Old Time Member of Four New York Giants Pennant Teams: Davey Robertson (1912-1919 /1922)

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Davis Aydelotte Robertson was born on September 25th, 1889 in Portsmouth Virginia.

The six foot left hand hitting outfielder, was an educated man, attending North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the first MLB player to come out of the school, where he starred in baseball, football, basketball & track.

By 1912 he was signed with the New York Giants & played three games there that season, collecting a stolen base & RBI in just two at bats. He played minor league ball in 1913, batting over .330 getting back to New York by 1914.

In 1916 he led the league in HRs with 12, and in singles with 142. He would bat.307, while driving in 69 runs (8th in the NL) & stealing 21 bases. He was one of the leagues top players, leading all right fielders in turning double plays (5) put outs (248) errors (1) & was third in assists with 17.

The following season, he helped lead John McGraw's team to a pennant & World Series win over the Chicago White Sox. These were the same Sox of Shoeless Joe Jackson, just two years away from their Black Sox scandal of 1919.

Robertson once again led all NL hitters in HRs with 12, (tied with Cy Williams & Gavy Cravath) a big number in the "dead ball era".

Most of his HRs came down the short right field line at the Polo Grounds. His HRs became such an issue in the league, officials met & voted on shortening the distances between home plate & the fences. His other numbers fell off as he hit just .259 with 53 RBIs & 17 steals.

Post Season: In the 1917 World Series he hit .500, collecting 11 hits in 22 at bats. He scored three runs, had two extra base hits & one RBI.

Robertson never matched those same numbers he had during his big 1916 season. He did not play in the big leagues in 1918 & by 1919 he was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he played mid way through the 1921 season.

That year he finished up in Pittsburgh, batting .322 in 60 games for the second place Pirates, who finished four games behind the World Champion New York Giants.

Robertson was released & got signed by the Giants to finish his career out in New York with the 1922 World Championship team. He appeared in just 42 games, batting .277 having some key pinch hits during the season.

In his nine year career he batted .287 with 812 hits 47 HRs 117 doubles 44 triples 94 stolen bases & 364 RBIs.

Retirement: After his MLB playing days, he played in the Virginia League until 1931. He also managed in that league, going 280-258 while winning a co-championship. He passed away at age 81 at Virginia Beach in 1970.

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