Leave the number, take the ball

After unceremoniously selling him to the New York Yankees following a disastrous 1-10 season in 1961, the Philadelphia Phillies 63 years ago today announce the retirement of Robin Roberts’ jersey No. 36.

While the Phillies are busy retiring Roberts’ number, the future Hall of Famer is busy preparing to pitch another season with another team.

After the Yankees release him in on April 25, 1962 without ever using him in the regular season, Roberts signs four weeks later with Baltimore and spends the next three-plus seasons with the Orioles.

Robin Roberts with the Orioles

He ends up going 42-36 for Baltimore.

Roberts then splits his final two seasons in the majors between the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs, posting a 10-10 record for them.

After the Cubs release him in the fall of 1966, Roberts makes one final comeback in 1967 at Class AA Reading, where at 40 years old he goes 5-3 in 11 starts with a 2.48 ERA for the Phillies' Eastern League affiliate before finally retiring.

For his career, Roberts spends 19 seasons in the majors, winning 286 games with six straight seasons of 20 or more victories for the Phillies from 1950-55.

With Baltimore in 1965, Roberts helps mentor Jim Palmer, then a 19-year-old rookie pitcher whom the Orioles assign to Roberts as a roommate on the road.

The pupil: Jim Palmer

Seems the Orioles believe Palmer may learn something from a teammate twice his age.

Turns out that Palmer initiates the conversation, asking a question and getting an answer Palmer later says impacts him for the rest of his own Hall of Fame career.

The question comes after a particularly long night in Anaheim, where the Orioles are playing the Angels.

“Old man,” Palmer asks as the 38-year-old Roberts tries to fall asleep, “why don’t you tell me about pitching?’

Roberts does.

Quickly and succinctly, too, saying “Throw the hell out of the ball and go to sleep.”