When a Robin becomes an Oriole

Robin Roberts

Three weeks after being released by the New York Yankees without ever pitching an inning for them in the regular season, Robin Roberts signs with the Baltimore Orioles 64 years ago today.‍

The future Hall of Famer and longtime Philadelphia ace is sold by the Phillies to the Yankees after the 1961 season, but the Yankees then shelve Roberts after spring training in 1962 before finally releasing him without ever using him in a game.

Undeterred, the 35-year-old Roberts wins 42 games over the next three-plus seasons with Baltimore before moving on to the Houston Astros and finishing his 19-year major league career in 1966 with the Chicago Cubs.

Roberts opens the 1967 season with the Phillies’ Class AA team in Reading with the hopes of returning to Philadelphia.

Despite going 5-3 in 11 starts with a 2.48 ERA, Roberts – then 40 – never gets another chance with the Phillies and retires in midseason.

The Hall of Fame eventually welcomes Roberts into its Class of 1976.

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