Tuesday, July 31st is Robin
Roberts Day in Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Tuesday, July 31st is a very special day for
baseball fans in Central Vermont as Hall of Fame pitcher Robin
Roberts returns to Montpelier to mark the 60th anniversary of
his final appearance with the Twin City Trojans.
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas will issue an official proclamation
for the state of Vermont declaring July 31st, 2007 as "Robin
Roberts Day". Roberts pitched for the Trojans of the Northern
League in 1946 and 1947 for legendary college baseball coach and
Vermont native Ray Fisher. Roberts' 1947 season was one to
remember, as he pitched a no-hitter and posted an 18-3 record
with a 2.33 ERA en route to a league championship. Scouts were
impressed with the young right-hander's pitching and he signed
to a professional contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
With the Phillies, Roberts had an exceptional career despite the
fact he was with one pennant-winning team known affectionately
as the "Whiz Kids" in 1950. He won 286 games in his major-league
career and had six straight 20-win seasons. Roberts was a
seven-time MLB All-Star and was a two-time Sporting News Pitcher
of the Year, the precursor to today's Cy Young Award. Roberts
also pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and
Chicago Cubs before retiring in 1966. He was elected to the
National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976 with almost 87% of the
vote.
Roberts will sign autographs at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and
Conference Center from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. for $15, with all
proceeds going to the Green Mountain Community Baseball Fund. He
will then take part in pre-game festivities at Montpelier
Recreation Field starting at 6:00 p.m. honoring the 60th
anniversary of his final amateur appearance in Montpelier,
featuring taped messages from other Hall of Famers and Roberts
throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Roberts will also join
the Vermont Mountaineers for several innings in the first base
dugout during the game against the Concord Quarry Dogs, the very
spot in which he used to watch and play for the Trojans. This
day is one that Central Vermont baseball fans both young and old
will never forget.
The Vermont Mountaineers are a local non-profit 501(c)(3)
community organization benefiting the Central Vermont community.
