Dave Robinson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
David Tanner Robinson is a retired American
professional baseball
player. An outfielder
, he played 22 games of Major League Baseball
with the – San Diego Padres
. He was a switch hitter
who threw left-handed
, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 186 pounds (84.4 kg). His brother, Bruce
, is a former Major League catcher
.
Dave Robinson graduated from La Jolla High School
and San Diego State University
. He was chosen in the seventh round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
by his hometown Padres, one year before they began play in the National League
. In his second pro campaign, 1970, Robinson batted
.256 with 114 hits
for the Salt Lake City Bees of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
. He then was recalled by the Padres after the September 1 roster expansion. On September 10, 1970, he played his first MLB game as a defensive replacement for Padre left fielder
Al Ferrara
; he played two errorless
innings in the field, but did not come to bat.
Two days later, on September 12, he started in left field against the pennant-bound Cincinnati Reds
at San Diego Stadium
. Facing veteran Reds' starting pitcher
Tony Cloninger
, Robinson received a base on balls
in his first Major League plate appearance
. Then, leading off the fifth inning, in his second time at bat, Robinson singled
to right field and stole
second base — but was left stranded when the next three Padres made outs
. The following inning, he singled to left field with two outs, again off Cloninger. In his last plate appearance, in the eighth inning, he was intentionally walked by relief pitcher
Clay Carroll
. In his first MLB start, Robinson had two hits in two at bats, two bases on balls, and a stolen base, for a 1.000 batting average, on base percentage
and slugging average.
Robinson would have three more multi-hit games before the end of the 1970 National League season, including back-to-back contests on September 25–26 against the San Francisco Giants
at Candlestick Park, in which he hit his two MLB home runs off Skip Pitlock
and future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal
. All told, in his first brief big league trial, Robinson played in 15 games and had 12 hits (also including two doubles
) and batted .316.
The following season, Robinson made the 1971 Padres
out of spring training
and appeared in seven games during the season's first ten days, all as a pinch hitter
, drawing one base on balls and going hitless in six at bats. He spent the rest of the season at Triple-A, then left baseball after the season. He later became a teacher.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. An outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, he played 22 games of 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...
with the – San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He was a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
who threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 186 pounds (84.4 kg). His brother, Bruce
Bruce Robinson (baseball)
Bruce Philip Robinson is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played parts of three seasons from until ....
, is a former Major League catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Dave Robinson graduated from La Jolla High School
La Jolla High School
La Jolla, CA 92037 Enrollment 1,650 Colors Black & Red██ Mascot Viking Rival Schools The Bishop's School, Cathedral Catholic High School, Mission Bay High School, University City High School Homepage...
and San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. He was chosen in the seventh round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
1968 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Los Angeles Dodgers laid the groundwork for their championship clubs of the 1970s with an outstanding draft...
by his hometown Padres, one year before they began play in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. In his second pro campaign, 1970, Robinson batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.256 with 114 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
for the Salt Lake City Bees of the Triple-A 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...
. He then was recalled by the Padres after the September 1 roster expansion. On September 10, 1970, he played his first MLB game as a defensive replacement for Padre left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Al Ferrara
Al Ferrara
Alfred John "The Bull" Ferrara Jr. Alfred John "The Bull" Ferrara Jr. Alfred John "The Bull" Ferrara Jr. (born December 22, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York was a Major League Baseball player from to .-Biographical information:...
; he played two errorless
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
innings in the field, but did not come to bat.
Two days later, on September 12, he started in left field against the pennant-bound Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
at San Diego Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
. Facing veteran Reds' starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Tony Cloninger
Tony Cloninger
Tony Lee Cloninger , is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves , the Cincinnati Reds , and the St. Louis Cardinals...
, Robinson received a base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in his first Major League plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
. Then, leading off the fifth inning, in his second time at bat, Robinson singled
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to right field and stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
second base — but was left stranded when the next three Padres made outs
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
. The following inning, he singled to left field with two outs, again off Cloninger. In his last plate appearance, in the eighth inning, he was intentionally walked by relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
. In his first MLB start, Robinson had two hits in two at bats, two bases on balls, and a stolen base, for a 1.000 batting average, on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and slugging average.
Robinson would have three more multi-hit games before the end of the 1970 National League season, including back-to-back contests on September 25–26 against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at Candlestick Park, in which he hit his two MLB home runs off Skip Pitlock
Skip Pitlock
Lee Patrick Thomas Pitlock is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Noted for his unusual wind-up, he had a "herky-jerky" motion which deceived major league batters, and led to 124 career strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched....
and future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal
Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
. All told, in his first brief big league trial, Robinson played in 15 games and had 12 hits (also including two doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
) and batted .316.
The following season, Robinson made the 1971 Padres
1971 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* October 20, 1970: Sonny Ruberto was sent by the Padres to the Cincinnati Reds in a conditional deal.* November 30, 1970: Bill Laxton was drafted by the Padres from the Philadelphia Phillies in the rule 5 draft.-Opening Day starters:*Ollie Brown...
out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and appeared in seven games during the season's first ten days, all as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, drawing one base on balls and going hitless in six at bats. He spent the rest of the season at Triple-A, then left baseball after the season. He later became a teacher.