GaryMrMets
07-27-2004, 07:42 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s072704d.htm
Former Phillie Roberts watches Sharks win
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
By CELESTE E. WHITTAKER
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN
It was a strike.
It looked like it anyway. But it didn't count. It was the ceremonial first pitch at the Camden Riversharks-Pennsylvania Road Warriors game Monday night, and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts did the honors.
Roberts, who played for the Phillies from 1948 to 1961, was at the game to help promote the New Jersey Lottery's newest instant game, Winning Legends. Roberts' likeness appears on the scratch-off game, along with fellow Hall-of-Famers and former Phillies Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
"They (lottery officials) asked me to come here and kind of be involved with it for one night," said Roberts, who currently resides near Tampa, Fla.
The current Phillies, who are in a race for the National League East title, sure could use a pitcher like Roberts, who is second all-time in Phillies' history in career wins (234) and won 286 games in his career.
Roberts was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976. He remains the Phillies' career leader in games pitched, complete games and innings pitched and won 20 games six years in a row, including a career-high 28 in 1952.
"They expect so much of them," Roberts said of his old team, which was 52-46 and half-game behind the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East prior to Monday's game against Florida. "But that whole division, with those four clubs (Braves, Phillies, Marlins and New York Mets), that's going to be some race, I think. I'm scared of Florida because they catch the ball. . . . The Braves have been surprising. Bobby Cox always manages it someway. Of course, the Mets are better.
"It's fun to have that kind of a race, but I wish the Phillies were about 10 games in front."
Asked about Phillies slugger Jim Thome, Roberts said, "He's something. He's a good man. He looks awkward at first, but he's a good first baseman and he hits them where they don't have any fielders.
"But "the Park" (Citizens Bank Park) does help those guys. . . . We played at some small parks, but the Phillies' ball park, every fly ball is right by the fence, it's amazing."
When he retired from baseball, he worked in the investment business for a while, then coached college baseball for eight years in Florida.
"I thought I was getting old and I retired and that was in 1985," Roberts said with a laugh. "I enjoyed it and I enjoy just being free now, going around and just making appearances."
The Sharks were pretty solid in their appearance Monday in front of 3,208 fans. They held on to beat the Road Warriors 8-3 and to give former Rancocas Valley High standout Bryan Ward (1-0) the victory. Ward scattered 10 hits, gave up three runs and had eight strikeouts in seven innings.
"It was my second time out; I'm still a little rusty," Ward said. "I wasn't as sharp as I like to be, but I battled through it. We've been losing some games. It was nice to get a lead and keep it."
Shark bites: Riversharks pitching coach Steve Foucault was the interim manager Monday, sitting in for Wayne Krenchicki, who was at his uncle's funeral. . . . The Riversharks signed right-hander Joe Strong Monday. Strong pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2002 and finished 7-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 34.2 innings of work. Strong had a 5.81 ERA in 26.1 innings of work in two stints with the Florida Marlins. Strong had two strikeouts and gave up one hit in 1 1/2 innings Monday. To make room for Strong, the Sharks released right-hander Cliff Foster.
Former Phillie Roberts watches Sharks win
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
By CELESTE E. WHITTAKER
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN
It was a strike.
It looked like it anyway. But it didn't count. It was the ceremonial first pitch at the Camden Riversharks-Pennsylvania Road Warriors game Monday night, and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts did the honors.
Roberts, who played for the Phillies from 1948 to 1961, was at the game to help promote the New Jersey Lottery's newest instant game, Winning Legends. Roberts' likeness appears on the scratch-off game, along with fellow Hall-of-Famers and former Phillies Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
"They (lottery officials) asked me to come here and kind of be involved with it for one night," said Roberts, who currently resides near Tampa, Fla.
The current Phillies, who are in a race for the National League East title, sure could use a pitcher like Roberts, who is second all-time in Phillies' history in career wins (234) and won 286 games in his career.
Roberts was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976. He remains the Phillies' career leader in games pitched, complete games and innings pitched and won 20 games six years in a row, including a career-high 28 in 1952.
"They expect so much of them," Roberts said of his old team, which was 52-46 and half-game behind the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East prior to Monday's game against Florida. "But that whole division, with those four clubs (Braves, Phillies, Marlins and New York Mets), that's going to be some race, I think. I'm scared of Florida because they catch the ball. . . . The Braves have been surprising. Bobby Cox always manages it someway. Of course, the Mets are better.
"It's fun to have that kind of a race, but I wish the Phillies were about 10 games in front."
Asked about Phillies slugger Jim Thome, Roberts said, "He's something. He's a good man. He looks awkward at first, but he's a good first baseman and he hits them where they don't have any fielders.
"But "the Park" (Citizens Bank Park) does help those guys. . . . We played at some small parks, but the Phillies' ball park, every fly ball is right by the fence, it's amazing."
When he retired from baseball, he worked in the investment business for a while, then coached college baseball for eight years in Florida.
"I thought I was getting old and I retired and that was in 1985," Roberts said with a laugh. "I enjoyed it and I enjoy just being free now, going around and just making appearances."
The Sharks were pretty solid in their appearance Monday in front of 3,208 fans. They held on to beat the Road Warriors 8-3 and to give former Rancocas Valley High standout Bryan Ward (1-0) the victory. Ward scattered 10 hits, gave up three runs and had eight strikeouts in seven innings.
"It was my second time out; I'm still a little rusty," Ward said. "I wasn't as sharp as I like to be, but I battled through it. We've been losing some games. It was nice to get a lead and keep it."
Shark bites: Riversharks pitching coach Steve Foucault was the interim manager Monday, sitting in for Wayne Krenchicki, who was at his uncle's funeral. . . . The Riversharks signed right-hander Joe Strong Monday. Strong pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2002 and finished 7-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 34.2 innings of work. Strong had a 5.81 ERA in 26.1 innings of work in two stints with the Florida Marlins. Strong had two strikeouts and gave up one hit in 1 1/2 innings Monday. To make room for Strong, the Sharks released right-hander Cliff Foster.