Editing Robin Roberts (section)

== Pitching Style ==

Roberts' approach emphasized control and durability over strikeouts, his ability to pitch to contact requiring confidence in both his defense and his precision. His fastball, though not overpowering by era standards, moved late and reached locations that hitters could not punish. The efficiency his style enabled allowed him to pitch deep into games without accumulating the pitch counts that would concern contemporary teams.<ref name="westcott"/>

His vulnerability to home runs—he led the league in that category five times—reflected the trade-offs his approach required. The same confidence in his ability to hit spots that produced low walk totals also occasionally resulted in mistakes that strong hitters could punish. This willingness to accept home runs in exchange for contact efficiency distinguished him from pitchers who avoided the strike zone to limit damage.<ref name="jordan"/>

The innings he accumulated—3,739 in his career, with 2,357 for the Phillies—demonstrated durability that modern arm care philosophies consider unsustainable. His ability to maintain effectiveness across such usage contradicted contemporary assumptions about pitcher longevity, though whether his approach represented sustainable excellence or fortunate constitution remains debated among those who study pitcher usage patterns.<ref name="westcott"/>