RedHawks hitting coach Leon Roberts almost played football

Before joining the RedHawks this year, he spent 13 seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization, including four as the minor league hitting instructor.

Roberts, 61, also has served as a hitting coach in the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays organizations and managed in the minor leagues for farm clubs of Atlanta and Detroit.

You are a Michigan man?

I went to the University of Michigan from '69 to '72. I went there on a football scholarship to play football and baseball. I was an end. They never passed. I ended up playing basketball and baseball for three years.

You played for Bo Schembechler?

I was recruited by Bo like crazy but I didn't physically play for him. He was a pretty interesting guy. He used to scare me to death. He goes, “I am going to make you an all-Big Ten tight end” and they didn't pass much. He was three yards and a cloud of dust. They never passed, so that's why I went out for basketball. I was going to play baseball anyway.

What sport did you enjoy the most?

Baseball. I loved football. I tried out for the Houston Oilers in '77 as an end/punter and had their team made. There was really nobody in the way of two-sport stars back then. Dave DeBusschere did it a little bit. Pitched for the White Sox and played for the Pistons. Gene Conley pitched with the Red Sox and played basketball for the Celtics. I was going to play (football) only on Sundays and then when the baseball season was over play full time. We had it all set up and then the (Astros') front office found out about it and upped my salary to buy me out of it.

Do you regret not trying to play both sports professionally?

No, not really. I see what Bo Jackson went through and his hip blown out. I watched Deion Sanders do it. Brian Jordan did it. But it's almost like you need to put your eggs in one basket.

What is your fondest memory of being in the major leagues?

It was probably the first day I got there and walking into Tigers Stadium. I grew up in Michigan, watched the Tiger teams and all the players and went to the University of Michigan.

How did you get to be a hitting coach?

I always had a passion for hitting and studied it like crazy from when I played. I thought I had some ideas to help guys. I have been like a hitting coordinator for 18 years.