Leave the number, take the uniform

Robin Roberts with the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1950 World Series

After unceremoniously selling him to the New York Yankees after a disastrous 1-10 season in 1961, the Philadelphia Phillies 62 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 – going 42-36 for Baltimore.

He then splits his final two seasons in the majors between the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs, and 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.