Ed Roebuck

Edward Jack Roebuck

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Brownsville (PA) High School
• Debut April 18, 1955
• Final Game June 20, 1966
• Born July 3, 1931 in East Millsboro, PA USA
• Died June 14, 2018 in Lakewood, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ed Roebuck had an eleven-year major league career as a relief pitcher from 1955 to 1966.

Roebuck signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 and pitched in the minors through 1954. He was with the Montreal Royals from 1952 to 1954, winning 45 games during that three-year stretch. Tommy Lasorda was also on the staff all three years. Ed came up at age 23 with the Dodgers in 1955 as a key member of the team that won the 1955 World Series. Roebuck appeared in 47 games in relief during the regular season, getting 12 saves, and pitched two innings in relief during the Series.

In 1956 he again appeared frequently in relief, and again pitched in the World Series. Roebuck stayed with the Dodgers through the end of July 1963, although an injury kept him from playing in 1959, another World Series year for the Dodgers. He did pitch in the minors for the St. Paul Saints in 1959, winning 13 games.

Roebuck's best years with the Dodgers were probably 1957, when he went 8-2 with 8 saves and a 2.71 ERA, and 1962, when he went 10-2 with 9 saves and a 3.09 ERA.

Roebuck spent parts of two seasons with the Washington Senators (where he was managed by former teammate Gil Hodges), before going to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964 where he had a terrific season. He appeared in 60 games, getting 12 saves, with an ERA of 2.21. The Phillies, who had been in a rebuilding mode, managed to win 92 games that year but collapsed at the end of the season, losing the pennant to the St. Louis Cardinals. That year was also notable as Dick Allen's rookie season.

After his major league days he pitched two years in the minors at San Diego.

Various sites give Roebuck part of the credit for teaching Bert Blyleven to throw an effective curveball.

He is the only major leaguer (through 2011) with the last name Roebuck.

According to his obituary (see below), he had a couple shoulder injuries during his career. After his playing days, he was a long-time scout.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955

Further Reading

• Paul Hirsch: "Ed Roebuck", in Mel Marmer and Bill Nowlin, eds.: The Year of Blue Snow: The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2013, pp. 176-181. ISBN 978-1-933599-51-9

Related Sites

• Ed Roebuck at the SABR Bio Project
• LA Times obit