Fond memories of a gentleman who loved baseball

Robin Roberts walked into the nearly empty Phillies clubhouse at Bright House Field during a game this spring. He peeked around the corner of the entrance and saw Ryan Howard sitting at his locker alone.

Roberts, the octogenarian Hall of Fame legend, walked to Howard's locker, and the Phillies slugger smiled. The two sat down and talked for a good 10 minutes.

"Mr. Roberts was always kind to me," Howard said softly Thursday upon learning of Roberts' death. "He was a breath of fresh air. He was always so nice, so polite. He was a very upbeat, good-spirited person. He was the kind of person who made you feel warm in his presence."

Reactions to Roberts' death filtered in from all across baseball, just two days after the baseball community suffered another loss when longtime Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell died.

"Robin Roberts - a truly great all-time pitcher and Hall of Famer in baseball, but even more, truly a great human being who I will miss dearly, as will all Phillies and baseball fans across America," Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher and Sen. Jim Bunning (R., Ky.) said.

"He was a special guy; I can't say how many times I refer to his career accomplishments as the epitome of what a pitcher should strive to be," Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt said. "Anyone who knew Robin, or had a chance to work with him in any way, knows what a kind man he was."

Inside the current Phillies clubhouse, Roberts was more than a living legend and purveyor of Phillies' past. He always spent time around the team during spring training every year and also a few days in Philadelphia during the season.

What made him stand out from other former players, centerfielder Shane Victorino said, was that Roberts did not regale players with stories about how baseball used to be and how Roberts did things.

He understood today's game and players.

"One thing he did really well is he followed the game and he knew about pitching now," Phillies closer Brad Lidge said. "He wasn't one of those guys who said, well, just do one thing. That's what we did and it worked. He followed pitching and he knew currently what would work. He knew how to set up hitters. He paid a lot of attention. Mentally, he was sharp as a tack. I think we all had a ton of respect for him, but we appreciated when he gave us advice."

One of those many sessions came this spring with Howard, who wouldn't say specifically what Roberts and he discussed. Lidge said he had a few conversations with Roberts about pitching inside and using his slider.

"He would always say if he had Lidge's slider he'd still be pitching today," said Larry Shenk, the Phillies' vice president for alumni relations.

Condolences and old Roberts stories came from across baseball Thursday.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, whose team played the Phillies on Thursday, said that when he managed the White Sox, his team played the University of South Florida in an exhibition when Roberts was the school's baseball coach. Roberts had asked La Russa to come.

"He was just a real gentleman," La Russa said. "He was a great man. No if ands or buts, just a great man."

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig called Roberts "one of the most consistent, competitive, and durable pitchers of his generation."

"Robin truly loved baseball and always had its best interests at heart," Selig said in a statement. "We will miss him, and I extend my deepest sympathy to all of his family, including his four sons, his brother and his seven grandchildren, and his friends and fans everywhere."

Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley told USA Today that Roberts was his favorite Hall of Famer.

"I felt a genuine connection with Robin," Eckersley said. "He had an ease about him, and he transcended generations. He touched many lives, mine being one. I feel blessed to know him, and I will miss him deeply."

Before every home game, the current Phillies players pass by a Roberts jersey in the hallway from the clubhouse to the dugout. Next to the framed jersey is a short placard describing Roberts' career accomplishments.

As was the case for John Vukovich and Harry Kalas, Roberts' jersey will hang in the Phillies' dugout at home and on the road for the remainder of the season. Beginning with Friday's game, the Phillies will wear black No. 36 patches on their uniform sleeves.

It will be a constant reminder of Roberts' legacy.

"Everything around here is him, Schmidt, Richie Ashburn, Harry Kalas," Victorino said. "These guys are legends in Phillies history. These guys made the Phillies who they are."