cut short by a player strike. Even so, Bip was hitting .320 and had over 20 stolen bases. He was also second in the NL in singles. He famously broke up a perfect game by Pedro Martínez with a double in the 10th inning.

In 1995, Bip played in half of the season. He stole 20 bases and was only caught twice. He also kept his high batting average at .304. In December, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals sent first baseman Wally Joyner to the Padres.

Later Career Teams

Bip had some challenges playing in the American League. His hitting wasn't as strong, and he lost a bit of his speed. In the middle of 1997, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians.

He played an important role for the Indians in the postseason that year. He even played in the 1997 World Series. He missed one game due to feeling sick.

The Detroit Tigers signed Bip for the 1998 season. Later that year, they traded him to the Oakland Athletics. In his final season, his batting average dropped. However, he was still a good offensive player. He had a .340 on-base percentage.

Bip Roberts played in 1202 games over 12 seasons. He had a career batting average of .294. He scored 663 runs, hit 203 doubles, 31 triples, and 30 home runs. He also had 352 RBI and stole 264 bases.

Life After Baseball

After his playing career, Bip Roberts stayed involved with baseball. He also worked to help young people.

Broadcasting and Coaching

Bip has worked as a co-host for the Oakland Athletics pre-game shows. These shows are on NBC Sports Bay Area.

In 2008, Bip became the head coach for the baseball team at Skyline High School in Oakland, California. From 2010 to 2012, he was an assistant coach. He worked with the Academy of Art Urban Knights baseball program.

Community Work

Besides his work in broadcasting, Bip has given his time to a group called the Students Rising Above Foundation. This foundation helps young people from low-income families in the Bay Area. It helps them overcome challenges and succeed.

In July 2024, Bip Roberts said he might be interested in running for Mayor of Oakland, California. This would happen if the current Mayor, Sheng Thao, were to be recalled from office.

Personal Life

Bip Roberts is the nephew of former NFL player Roy Shivers.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders