On July 10, 1945, ten new members are inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The inductees are catcher Roger Bresnahan, first baseman Dan Brouthers, outfielder Fred Clarke, third baseman Jimmy Collins, outfielders Ed Delahanty and Hugh Duffy, shortstop Hughie Jennings, outfielder King Kelly, first baseman Jim O’Rourke, and catcher Wilbert Robinson….
On August 8, 1934, Hall of Fame manager Wilbert Robinson dies in Atlanta at the age of 71 after suffering a stroke. Robinson won a total of 1,399 games in 19 major league seasons. “Uncle Robbie” the jovial and bemused managed the Brooklyn franchise for 18 of those seasons, leading the team to National League…
On October 23, 1931, the Brooklyn Robins fire legendary manager Wilbert Robinson, who had skippered the team for the last 18 seasons. The Robins hire Max Carey as Robinson’s replacement.
On September 16, 1924, At Ebbets Field‚ Cards 1B Jim Bottomley’s 3 singles‚ a double‚ and 2 HRs produce a ML record 12 RBI in the St. Louis 17-3 win over the pennant-chasing Robins. Bill Sherdel coasts home for the win. Bottomley starts the rampage with a 2-run single in the 1st‚ doubles home…
1917 – After hearing that Gabby Street had caught a ball dropped off the Washington Monument in 1908, Brooklyn manager Wilbert Robinson brags that he could catch a ball dropped from an airplane at spring training, even though he is in his mid-50s and well above his playing weight. Robinson circles unsteadily under the descending spheroid. Instead, a grapefruit was secretly substituted and it explodes on impact with his glove. Once he feels the ooze, Robinson thinks it is blood, and screams that he is dying, until he tastes the juice. He later concedes that he probably would have been killed if a real baseball had been dropped from the plane. Aviatrix Ruth Law dropped the grapefruit as outfielder Casey Stengel assumed culpability for the switch.
Wilbert Robinson is named the Dodgers’ new manager, replacing Bill Dahlen. ‘Uncle Robbie’ will compile a 1375-1341 (.506) record during his 18-year Hall of Fame tenure as the Brooklyn skipper, capturing the National League pennant in 1916 and 1920.
July 2, 1903, A three-time .400 hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ed Delahanty was the sport’s first bona fide slugger, leading the league with 19 homers and 146 RBI in 1893. Ten years later “the King of Swat” was dead; his fatal plunge off the International Bridge into the foot of Niagara Falls 96…
1900 – The Brooklyn Superbas sell John McGraw, Wilbert Robinson and Bill Keister to the St. Louis Cardinals for $15,000. McGraw and Robinson refuse to report.
1900 – John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson sign contracts with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League. When the long-rumored move by Baltimore to disband occurs, the two players are assigned to the Brooklyn Superbas, but they will refuse and sit out the first third of the season instead. Finally, McGraw and Robinson are sold to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Baltimore Orioles sell three of their stars – third baseman John McGraw, catcher Wilbert Robinson, and infielder Bill Keister