Dave Roberts: From UCLA Bruin to Dodgers Legend
Dave Roberts' journey is a testament to perseverance, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From his days as a UCLA Bruin to becoming the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Roberts has consistently defied expectations and etched his name in baseball history. His story is one of breaking barriers, fostering connections, and achieving unprecedented success, making him an inspiration both on and off the field.
Early Life and UCLA Career
Born in Naha, Japan, to a Black father serving in the Marines and a mother from Okinawa, Dave Roberts moved around throughout his childhood before arriving in San Diego for his high school years. He was a three-sport star, eventually accepting an offer to play quarterback at the Air Force Academy. However, Roberts realized that his true passion lay with baseball. With the help of his baseball coach Butch Smith, Roberts connected with UCLA coach Gary Adams who offered him a spot as a recruited walk-on. "I just said, 'I’ll bet on myself.’ I said, ‘The floor is, I’m gonna get a UCLA degree,’” Roberts recalls.
Roberts made the team his first year, getting nine plate appearances. In 1992, Adam Melhuse transferred to UCLA from Santa Clara University. Melhuse recalls Roberts being built like a fire hydrant and feeling welcomed by him right away. Roberts' speed was always off-the-charts, but it was his swing, his arm and his size that made his career an outlier. During his time at UCLA, Roberts established himself as a prolific base stealer, setting the school's single-season record with 45 steals in 1994 and finishing his career as the all-time leader with 109 stolen bases. He earned All-Pac-10 acclaim twice and finished his four-year career with a .325 batting average, 82 RBI and 177 runs.
MLB Playing Career
The Detroit Tigers selected Roberts in the 28th round of the 1994 MLB draft and signed him on June 9, 1994. He began his career with the Jamestown Jammers, the Tigers' short-season class A team in the New York-Pennsylvania League. In 1996, Roberts was assigned to the Visalia Oaks of the California League. In 126 games, he hit .272 with 65 stolen bases, which led all of minor league baseball, and he scored 112 runs, tops in the Cal League. He appeared in three games for the AA Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League at the end of the season and had two hits in nine at-bats. He also hit a three-run home run in the 15th inning to help the Suns win Game 1 of their playoff series. He remained at Jacksonville the next season, playing in 105 games for them, with a .296 average and 23 steals.
In 1998, Roberts once again began the season with the Suns. Roberts played with the Cañeros de Los Mochis of the Mexican Pacific League during the 1998-99 season before playing for the Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico, where he played with Alex Cora, and had Joey Cora as general manager. Roberts was a non-roster invitee at Indians spring training in 1999 but was assigned to Buffalo to start the season. In 89 games for the Bisons, he had a .271 batting average with 39 steals. He earned International League all-star honors for the season. His contract was purchased by the Indians on August 7, 1999 and he made his major league debut batting leadoff and playing center field for the Indians against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
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Over a decade-long career, Roberts played for five MLB teams, including a three-season stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2002 to 2004. On December 22, 2001, Roberts was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitchers Christian Bridenbaugh and Nial Hughes. The 2002 season with the Dodgers was Roberts's first full season on a major league roster. He was the leadoff hitter and starter as a center fielder. In 2003, Roberts appeared in only 107 games due to hamstring problems but managed to steal 42 bases while hitting .250. He was the 10th Dodgers player in history with consecutive 40-steal seasons.
His most iconic moment as a player came in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. Roberts made a large contribution to the 2004 Red Sox post-season even though he did not play in the 2004 World Series. Most notable was his stolen base against the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series Game 4. The Red Sox were facing elimination in the bottom of the ninth inning, down four runs to three. Kevin Millar drew a walk from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Roberts, who had not played in ten days, came in to pinch run with Bill Mueller hitting. Rivera attempted to pick off Roberts three times. On the first pitch to Mueller, Roberts stole second base, barely beating Yankee catcher Jorge Posada's throw. "The Steal" ignited the historic rally that brought the Red Sox back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and go on to win their first World Series in a century.
Roberts played center field for the Padres in 2005, hitting .275 in 115 games and moving to left field when Gold Glove winner Mike Cameron from the New York Mets was acquired before the 2006 season. That season Roberts established career highs with a .293 batting average, 49 steals, and 13 triples. The latter statistic tied Tony Gwynn's 19-year single-season franchise record. In the 2006 National League Division Series, Roberts hit .438 to lead the Padres, even though they were eliminated from the playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals. In December 2006, Roberts signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Roberts had above-average knowledge of the strike zone and used it to his advantage. He had little power, but was a spray hitter who used raw speed to get on base and stretch singles to doubles. Once on base, he commonly "manufactured" runs with such tactics as stealing second base, moving to third on a grounder, and coming home on a sacrifice fly. When healthy, Roberts was widely known as one of the best base stealers in baseball. From 2002 to 2006, he had 195 steals, as well as an 81 percent success rate, both of which were the second-best in the majors among base stealers with 175 steals just behind stolen base king Rickey Henderson in the career stolen base rate rankings.
Managing the Los Angeles Dodgers
Roberts was named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 23, 2015, becoming the first minority manager in the franchise's history. "Jackie Robinson. Hideo Nomo. Sandy Koufax. We are a groundbreaking organization breaking barriers,” Roberts says. He embraced the challenge of leading a team with a rich history and high expectations.
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Overcoming Challenges and Building a Winning Culture
In 2016, the Dodgers set the MLB record in Roberts's first year by placing 28 players on the disabled list throughout the season, as well as the record for the most pitching changes (606) in a single season. Despite the injuries, the Dodgers won their fourth consecutive NL West title and advanced to the 2016 NLCS, losing to the eventual champions Chicago Cubs in 6 games. Roberts received praise during the postseason for how he used Kenley Jansen in non-traditional closer situations. In 2017, Roberts led the Dodgers back to the playoffs, where they swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2017 NLDS and then defeated the Chicago Cubs in five games in the 2017 NLCS. In 2018, the Dodgers got off to a rocky start at the beginning of the season with a 16-26 record, but rebounded to win the NL West, finishing 92-71. Roberts led the Dodgers to the 2018 World Series after the Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves three games to one in the 2018 NLDS and then defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games in the NLCS. The Dodgers faced one of Roberts's former teams, the Boston Red Sox, and former Dodgers teammate Alex Cora for the championship.
Roberts' leadership style is characterized by his relentlessly positive attitude, caring nature, and consistent approach. "I view my leadership style as relentlessly positive, very caring, and consistent," he says. He emphasizes the importance of managing each player differently and adapting to the needs of the team. Inspired by UCLA coaching legend John Wooden, Roberts strives to create an environment where players want to succeed because they don't want to disappoint him.
Regular Season Success and Postseason Breakthroughs
In 2019, Roberts led the team to an 106-56 record, the second highest mark in the league that season and a franchise record. In 2020, Roberts led the Dodgers to the playoffs once more. They swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2020 National League Wild Card Series and the San Diego Padres in the 2020 NLDS, both of which had modified schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 25, 2022, Roberts signed a three-year contract extension with the Dodgers through the 2025 season. The Dodgers won 111 games in 2022, a mark only reached by four other teams in MLB history. It was the fourth time Roberts had a 100 win season, after doing it in 2017, 2019, and 2021. However, they lost in the 2022 National League Division Series to the San Diego Padres. This meant that the 2022 Dodgers had the most wins of a team to fail to win a postseason series in the division era. In the past four full seasons, the Dodgers won 100 games each time but only reached the NLCS once. They repeated as NL West champions with 100 wins in 2023 but lost yet again in the NLDS, this time to the 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks in a straight three-game sweep where Arizona never trailed at any point in the series.
Roberts won a World Series as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers five years ago, in 2020. In 2024, Roberts led the Dodgers to the National League pennant for the fourth time in his tenure as manager. After knocking off the New York Yankees, whose manager Aaron Boone played for the USC Trojans when Roberts was a Bruin the Dodgers entered the 2025 season as the overwhelming favorites to win the World Series - again. On March 18, the Dodgers opened the 2025 season with a win against the Chicago Cubs in a packed Tokyo Dome - as Dodgers catcher Will Smith put it, “Basically, a home game, with all the Dodger fans there.”
A Modern Approach to Managing
Roberts embraces the use of analytics and data-driven decision-making, but he also values the human element of the game. He fosters open communication with his players, creating a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and respected. His ability to connect with players from diverse backgrounds and experiences has been a key factor in his success.
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Legacy and Impact
Dave Roberts' impact extends far beyond the baseball field. As the first Black manager and the first Asian manager in Dodgers history, he has broken barriers and inspired countless individuals. He is a role model for aspiring managers and players from diverse backgrounds, demonstrating that anything is possible with hard work, dedication, and a belief in oneself.
Roberts tells me he always used “Jackie Robinson” as his alias at hotels on the road. It was more than just a cover; he says it served as a reminder of how he should be moving through the world. “I went to UCLA. I played at Jackie Robinson Stadium. I know the family,” he says.
Roberts' legacy as a Dodger legend is secure. He has brought consistent success to the franchise, fostered a winning culture, and inspired a new generation of fans. As he continues his managerial career, he has the opportunity to add even more chapters to his remarkable story.
Personal Life
Roberts married his high school girlfriend, Tricia, in 1997. They have two children, son Cole and daughter Emme. Cole played college baseball for Loyola Marymount University.
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