Bip Roberts
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Leon Joseph Roberts (born October 27, 1963, Berkeley, California} is an American baseball player.
He was a speedy second baseman, largely associated with the San Diego Padres. Although he never led the league in any individual category, he was known as a solid all around player. In 1992 Bip was selected as a National League All-Star.
The nickname "Bip" was derived from Leon's propensity to mis-pronounce some words as a young child. This turned into a slight speech impediment as an adolescent, as, when asking his mother for a second helping of food, he would continue to ask for "a little bip more". The name stuck. Currently, Bip is back in the San Francisco Bay Area and can occasionally be seen alongside KTVU sportscaster Mark Ibanez following Giants games as a part of the station's wrap-up show.
Bip is also known for appearing in a 1995 MLB commercial with his then-teammate Tony Gwynn. Holding up a fictious Bip Roberts rookie card, Bip says "...that it's now worth $200 and several years from now, who knows? $1000, $2000, maybe even..." Gwynn is at this point reading the price guide and corrects Bip by pointing out that it's Robin Roberts rookie card and that Bip's card is actually worth four cents! After Bip gets over the initial shock, he tells Gwynn that it's four cents if it's in Excellent condition, but ten cents if it's totally Mint, to which Gwnn sarcastially replies, "Well, sorry..."
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Categories: Baseball second baseman stubs | 1963 births | Living people | National League All-Stars | San Diego Padres players | Cincinnati Reds players | Kansas City Royals players | Cleveland Indians players | Detroit Tigers players | Oakland Athletics players | Major league second basemen | Major league players from California