Ed Roebuck – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ed Roebuck isn’t exactly a name you hear every day, but this right-handed relief pitcher played a key role in one of baseball’s most unforgettable decades. Born Edward Jack Roebuck in East Millsboro, Pennsylvania, he built an impressive 11-year career in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1966.

Roebuck retired from professional baseball in 1966 after his final season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He wrapped up a career that spanned three teams, including a World Series championship with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.

His baseball journey took him from the coal mining country of southwestern Pennsylvania to the bright lights of Brooklyn. Then he headed west with the Dodgers during their historic move to Los Angeles.

Let’s trace Roebuck’s path from amateur baseball through his professional years. We’ll check out his big contributions to the Dodgers’ championship run, his later seasons with Washington and Philadelphia, and the mark he left on the game.

His story gives us a fascinating look at baseball during a time of big changes, when relief pitching was evolving and the sport itself was spreading across America.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Edward Jack Roebuck was born on July 3, 1931, in East Millsboro, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a big family before focusing on baseball at Brownsville High School.

He played American Legion baseball and went to tryout camps, which led to his professional contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Family Background and Hometown

Roebuck came from a large family in rural Pennsylvania. He had five brothers and three sisters, so there were nine kids in the house.

The family lived in East Millsboro, which Roebuck called “way back in the sticks.” Getting there wasn’t easy, and a Brooklyn Dodgers scout once struggled with the muddy roads to reach them.

Roebuck’s mom played a big part in his baseball journey. She’d cook breakfast for Boston Red Sox scout Socko McCarey, who’d sit under their peach tree eating fruit while trying to sign Ed.

The family stayed close. Roebuck’s brother Joe had a big say in his career decisions.

When the Dodgers scout wanted to take Ed to Brooklyn, his mom insisted that Joe had to approve first.

High School Baseball Achievements

Ed went to Brownsville High School and focused only on baseball. The school had a strong program under coach Charlie “Slick.”

“We had a very good high school team,” Roebuck said. “We had a very good coach Mr. Slick (Charlie) and there were some real good prospects in the Mon Valley and Fayette County.”

The team played against some top players in the area. Roebuck once pitched against Freddy Youman from Charleroi High School.

His high school team won their conference championship at least once, maybe twice while he was there. That area turned out several quality baseball players during those years.

Roebuck graduated ahead of his class in 1948. Because of that, he had to put his pro baseball dreams on hold for a bit.

Path to Professional Baseball

After graduation, Roebuck played American Legion ball since he couldn’t sign a pro contract right away. He also pitched for local coal mining teams in the summer of 1948.

A few major league teams wanted him, but the Boston Red Sox were especially aggressive. Their scout practically moved in with the Roebucks.

The big moment came when Roebuck and his brother went to a Brooklyn Dodgers tryout camp in Washington, Pennsylvania. His brother nudged him to go, even though the Red Sox were always around.

“My brother said ‘let’s go to this tryout camp’ and I said the Red Sox are practically living at my house,” Roebuck remembered. He tried out as both a pitcher and hitter but didn’t hear anything from Brooklyn at first.

His American Legion team almost made it to play against Curt Simmons’ squad. After that, Dodgers scout Jim Murray drove out in a black Buick to see Roebuck at home.

Murray brought Roebuck to Brooklyn for another workout at Ebbets Field. Branch Rickey offered him a contract that Boston couldn’t match, so he signed with the Dodgers.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Edward Jack Roebuck put together a solid 11-year major league career from 1955 to 1966. He mostly served as a relief pitcher for four different teams.

His journey included World Series appearances with the Brooklyn Dodgers, steady work as a reliable bullpen arm, and some impressive achievements, even as he battled recurring shoulder injuries.

Major League Debut and Initial Impact

Roebuck made his major league debut on April 18, 1955, with the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 23. He’d signed with them in 1949 after graduating from Brownsville High School and spent six years working his way up in the minors.

His rookie season started off promising. In the first half of 1955, Roebuck posted ERAs of 1.00, 2.42, and 2.45. He went 5-5 in 34 games and helped the Dodgers win 17 times.

But things got rough after the All-Star break. His ERAs shot up to 7.15, 16.62, and 7.36 in those last three months. He finished his first season with a 5-6 record and a 4.62 ERA.

Even with the second-half struggles, the Dodgers put him on the World Series roster. In the 1955 World Series, Roebuck faced eight batters in two innings in Game 6, giving up just one single as the Dodgers finally won their only championship in Brooklyn.

Pitching Style and Role as a Reliever

Roebuck changed his approach while working through the minors. He stopped trying to overpower hitters and focused more on finesse.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 185 pounds, Roebuck developed a natural sinker that became his go-to pitch.

“That year I went from trying to overpower hitters to making the ball move,” Roebuck said about his 1951 season. “I started to understand that I should be able to pitch to both sides of the plate and that I had a natural sinker when I reduced speed for a bigger break.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers used him almost entirely as a reliever after moving to California in 1958. In 1960, he pitched in 58 games, posted a 1.26 WHIP and 2.78 ERA, and racked up eight wins and eight saves.

His best season came in 1962, when he went 10-2 and even got two MVP votes. Still, shoulder problems kept bothering him, and he had to go on the voluntarily retired list more than once.

Career Milestones and Achievements

Roebuck picked up several notable achievements with a few different teams. He pitched in the 1956 Fall Classic too, and posted a combined 1.47 ERA across his World Series appearances.

Career Statistics Summary:

• Teams: Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies
• Record: 52-31 in 460 games
• World Series: 1955 champion with Brooklyn Dodgers
• MVP Recognition: Two MVP votes in 1962

After short runs with the Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies, Roebuck finished his big league career in 1966. He kept playing professionally through 1967 with the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres.

The 1962 National League playoff series against San Francisco was both a career highlight and a tough loss. He pitched well in the first two games but lost the third game when a dropped line drive and a rally cost the Dodgers the pennant.

Roebuck showed real grit by pushing through those recurring shoulder injuries and kept competing at the top level, even when it wasn’t easy.

Journey with the Dodgers: Brooklyn and Los Angeles

Ed Roebuck spent most of his 11-year MLB career with the Dodgers, playing for both Brooklyn and Los Angeles during a major turning point for the franchise. He played with them from 1955 to 1963, including the historic 1955 World Series win and the team’s move to California.

Brooklyn Dodgers Years

Roebuck made his big league debut with Brooklyn in 1955 after signing back in 1949. He earned his roster spot after a strong 1954 season at Triple-A Montreal, where he led the International League with 18 wins.

His rookie year started hot, with ERAs of 1.00, 2.42, and 2.45 in the first three months. Things went downhill after he didn’t get a $250 bonus he’d been promised for lasting 30 days on the roster. His ERAs jumped to 7.15, 16.62, and 7.36 in the final stretch.

Even with the late-season slide, Roebuck helped the Brooklyn Dodgers win their only World Series in 1955

Philadelphia Phillies Tenure and Retirement in 1966

The Philadelphia Phillies ended up as Roebuck’s last stop in the majors. He joined the team in April 1964 and made his mark right away, putting up strong numbers during that wild collapse year.

In 1964, Roebuck took the mound in 60 games for Philadelphia. He finished with a 2.21 ERA and 12 saves.

He went 5-3 and really helped steady the Phillies’ bullpen while they battled the St. Louis Cardinals for the pennant. That season’s ending still stings for Phillies fans.

Roebuck kept up his solid work in 1965, logging a 3.40 ERA in 44 appearances. He picked up 5 wins, 3 losses, and 3 saves over 50.1 innings.

By 1966, Roebuck was winding down. He pitched just 6 times for Philadelphia and struggled, posting a 6.00 ERA in 6 innings.

He went 0-2 before the Phillies let him go. After his release, Roebuck landed with the minor league San Diego Padres and wrapped up his professional baseball career there.

He finished his MLB days with 460 games pitched, a 52-31 record, and 62 saves.

Career Stats and Notable Records

Ed Roebuck put together a pretty solid 11-season career. He racked up 52 wins, 31 losses, and a 3.35 ERA across 460 games.

His best statistical season came back in 1957 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. That year, he went 8-2, posted a 2.71 ERA, and earned 2.3 WAR.

Season-by-Season Performance Highlights

Roebuck broke in with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. He struggled a bit, finishing with a 4.71 ERA and -0.9 WAR.

He really found his groove in 1957, putting up an 8-2 record with a 2.71 ERA and 8 saves.

After the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958, Roebuck had a rocky year. But in 1960, he bounced back with 8 wins, 3 losses, and a 2.78 ERA across 58 games.

His 1962 season with Los Angeles was a standout. Roebuck went 10-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 9 saves, even earning some MVP votes and landing 26th in the voting.

He later made short stops with Washington and the Philadelphia Phillies. His best year in Philly came in 1964, when he put up a 2.21 ERA and 12 saves over 60 games.

Postseason Appearances and Results

Roebuck pitched in several World Series with the Dodgers. He got into games for Brooklyn during their 1955 World Series win over the New York Yankees.

He also helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 1959 World Series. His postseason experience on both coasts showed just how valuable he was as a bullpen arm when it really mattered.

Legacy and Life After Baseball

After his playing days, Ed Roebuck jumped into scouting and stuck with it for almost forty years. He gained recognition as part of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers championship team and later helped another team win it all as a scout.

Contributions to Baseball as a Scout

Roebuck retired as a player in 1966 and started a long scouting career that lasted nearly four decades. He worked for a bunch of major league teams, including the Dodgers, Phillies, Braves, Reds, Pirates, and Red Sox.

His biggest achievement as a scout probably came with the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Roebuck played a part in evaluating talent that helped the Red Sox finally win a World Series, breaking their 86-year drought.

Organizations Roebuck Scouted For:

• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Atlanta Braves
• Cincinnati Reds
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• Boston Red Sox

Roebuck hung up his scouting hat in 2006. His long run in baseball evaluation showed just how much he understood the game and how well he could spot talent.

Recognition and Honors

Roebuck’s baseball legacy really centers on his role with the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series champs. That was Brooklyn’s only World Series title, so his championship ring means a lot.

He once said the 1955 Brooklyn ring looked “like a high school graduation ring” with a crumbling blue section. Even after people offered him “huge amounts of money” for it, Roebuck held onto the ring because it marked Brooklyn’s only championship.

In 2004, Roebuck picked up a second World Series ring as a scout with the Boston Red Sox. He pointed out how different the two rings looked, joking that the Red Sox ring looked “like it came from Tiffany’s.”

Personal Life and Passing

Edward Jack Roebuck made his home in Lakewood, California. He and his wife, Janice, settled there back in 1958 when the Dodgers left Brooklyn for Los Angeles.

They picked this Los Angeles suburb as their place to put down roots during that big transition for the team.

Roebuck stuck around Lakewood for the next 60 years. Throughout his playing days and his long run as a scout, he always called that community home.

He died of natural causes on June 14, 2018, at age 86 in Lakewood. That day, baseball lost someone whose career stretched from 1948 to 2006, covering both the mound and the scouting trail.