Bip Roberts facts for kids

Leon Joseph "Bip" Roberts, born on October 27, 1963, is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1998. Bip was a versatile player, known for playing both second base and in the outfield. He played for several teams, including the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Oakland Athletics.

Bip Roberts' Baseball Career

Bip Roberts was a very fast second baseman and is often remembered for his time with the San Diego Padres. He was first chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1982 draft. After stealing many bases in the minor leagues, the San Diego Padres picked him in the Rule 5 draft in December 1985. This meant he had to stay on the Padres' main team for the entire 1986 season.

Early Years and Rookie Season

As a rookie in 1986, Roberts successfully stole 14 bases. He also often came into games as a pinch hitter, which means he batted in place of another player. For the next two seasons, he played in Triple-A, which is a high level of minor league baseball.

In Triple-A, he showed he was a great hitter. He batted .306 in 1987 and an even better .353 in 1988. He also continued to steal many bases, with 39 in 1987 and 45 in 1988. Because of his excellent play, the Padres called him back up to the major leagues at the end of 1988.

Making a Mark in the Major Leagues

In 1989, Roberts had a strong season, batting .301 and stealing 21 bases. He was very flexible, playing in the outfield, at shortstop, second base, and third base. In 1990, he was among the top players in the National League for doubles (36), steals (46), and runs scored (104).

In 1991, Bip Roberts played in 117 games despite some injuries. He still managed to bat .281 and steal 26 bases. In December 1991, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.

All-Star Season and Injuries

The year 1992 was a highlight for Roberts. He was chosen to be a National League All-Star. In the All-Star game, he got two hits and drove in two runs. He was also named the Cincinnati Reds' team MVP and finished 8th in voting for the NL MVP award. That season, he stole 44 bases and had an impressive batting average of .323. He even tied an NL record by getting ten hits in a row.

In 1993, Roberts faced more injuries, which limited him to only 83 games. Despite this, he still managed to steal 26 bases. After the 1993 season, he returned to play for the Padres.

Return to Padres and Later Career

In 1994, Roberts had an amazing 24-game hitting streak for the Padres, which was the best in Major League Baseball that year. The season was cut short by a strike, but he was batting .320 and had over 20 steals again. He also broke up a perfect game by Pedro Martínez in the 10th inning with a double.

In 1995, Roberts played half the season and stole 20 bases while only being caught twice. He batted .304. In December, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals.

Roberts found it a bit harder to play in the American League, as his hitting and speed were not quite as high. In mid-1997, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He played an important role for the Indians in the postseason, even though he missed a game in the World Series due to illness.

The Detroit Tigers signed Roberts for the 1998 season. Later that year, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics. In his final season, his batting average dropped a bit, but he still got on base often, with a .340 on-base percentage.

Over his 12 seasons and 1202 games, Roberts 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 has stayed involved with baseball and his community.

Broadcasting and Coaching

Roberts has worked as a co-host for the NBC Sports Bay Area pre-game shows for the Oakland Athletics. He shared his knowledge of the game with fans.

In 2008, Roberts became the head coach for the baseball team at Skyline High School in Oakland, California. He also served as an assistant coach for the Academy of Art Urban Knights baseball program from 2010 to 2012.

Community Involvement

Beyond his work in broadcasting and coaching, Roberts has dedicated his time to helping others. He has supported the Students Rising Above Foundation. This organization helps young people from low-income backgrounds in the Bay Area overcome challenges to succeed.

In July 2024, Roberts mentioned 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.

Family Connections

Bip Roberts is the nephew of Roy Shivers, who was a former player in the NFL.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders