Dave Roberts (third baseman)

David Wayne Roberts (born February 17, 1951) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and catcher, who played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies, between 1972 and 1982.

Roberts attended Corvallis High School (Oregon) and played college baseball for the University of Oregon, where he was primarily a shortstop. After his junior year, he was made the number one overall pick in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft by the Padres on June 6.

The following day, he signed with the Padres, and later that day made his major league debut, becoming the sixth player to go straight to the majors after being drafted without first playing in the minor leagues. He appeared in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, entering the game in the 12th inning at third base and going 0-for-3.

Roberts spent most of the remainder of the 1972 season as the Padres' regular third baseman. However, he was shifted to second base in mid-September following the promotion of Dave Hilton from the minors. Overall, he hit .244 with five home runs and 33 runs batted in.

Dave Roberts was playing 3rd base on July 18 when Steve Arlin came within one out of a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies until Denny Doyle bounced a single over Roberts head. Padres Manager Don Zimmer was playing his infield in to guard against the bunt.

Roberts opened the 1973 season as the Padres' regular second baseman. After five games, in which he went 1-for-16, Roberts was sent to the bench. Over the next 17 games, Roberts played in eight, all as a pinch hitter. On May 1, with Roberts batting .083 and without an extra-base hit, he was demoted to the minor leagues, with Don Mason being recalled.

Playing with the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders, Roberts hit .375 in 22 games. Meanwhile, Hilton, who had started the year at third base, was batting .208. Hilton was returned to the minor leagues and replaced by Roberts, who was the regular third baseman the rest of the season. Roberts responded with what would be the best offensive season of his career, as he posted career highs in batting average (.286), home runs (21) and runs batted in (64) as well as several other categories.

Roberts remained the Padres' starter at third base in 1974, but struggled out of the gate. He batted just .194 in April without a homer. It got worse in May, when he batted .163. Although he finally hit his first home run of the year on May 13, he had just seven extra base hits and seven RBI through the first two months. On July 21, batting just .178 in 88 games, Roberts lost his starting job, as he was once again replaced by Dave Hilton. Things did not get any better, as Roberts batted .095 the rest of the way without an RBI to finish the season with a .167 average.