Dave Roberts
Born: 5/31/1972 in Naha, Okinawa, Japan
MLB Debut: 1999-08-07 | Final Game: 2008-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 172 lbs
Full name: David Ray Roberts
Biography
Dave Roberts, born in 1972, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1999 and 2008. Known for his speed and versatility as a position player, Roberts played in a total of 832 games during his career. He amassed 721 hits, including 23 home runs, and drove in 213 runs, finishing with a batting average of .266. One of his most notable strengths was his ability to steal bases; he successfully swiped 243 bases, showcasing his exceptional speed on the base paths, which was particularly valued during an era that increasingly emphasized athleticism and small ball tactics.
Roberts gained recognition not only for his performance but also for his leadership and tenacity. He played for several teams throughout his career, contributing significantly to each one. His tenure in the league coincided with a transformative period in baseball, as the game saw a shift towards increased emphasis on power hitting and advanced metrics. Roberts' style of play, characterized by aggressive baserunning and a knack for clutch performances, made him a fan favorite and an integral part of the teams he played for. After retiring from active play, he continued to influence the game, eventually transitioning into coaching, where he could share his wealth of experience with the next generation of players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 832 | 2707 | 437 | 721 | 95 | 53 | 23 | 213 | 243 | 307 | 362 | 0.266 | 0.342 | 0.366 | 0.708 | -2928.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | CLE | AL | 41 | 143 | 26 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 0.238 | -641.2 |
| 2000 | CLE | AL | 19 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | CLE | AL | 15 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | LAD | NL | 127 | 422 | 63 | 117 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 34 | 45 | 48 | 51 | 0.277 | -214.2 |
| 2003 | LAD | NL | 107 | 388 | 56 | 97 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 40 | 43 | 39 | 0.250 | -1032.3 |
| 2004 | BOS | AL | 45 | 86 | 19 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 0.256 | -13.5 |
| 2004 | LAD | NL | 68 | 233 | 45 | 59 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 33 | 28 | 31 | 0.253 | -13.5 |
| 2005 | SDP | NL | 115 | 411 | 65 | 113 | 19 | 10 | 8 | 38 | 23 | 53 | 59 | 0.275 | 411.2 |
| 2006 | SDP | NL | 129 | 499 | 80 | 146 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 44 | 49 | 51 | 61 | 0.293 | -159.8 |
| 2007 | SFG | NL | 114 | 396 | 61 | 103 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 31 | 42 | 66 | 0.260 | -637.5 |
| 2008 | SFG | NL | 52 | 107 | 18 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 0.224 | -284.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 28 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.321 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NLDS2 | SDN | 4 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.438 |
| 2005 | NLDS1 | SDN | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.222 |
| 2004 | ALDS1 | BOS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2004 | ALCS | BOS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1999 | ALDS1 | CLE | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 761 | 657 | 1540 | 25 | 14 | 6 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | CLE | OF | 39 | 30 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | CLE | OF | 17 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | CLE | OF | 13 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | LAN | OF | 117 | 112 | 253 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | LAN | OF | 105 | 98 | 202 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2004 | BOS | OF | 38 | 19 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 | LAN | OF | 62 | 57 | 118 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2005 | SDN | OF | 109 | 101 | 235 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | SDN | OF | 127 | 121 | 273 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | SFN | OF | 102 | 94 | 247 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | SFN | OF | 32 | 23 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 259 |
| Center Field | 514 |
| Right Field | 17 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | SFN | NL | $6,500,000 |
| 2007 | SFN | NL | $5,000,000 |
| 2006 | SDN | NL | $2,250,000 |
| 2005 | SDN | NL | $1,350,000 |
| 2004 | LAN | NL | $975,000 |
| 2003 | LAN | NL | $400,000 |
| 2002 | LAN | NL | $217,500 |
| 2001 | CLE | AL | $212,000 |
| 1999 | CLE | AL | $200,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $17,104,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | CA | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |