Mike Roberts (baseball)

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.

Mike Roberts
Roberts with the Cotuit Kettleers in 2019
Biographical details
Born (1950-03-01) March 1, 1950
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
1970–1972UNC Chapel Hill
Position(s)Catcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1998UNC Chapel Hill
1999UNC Asheville
Head coaching record
Overall780–428–3 (.645)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
All-Atlantic Coast Conference (1970–1972)

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]

References
  1. "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.
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