Dave Roberts, a former major league pitcher and member of the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburg Pirates, died this week of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. He was 64 years old.

Roberts finished his career with a win-loss record of 103-125 and an earned-run average of 3.78. His best seasons came with the San Diego Padres in 1971, when he finished second in the National League to Tom Seaver with a 2.10 ERA, and in 1973 with the Houston Astros, compiling a career high 17 wins and 6 shutouts. Roberts also pitched for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and several other teams.

Roberts’ stepdaughter said that he developed lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos that occurred when he was a young man. During the off-season, Roberts worked as a boilermaker, and was regularly exposed to the cancer-causing material on the job. In addition to lung cancer, asbestos has also been linked to several other diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of cancer.