Jim Robertson
Encyclopedia
Alfred James Robertson (born January 29, 1928 in Chicago
) was a Major League Baseball
catcher who played from 1956 to 1957 for the Philadelphia Athletics and Kansas City Athletics.
Prior to playing professionally, he attended Bradley University
.
He was originally signed by the New York Yankees
as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season, and he played in their farm system until 1953. In 1949, he played for the Grand Forks Chiefs
, hitting .248 in 153 at-bats. He played for the Quincy Gems
in 1950, hitting .295 in 404 at-bats. With the Muskegon Reds
in 1951 he hit .288, and with the Binghamton Triplets
in 1952 he hit .303. He split the 1953 season between the Kansas City Blues
and Syracuse Chiefs, hitting .278 with the Blues and .264 with the Chiefs.
On December 16, 1953, Robertson was traded by the Yankees with Don Bollweg
, Jim Finigan
, Johnny Gray
, Vic Power
, and Bill Renna
to the Philadelphia Athletics for Harry Byrd
, Eddie Robinson, Tom Hamilton
, Carmen Mauro
, and Loren Babe
.
On April 15, 1954, he made his big league debut. He spent his entire 1954 season with the Athletics, hitting .184 in 63 games (147 at-bats). In 1955, he played in six games for the (Kansas City) Athletics, hitting .250 in eight at-bats. He spent most of the 1955 season with the Portland Beavers
, hitting .229 in 319 at-bats.
Robertson played his final big league game on May 10, 1955. Overall, he played in 69 big league games, hitting .187 in 155 at-bats.
Although his big league career was over, he still played in the minors until 1956. On December 2, 1955, he was purchased by the Seattle Rainiers
of the Pacific Coast League
, and in 36 at-bats with them in 1956, he hit .250. He was released by the Rainiers on June 1 of that year, and on June 15 he was sent from an unknown source to the Detroit Tigers
. He played in 45 games with their minor league affiliate the Charleston Senators
, hitting .246 in 122 at-bats.
On December 6, 1956, he was traded by the Tigers with Bobby Tiefenauer
to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Archie Wilson
and minor leaguer Don Griffin. He never played with Toronto.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
) was a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher who played from 1956 to 1957 for the Philadelphia Athletics and Kansas City Athletics.
Prior to playing professionally, he attended Bradley University
Bradley University
Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
.
He was originally signed by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season, and he played in their farm system until 1953. In 1949, he played for the Grand Forks Chiefs
Grand Forks Chiefs
The Grand Forks Chiefs were a minor league baseball team from Grand Forks, North Dakota. They played from 1934 to 1964, with a couple breaks in between.*Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota*League: Northern League 1934–1935, 1938–1942, 1946–1963...
, hitting .248 in 153 at-bats. He played for the Quincy Gems
Quincy Gems (minor league team)
The Quincy Gems were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1907 to 1964. Based in Quincy, Illinois, they played in the Iowa State League in 1907, the Central Association in 1908, the Three-I League from 1913 to 1917 and from 1946 to 1956, and the Midwest League in 1964...
in 1950, hitting .295 in 404 at-bats. With the Muskegon Reds
Muskegon Reds
The Muskegon Reds were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1911 to 1951. They played in the Michigan State League in 1911, 1926 and from 1940 to 1941 and the Central League in 1916, 1926, 1934 and 1951...
in 1951 he hit .288, and with the Binghamton Triplets
Binghamton Triplets
The Binghamton Triplets were a minor league baseball team in Binghamton, New York, affiliated with the New York Yankees ; the team also had brief affiliations with the Kansas City Athletics and the Milwaukee Braves...
in 1952 he hit .303. He split the 1953 season between the Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues (American Association)
The Kansas City Blues are a former minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association....
and Syracuse Chiefs, hitting .278 with the Blues and .264 with the Chiefs.
On December 16, 1953, Robertson was traded by the Yankees with Don Bollweg
Don Bollweg
Donald Raymond Bollweg was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for three teams from 1950 to 1955....
, Jim Finigan
Jim Finigan
James Leroy Finigan was a Major League Baseball infielder. He was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before the 1948 season, and traded to the Philadelphia Athletics in an 11-player deal on December 16, 1953...
, Johnny Gray
Johnny Gray (baseball)
John Leonard Gray is a retired American professional baseball player, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons. He pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics/Kansas City Athletics from 1954 to 1955, the Cleveland Indians in 1957, and the Philadelphia Phillies in...
, Vic Power
Victor Pellot
Victor Pellot a.k.a. "Vic Power" was the second black Puerto Rican to play in Major League Baseball and the first Puerto Rican to play in the American League...
, and Bill Renna
Bill Renna
William Beneditto Renna is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Nicknamed "Big Bill," he was listed at and , and batted and threw right-handed...
to the Philadelphia Athletics for Harry Byrd
Harry Byrd (baseball)
Harry Gladwin Byrd was an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , New York Yankees , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers...
, Eddie Robinson, Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton (baseball)
Thomas Ball Hamilton was a Major League Baseball player who played in 1952 and 1953 for the Philadelphia Athletics. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed, and he was 6'4" tall and 213 pounds...
, Carmen Mauro
Carmen Mauro
Carmen Louis Mauro was a professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1948 and 1953....
, and Loren Babe
Loren Babe
Loren Rolland Babe , nicknamed "Bee Bee," was an American professional baseball infielder, manager, scout and coach. The native of Pisgah, Iowa, was first signed by the New York Yankees in 1945 and was a longtime player and manager in the Bombers' minor league organization...
.
On April 15, 1954, he made his big league debut. He spent his entire 1954 season with the Athletics, hitting .184 in 63 games (147 at-bats). In 1955, he played in six games for the (Kansas City) Athletics, hitting .250 in eight at-bats. He spent most of the 1955 season with the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, hitting .229 in 319 at-bats.
Robertson played his final big league game on May 10, 1955. Overall, he played in 69 big league games, hitting .187 in 155 at-bats.
Although his big league career was over, he still played in the minors until 1956. On December 2, 1955, he was purchased by the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, and in 36 at-bats with them in 1956, he hit .250. He was released by the Rainiers on June 1 of that year, and on June 15 he was sent from an unknown source to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He played in 45 games with their minor league affiliate the Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
, hitting .246 in 122 at-bats.
On December 6, 1956, he was traded by the Tigers with Bobby Tiefenauer
Bobby Tiefenauer
Bobby Gene Tiefenauer was an American professional baseball player. A knuckleball relief pitcher, he pitched for six Major League teams during a ten-year MLB career that stretched between and : the St...
to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Archie Wilson
Archie Wilson
Archibald Clifton Wilson was a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for three teams from 1951-52. Listed at , , Wilson batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Los Angeles, California....
and minor leaguer Don Griffin. He never played with Toronto.