Player Profile

Biography / Info

• Managed the Baltimore Orioles for the final 83 games in 1902. The Orioles moved to New York for the 1903 season.
• Became full time pitching coach in 1911 under Giants manager and long time friend John McGraw. Effectively cultivated young pitchers Rube Marquard and Jeff Tesreau. Also served as peacemaker for McGraw and his frequent blowups with umpires. 
• Fired from post after the 1913 Giants World Series defeat to the Philadelphia A's. During the Series, he and McGraw wrangled over strategy and the use of signs. McGraw personally blamed Robinson for costing them the Series when he failed to relay a sign that cost them a game.
• Became Brooklyn manager in 1914 after Hughie Jennings became unavailable for the job. The decision was very popular with the fans. They liked his warm, simple approach to life. Soon, the team was nicknamed the Brooklyn 'Robins'. 
• Managed Brooklyn to pennants in 1916 and 1920. 
• Responsible for developing his late blooming pitcher Dazzy Vance.
• Once initiated a 'Bonehead Club', where his players would be fined for making dumb mistakes on the field. It was quickly eliminated after the sometimes absent minded manager handed the umpire a laundry list instead of the team's lineup card.  His teams generally took on the personality of their manager and were somewhat unpredictable.
• After Charles Ebbets passed in 1925, the team directors elected him president of the club. Held title through 1929. He continued to manage Brooklyn through the 1931 season.
• In 1933, became owner/manager of the Atlanta club in the Southern Association.
• Gave up the managerial reigns the next season and was serving only as President until his death during that summer.

Hall of Fame

• Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945.