curtis august november american baseball second baseman played seasons pittsburgh_pirates major_league_baseball signed amateur free agent season obtained pittsburgh year later seasons pirates farm system roberts black major_league player pirates starting second baseman pirates rookie year roberts playing time decreased majors seasons played multiple teams minor leagues retiring professional baseball native texas raised oakland california roberts considered short major_league standards standing roberts skilled defensive player hit proficiency remain major leagues roberts died automobile struck changing tire car pirates teammates learned death years later interviewed newspaper article roberts career short paved way black players debut pirates notable future baseball hall early professional career roberts born texas grew oakland california attended high school future professional athletes went years soon finishing high school age roberts began professional career played seasons monarchs teammates included roberts signed recommendation scout saw play season sent roberts minor leagues affiliate manager prior season bears affiliate pittsburgh_pirates working agreement braves pirates roberts member pirates organization sum originally shortstop second baseman tenure bears started build reputation excellent fielder leading minor league second fielding percentage stayed bears seasons playing combined total games home runs batting average major_league career prior pittsburgh pirates season local black community pittsburgh team integrate roster teams new_york_giants speed integration black community began protest pirates pirate home games general manager pirates time seven years earlier general manager dodgers signed black major_league_baseball player playing years pirates minor league system roberts major league debut april philadelphia_phillies black player pirates history prior game gave speech roberts wife similar gave robinson game speech explained roberts needed temper order succeed racial abuse spectators common occurrence later said selected roberts pirates black player owing skills calm demeanor major league bat roberts starting pitcher double game roberts hit career home run starter win june scored runs including winning run august game cincinnati_reds september roberts errors proved costly braves won 10th game row roberts finished season primary starter second base batting home run runs batted rbi games roberts started season slump games roberts hits bats batting average april games started season roberts wild throw base led run decisive factor pirates loss thought racial pressure roberts affecting ability help dodgers second baseman wrote letter roberts discussing handle emotions offering words encouragement roberts soon demoted minor leagues spent rest season stars roberts broke record consecutive games error second base missed playing time suffering concussion hit pitch delivered roberts teammate johnny brien competed second base job prior season roberts played games beginning year hitting runs batted backup role losing job future baseball hall roberts succeeded getting game winning rbi ninth inning double bend louis cardinals days later roberts career rbi double fourth inning victory cincinnati_reds later career roberts traded pitcher cash played game athletics soon sent late june lasted season majors traded athletics pittsburgh main black newspaper protested roberts real chance majors pirates general manager replied roberts fine young man marginal major august roberts hit home runs game havana sugar kings fifth player international_league history struck home runs previous games jets prior season roberts traded new_york_yankees player named later trade sent player yankees roberts played new_york_yankees minor league affiliate denver end season roberts received votes final tally valuable player american association finishing roberts reached majors minor leagues point played baseball nicaragua roberts played international_league led league fielding percentage named selected game season roberts acquired affiliate acquired selected squad week later roberts suffered broken leg teammate duke field game practically ending career played seasons minors playing ability diminished injury roberts retired baseball season post baseball death roberts married children baseball career ended worked security guard died age oakland california hit drunk driver changing flat tire car major piece written journalist discussed roberts career struggles calling forgotten pioneer prior piece roberts old teammates unaware roberts died nearly years earlier son supposedly working book father life playing style statistics roberts considered critics excellent fielder roberts considered best second baseman minor leagues primary slick fielder teammate called roberts best slang ground seen according king main reason roberts short career majors pirates didn gave time develop skills roberts hit proficiency remain reputation hitting big league curve seasons pirates roberts career batting average home run runs batted runs scored base percentage appearances second base handled total chances successfully fielding percentage little lower league average era legacy despite roberts short major league career paved way black players debut pirates notable future baseball hall befriended teaching handle racial abuse huge pressure roberts suffered pirates helped ease transition dodgers minor league system decent number black hispanic players main roster pittsburgh_pirates roberts baseman black journalist mentioned roberts legacy arose mainly unsuccessful career pirates singer claimed roberts flop showed public perception black players having superstar member major_league club incorrect making integration process easier black players previous players broke color barrier respective teams later elected hall_of_fame stars right years death pittsburgh pirates honored roberts festivities roberts honored opening pirates legacy exhibit families players including roberts attended ceremony park hometown texas dedicated honor
Curt Roberts