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{{short description|American baseball player (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|image=Rob dibble motion 1991.jpg
|caption=Dibble pitching for the Cincinnati Reds in 1991
|name=Rob Dibble
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1964|1|24|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Bridgeport, Connecticut]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 29
|debutyear=1988
|debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 30
|finalyear=1995
|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=27–25
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=2.98
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=645
|stat4label=[[Save (baseball)|Saves]]
|stat4value=89
|teams=
* [[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1988}}–{{mlby|1993}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1995}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1995}})
|highlights=
* 2× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1990]], [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]])
* [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1990}})
* [[NLCS MVP]] ([[1990 NLCS|1990]])
}}
'''Robert Keith Dibble''' (born January 24, 1964) is an American former [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[pitcher]] and television analyst. Between 1988 and 1995, Dibble played for the [[Cincinnati Reds]], [[Chicago White Sox]] and [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. He was a two-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] who recorded 89 [[Save (baseball)|saves]] during his career. Since retiring as a player, Dibble has held several roles in sports television broadcasting.

==Personal life==
Dibble was born in [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]]. He attended St. Thomas School, a [[parochial school]], and is a graduate of [[Southington High School]] in [[Southington, Connecticut]].  Dibble's father, Walt Dibble, was a longtime radio news director at [[WDRC-FM|WDRC]] and later [[WTIC (AM)|WTIC]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut]].

==Playing career==
Dibble was drafted by the [[Cincinnati Reds]] in the first round of the 1983 amateur draft, and he made his debut with the Reds on June 29, 1988.

On June 4, 1989, Dibble threw an [[immaculate inning]] when he struck out all three batters on nine total pitches, occurring in the eighth inning of a 5–3 win over the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml|title=Immaculate Innings: 9 Pitches – 9 Strikes – 3 Outs|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=April 28, 2013}}</ref> During his career, Dibble was known for his temper. During a game in July 1989, he hit [[1989 New York Mets season|Mets]] second basemen [[Tim Teufel]] in the back with a pitch; Teufel then [[charging the mound|charged]] Dibble, causing a [[bench-clearing brawl]].

Dibble was an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star]] in [[1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1990]] and [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]], and was the [[1990 National League Championship Series|1990 NLCS]] [[Most Valuable Player]] (along with fellow "[[Nasty Boys (Cincinnati Reds)|Nasty Boy]]" [[Randy Myers]]). In 1990, Dibble and the [[1990 Cincinnati Reds season|Reds]] won the [[1990 World Series|World Series]] by beating the [[1990 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in four consecutive games.

After saving a game in April 1991 despite giving up two runs in relief, Dibble threw a baseball 400 feet into the center-field seats at Cincinnati, inadvertently striking a woman.<ref name=4May1991port>{{cite news|title=National League suspends Dibble for 4 games for firing ball into stands|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hkRGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2876,369254|access-date=April 19, 2011|newspaper=[[Portsmouth Daily Times]]|date=May 4, 1991}}</ref><ref name=nyt4May1991>{{cite news|title=A New Suspension for Reds' Dibble|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/04/sports/baseball-a-new-suspension-for-reds-dibble.html|access-date=April 19, 2011|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|date=May 4, 1991}}</ref><ref name="truebaseballstories">{{cite book|last=Shannon|first=Mike|title=Tales from the Dugout: The Greatest True Baseball Stories Ever Told|year=1998|publisher=McGraw-Hill|isbn=0-8092-2950-1|page=60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y17fnEHFIcsC&q=rob+dibble+temper&pg=PA60}}</ref> He was also involved in a brawl in 1991 with [[1991 Houston Astros season|Astros]] shortstop [[Eric Yelding]].<ref name=nyt4May1991 /><ref name="spartanburg">{{cite news|title=Dibble, Yielding suspended|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19910418&id=OuoeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5474,749743|access-date=May 22, 2010|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=April 18, 1991}}</ref> Later in the 1991 season, he threw a baseball into the back of [[1991 Chicago Cubs season|Cubs]] outfielder [[Doug Dascenzo]] as he ran down the first base line and was subsequently ejected from the game.<ref name="nytimes_july261991">{{cite news|last=Vescey|first=Peter|title=Sports of The Times; Rob Dibble: The Pitcher Most Likely|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/26/sports/sports-of-the-times-rob-dibble-the-pitcher-most-likely.html|access-date=May 22, 2010|newspaper=New York Times|date=July 26, 1991}}</ref> 

On June 23, 1992, Dibble recorded his 500th career strikeout in fewer innings—368—than any other pitcher in modern baseball history up to that point ([[Aroldis Chapman]] later passed him).<ref>https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/07/06/heads-up-baseball</ref> After a September 18 game saw the Reds win without needing Dibble on the mound, the post-game interview of team manager [[Lou Piniella]] led to a scuffle when Dibble disagreed with Piniella's assessment that Dibble wasn't used because of a "bad shoulder". The two shoved each other in front of cameras that saw both of them have to visit team owner [[Marge Schott]] and management to go with an apology.<ref name="la_times1992">{{cite news|title=Piniella, Dibble Brawl in Clubhouse|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-18-sp-723-story.html|access-date=May 22, 2010|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 18, 1992}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-17 |title=20th anniversary: Piniella-Dibble fight |url=https://tht.fangraphs.com/tht-live/20th-anniversary-piniella-dibble-fight/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=The Hardball Times}}</ref>

Dibble, seeing the trade of co-closer [[Norm Charlton]] to Seattle in a move that essentially anointed Dibble as their primary closer, stated his desire to turn a new leaf with two goals for 1993: save 40 games and do something about his reputation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Joe |date=1993-02-27 |title=Role Model Dibble : Ex-'Nasty' Reds' Reliever Says His Life Was Put in Perspective Last Year When His Infant Son Was Hospitalized in Intensive Care for Three Months |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-27-sp-398-story.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> On April 21, he broke his left forearm during a game and was projected to miss six weeks. He returned in late May but had a 6.48 ERA in 45 games that saw him collect 19 saves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1993-04-26 |title=BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Dibble Has Surgery on Broken Arm |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-26-sp-27378-story.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rob Dibble 1993 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=dibblro01&t=p&year=1993 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In April of 1994, Dibble required surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. It was speculated at the time that he would miss three months but he ended up missing the entire season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1994-04-06 |title=BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Dibble Sidelined for About 3 Months |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-06-sp-42761-story.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-04-20 |title=Rob Dibble: Fear, doubt can be overwhelming for pitchers facing surgery {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/tommy-john-surgery-ivan-nova-matt-moore-rob-dibble/130u8mpk4urnr1kbtd60g7epa8 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-us}}</ref> Dibble signed with the [[1995 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]]. They unsuccessfully tried to trade him in spring training so they sent him to their AAA team at Birmingham Al. where he went 0–2 in 11 games.  He then pitched 16 games for the White Sox and after being released he was picked up by the [[1995 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]] where he pitched in 15 more games. His combined [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] 1995 record was 1–2 with a 7.18 ERA with 46 batters walked in 21 innings.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dibblro01.shtml | title=Rob Dibble Stats }}</ref>

Dibble opted to make a comeback, signing a minor league contract on April 14, 1996, with the [[1996 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]] but Dibble would ultimately see no game action with the Marlins or their minor league affiliates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-04-17/sports/9604160589_1_dibble-marlins-reliever-matt-mantei |title=Marlins Taking a Chance on Dibble - tribunedigital-sunsentinel  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095658/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-04-17/sports/9604160589_1_dibble-marlins-reliever-matt-mantei |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/26/sports/baseball-lack-of-control-drives-dibble-to-take-leave-of-absence.html</ref>

==Broadcasting career==
[[File:Rob Dibble 2009.jpg|thumb|Dibble with the Nationals in 2009.]]
In 1998, Dibble joined [[ESPN]] as a [[baseball]] analyst, working mostly on [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]]'s radio show. He worked on ''[[The Best Damn Sports Show Period]]'' as a co-host until 2008, when he left to join FOX on their Saturday baseball program as an analyst. Dibble also spends time as a co-host/analyst of First Pitch on [[XM]] Channel 175/Sirius channel 210. He formerly hosted ''The Show'' (on the same channel) with [[Jody McDonald]]. Dibble served as co-analyst (with [[Kevin Kennedy (baseball)|Kevin Kennedy]]) for [[FOXSports.com]] on a weekly video segment entitled "Around the Bases." Dibble also is a co-host with former Major League player [[Denny Hocking]] on Fox Sports Radio Sunday night programming. In 2009, Dibble signed a three-year contract to replace [[Don Sutton]] as the color voice of the [[Washington Nationals]] on [[MASN]].<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/06/on-masn-dibble-wont-be-so-nasty/ Dibble not so 'nasty']. Washington Times (April 6, 2009). Retrieved on 2011-06-09.</ref>

While broadcasting a game in August 2010, Dibble drew negative attention for focusing on a group of female spectators in the Nationals crowd, and questioning their focus on the game.<ref name="washpostWomen">{{cite news|last=Steinberg|first=Dan|title=Rob Dibble amazed by women at baseball game |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/08/rob_dibble_amazed_by_women_at.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205201432/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/08/rob_dibble_amazed_by_women_at.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2013|work=D.C. Sports Bog – Washington Post Online|author-link=Dan Steinberg|access-date=September 2, 2010}}</ref><ref name=siWomen>{{cite magazine|last=Heyman|first=Jon|title=Daily Scoop|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/09/02/daily.scoop/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104051653/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/09/02/daily.scoop/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=April 19, 2011|date=September 2, 2010}}</ref>  He later apologized for the comments.<ref name=espnwaiver>{{cite web|title=Stephen Strasburg needs 2nd MRI|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5497876|work=ESPN.com| date=August 25, 2010 |access-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref> Later in the month,  Dibble criticized Nationals rookie pitcher [[Stephen Strasburg]] for missing a start due to an injury: "Suck it up, kid. This is your profession. You chose to be a baseball player. You can't have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow."<ref name=espnwaiver /><ref name=steinbergStrass>{{cite news|author-link=Dan Steinberg|last=Steinberg|first=Dan|title=Rob Dibble to Stephen Strasburg: "Suck it up"|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/08/rob_dibble_to_stephen_strasbur.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825011505/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/08/rob_dibble_to_stephen_strasbur.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2010|newspaper=D.C. Sports Bog – [[Washington Post]]|access-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref>  It was revealed shortly afterward that Strasburg had torn an elbow ligament and required [[Tommy John surgery]].<ref name=wpostShapiro>{{cite news|last=Shapiro|first=Leonard|title=Should Rob Dibble be fired for his comments about Stephen Strasburg?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/31/AR2010083102266.html?sid=ST2010090100278|access-date=April 19, 2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 31, 2010}}</ref><ref name="dibble_gone">{{cite news|last=Kilgore|first=Adam|title=Rob Dibble no longer broadcasting Nationals games|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2010/09/rob_dibble_no_longer_broadcast.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901221130/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2010/09/rob_dibble_no_longer_broadcast.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2010|work=Nationals Journal – Washington Post Online|access-date=September 1, 2010}}</ref> Dibble took a few days off from [[MASN]] after making the comments, and on September 1, 2010, MASN announced that Dibble would no longer be calling Nationals games.<ref name=dibble_fired>{{cite news|last=duLac|first=J. Freedom|title=Washington Nationals fire TV announcer Rob Dibble after his comments about Stephen Strasburg|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/01/AR2010090106482.html?hpid=topnews|access-date=April 20, 2011|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=September 2, 2010}}</ref><ref name="mlb_stras">{{cite web|title=TV analyst Dibble won't make road trip|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100829&content_id=14063466&notebook_id=14064924&vkey=notebook_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com|access-date=August 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name=espnnolonger>{{cite web|title=Rob Dibble no longer working for Nats|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5521129|work=ESPN.com| date=September 2010 |access-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref>  After losing his job with the Nationals, Dibble apologized for the Strasburg comments on his radio show.<ref name=steinberg2Sep2010>{{cite news|author-link=Dan Steinberg|last=Steinberg|first=Dan|title=Rob Dibble talks about leaving MASN|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/09/rob_dibble_on_leaving_masn.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011172154/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/09/rob_dibble_on_leaving_masn.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2012|newspaper=D.C. Sports Bog – [[The Washington Post|WashingtonPost.com]]|access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref>

In April 2011, Dibble said in an interview on [[FoxSports.com]] that the reason for his dismissal was because of an email Strasburg's father sent to the [[Ted Lerner|Lerner Family]], the owners of the Nationals.<ref name=usatoday7Apr2011>{{cite news|last=White|first=Paul|title=Rob Dibble thinks Stephen Strasburg's dad cost him his job|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/04/rob-dibble-think-stephen-strasburgs-dad-cost-him-his-job/1|access-date=April 15, 2011|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=April 7, 2011}}</ref> Dibble also continued to express his belief that Strasburg should have pitched through his pain.<ref name=msnbc7Apr>{{cite web|last=Calcaterra|first=Craig|title=Rob Dibble still thinks Stephen Strasburg should have "sucked it up|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/07/rob-dibble-still-thinks-steven-strasburg-should-have-sucked-it-up/|work=[[msnbc]]|date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name=wpKilgore15Apr>{{cite news|last=Kilgore|first=Adam|title=Stan Kasten: Rob Dibble's account of his firing 'fictional' and 'sad'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/stan-kasten-rob-dibbles-account-of-his-firing-fictional-and-sad/2011/04/08/AFGySm3C_blog.html|newspaper=Nationals Journal – [[The Washington Post|WashingtonPost.com]] blog|access-date=April 15, 2011|date=April 8, 2011}}</ref> Strasburg denied the claim about his father's e-mail, and [[Stan Kasten]], the president of the Nationals,  called Dibble's account "fictional" and "sad".<ref name=wpKilgore15Apr /><ref name=short_9Apr>{{cite web|last=Short|first=D.J.|title=We have a war of words between Stan Kasten and Rob Dibble|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/09/we-have-a-war-of-words-between-stan-kasten-and-rob-dibble/|work=[[msnbc]]|date=April 9, 2011 |access-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref> As of October 31, 2011, Dibble became a member of Mike North's talk radio show.

Dibble had a brief stint as the varsity baseball head coach at [[Calabasas High School]] in [[Calabasas, California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calabasasbaseball.net/teams/default.asp?u=CALABASASBASEBALL&t=c&s=baseball&p=coaches |title=Staff |publisher=Calabasasbaseball.net |access-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> He was fired from his head coaching job on March 27, 2013, only ten games into the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/rob-dibble-high-school-baseball-head-coaching-career-170736285.html |title=Rob Dibble's high school baseball head coaching career lasted just 10 games, because his team's ERA was above 5 |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref> As of December 18, 2013, he, along with [[Amy Van Dyken]], were replaced on [[Fox Sports Radio|Fox Sports Radio's]] ''Fox Sports Tonight''.

Dibble also called games for the [[Los Angeles Angels]] for [[Compass Media Networks|Compass Media]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Calcaterra |first=Craig |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/27/rob-dibble-fired-as-high-school-coach-after-10-games/ |title=Rob Dibble fired as high school coach after 10 games - HardballTalk &#124; NBC Sports |publisher=Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref>

On March 27, 2014, Dibble became the host of the 3–7 pm (Eastern) sports talk show on WUCS 97.9 FM and WAVZ 1300 AM in the ESPN stations in [[Hartford]] and [[New Haven]], [[Connecticut]] respectively. He joined interim host Paul Nanos who filled in when Mike Bower's contract was not renewed. Up until the end of October the show was billed as ''The Rob Dibble Show with Paul Nanos''. In October, the show was renamed ''The Rob Dibble Show''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rob Dibble Show Joins 97-9 ESPN/Hartford |url=http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=c38448 |website=news.radio-online.com |access-date=April 6, 2020 |date=March 30, 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= | br=d/dibblro01 |fangraphs=1003269 |brm=dibble001rob}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rob-dibble/ Rob Dibble] at [[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] Bio Project

{{1990 Cincinnati Reds}}
{{NLCS MVP}}
{{BaseballTonight}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dibble, Rob}}
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