Dave Roberts addressed the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse on July 1, 2026, following his 1,000th career managerial win with the organization.
Roberts was clear that the milestone belonged to the entire organization. "This is a team accomplishment," he said during the speech, crediting players, coaches, training staff, and the front office. He added that what defines a great manager comes down to one thing: "What makes a great coach or manager? Great players."
Reflecting on his growth over 11 years at the helm, Roberts described a personal evolution. "From my first day when I had butterflies and I was nervous and the game was speeding up on me to now where I can just sit back and have my hands off the wheel," he noted. He also acknowledged that his 10-year playing career, by his own account, was not marked by standout performance. "I really try to be a good teammate," he stated, framing that identity as a foundation for his managerial approach.
Roberts also credited members of his staff by name, praising Alex and his staff for their contributions, and singling out Robo for his performance. "Robo, you busted your ass off. Fantastic job. That was fun to watch," he said. He acknowledged that his 11-year tenure has included so many players that some names are now unfamiliar to him. "There's guys that people bring to my attention. I've never heard of these guys, but I guess they played for me," he mentioned.
The speech closed on a lighter note when Roberts reached for tequila but was handed champagne by the clubhouse. "I wanted this as a tequila chaser. All right, champagne. Here we go," he said, accepting the toast to laughter from the room.
Roberts stated that his greatest ongoing joy is the belief his players show — in each other and in the coaching staff. "It's just like continuing to have you guys believe in each other, have you guys believe in me, the coaches, the front office," he explained, pointing to that collective trust as the driving force behind the milestone.