Mike Roberts (baseball)

Last updated

Mike Roberts
102nd ISRG Commander Col. Sean Riley throws out first pitch in Cotuit (cropped).jpg
Roberts with the Cotuit Kettleers in 2019
Biographical details
Born (1950-03-01) March 1, 1950 (age 73)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
1970–1972 UNC Chapel Hill
Position(s) Catcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1998 UNC Chapel Hill
1999 UNC Asheville
Head coaching record
Overall780–428–3 (.645)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
All-Atlantic Coast Conference (1970–1972)

Thomas Michael Roberts (born March 1, 1950) is a former American professional baseball player and college baseball coach. He played for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1970 through 1972, and then in Minor League Baseball in 1972 and 1973. He returned to the Tar Heels as their coach, serving in the role from 1978 through 1998. His son, Brian Roberts, played Major League Baseball.

Contents

Early life and career

Roberts attended Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At North Carolina, he played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team as a catcher. A member of the Tar Heels from 1970 through 1972, Roberts was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference in all three seasons. [1]

The Kansas City Royals selected Roberts in the 34th round of the 1972 MLB Draft. He played for the Royals' organization in Minor League Baseball in 1972 for the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, [2] and in 1973 for the Waterloo Royals of the Class A Midwest League. [3]

Roberts became the head coach of the Tar Heels in 1978, and held the position through 1998. [1] [4] Roberts then coached for the UNC Asheville Bulldogs for one season.

In 1984 and again in 2000, Roberts managed the Wareham Gatemen, a collegiate summer baseball team in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). In 2004, he returned to the CCBL to become manager of the Cotuit Kettleers. [5] Roberts has led the Kettleers to league championship titles in 2010, 2013, and 2019, and has managed several future major leaguers at Cotuit such as Yan Gomes, Charlie Blackmon, and Bradley Zimmer. [6]

Personal

Roberts' son, Brian Roberts, played for him on the Tar Heels and went on to play in Major League Baseball. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Roberts (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1977)

Brian Michael Roberts is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2001, and played for the team until 2013. He played his final season for the New York Yankees in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Vaughn</span> American baseball player (born 1965)

Gregory Lamont Vaughn is an American former baseball left fielder who played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1989–1996), San Diego Padres (1996–1998), Cincinnati Reds (1999), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2000–2002) and Colorado Rockies (2003) of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born in Sacramento, California, where he attended Kennedy High School. He then played baseball at the University of Miami. He is the cousin of fellow former major leaguers Mo Vaughn and Jerry Royster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Cod Baseball League</span> Collegiate summer baseball league

The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousand former players who have gone on to play in the major leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett Atkins</span> American baseball player (born 1979)

Garrett Bernard Atkins is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. Between 2003 and 2010, he played for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Redus</span> American baseball player (born 1956)

Gary Eugene Redus is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels</span> University sports teams

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State. The campus at Chapel Hill is referred to as the University of North Carolina for the purposes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was chartered in 1789, and in 1795 it became the first state-supported university in the United States. Since the school fostered the oldest collegiate team in the Carolinas, the school took on the nickname Carolina, especially in athletics. The Tar Heels are also referred to as UNC or The Heels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels football</span> College Football Bowl Subdivision team; member of Atlantic Coast Conference

The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the sport of American football or Gridiron Football. The Tar Heels play in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball</span> Intercollegiate basketball team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The North Carolina Tar Heels Men's basketball program is the college basketball team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have won six National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships, in addition to a Helms Athletic Foundation retroactive title (1924), and participated in a record twenty-one Final Fours. It is the only school to have reached at least one Final Four for nine straight decades and at least two Final Fours for six straight decades, all while averaging more wins per season played (20.7) than any other program in college basketball. In 2012, ESPN ranked North Carolina No. 1 on its list of the 50 most successful programs of the past fifty years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels baseball</span> American college baseball team

The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, commonly referred to as Carolina, represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels play their home games on campus at Boshamer Stadium, and are currently coached by Scott Forbes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotuit Kettleers</span> Collegiate summer baseball team in Massachusetts

The Cotuit Kettleers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in the village of Cotuit, Massachusetts, which is in the southwest corner of the town of Barnstable. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Kettleers play their home games at Lowell Park in Cotuit. The team has been owned and operated by the non-profit Cotuit Athletic Association since 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wareham Gatemen</span> Collegiate summer baseball team in Massachusetts

The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Gatemen play their home games at Clem Spillane Field in Wareham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Hayes</span> American baseball player (born 1984)

Brett Gregory Hayes is an American former professional baseball catcher and current bullpen coach for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Florida/Miami Marlins, Kansas City Royals, and Cleveland Indians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Donald (baseball)</span> American baseball player

Jason Thomas Donald is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dustin Ackley</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Dustin Michael Ackley is an American former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese Havens</span> Baseball player

David Reese Havens is a former professional baseball player who was an infielder in Minor League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Moran</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Colin Richard Moran is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 North Carolina Tar Heels football team</span> American college football season

The 2013 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by second-year head coach Larry Fedora and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels finished the season 7–6 overall and 4–4 in ACC play to place fifth in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Belk Bowl, where they defeated Cincinnati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Greer (baseball)</span> American baseball coach

George Edward Greer is an American baseball coach. He has served as the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB) and was a head coach in college baseball for the Davidson Wildcats and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Busch (baseball)</span> Baseball player

Michael James Busch is an American professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Fenster</span> American baseball player and manager

Darren Fenster is a former professional baseball player and manager who works in the Minor League Baseball system of the Boston Red Sox. As a player, he was listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 175 pounds (79 kg) while batting and throwing right-handed.

References

  1. 1 2 "Resignation brings end for UNC's father-son tandem | The Chronicle". Dukechronicle.com. March 31, 1998. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  2. ↑ "1972 Billings Mustangs Statistics — Minor Leagues". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  3. ↑ "1973 Waterloo Royals Statistics — Minor Leagues". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Unc's Fired Coach Didn't Throw In Towel — Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. May 25, 1998. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Roberts coming into own on multiple levels — MLB — ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. May 12, 2005. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  6. ↑ Aria Gerson (August 10, 2019). "No place like home for winning a Cape League title". capecodtimes.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Thanks to his father, Brian Roberts has been around baseball all his life — ESPN The Magazine". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.