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 Induction
Information
Elected to Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee in 1945, Manager
Born: June 29, 1863, in Bolton, Massachusetts
Died: August 8, 1934, in Atlanta, Georgia
ML Debut: 4/19/1886
Played For: Philadelphia Athletics (1886-1890), Baltimore
Orioles NL (1890-1899), St. Louis Cardinals (1900), Baltimore
Orioles AL (1901-1902)
Managed: Baltimore Orioles (1902), Brooklyn Dodgers
(1914-1931)
Post-Season: 1916 World Series, 1920 World Series
Bio
Wilbert Robinson rose to prominence as a catcher for the savvy,
hard-nosed Baltimore Orioles of the 1890s, setting a record in 1892
with seven hits in a nine-inning game. After serving as a Giants
coach for his ex-teammate and close friend John McGraw, "Uncle
Robbie" was named manager of the rival Brooklyn franchise in 1914.
Maintaining his jovial and easygoing demeanor, he led the Robins to
their first two World Series appearances in 1916 and 1920.
Quote
"Robbie was a rule-of-thumb manager, a gentle Falstaff, who could
get more out of less material than any manager before or since."
— Tom Meany
Did You Know... that in spring training of 1917 Wilbert
Robinson bragged he could catch a ball thrown from an airplane, but
a grapefruit was secretly substituted and it exploded on impact with
his glove?
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