Though I'm not a Pirates fan, I remember Bill Robinson fondly.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2954068
Baseball Fanatic
Though I'm not a Pirates fan, I remember Bill Robinson fondly.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2954068
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Son of a Dodger fan
I remembered him on the 1986 Mets Championship team... my thoughts are with his family.
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Was he a coach on that team?Originally Posted by TarHeelMan
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Their hitting coach. As highly respected a gentleman in the sport, from all i have heard. What a shock.
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Agreed - I've heard the same. Very unexpected and sad.
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Bill Robinson is the third member of the 1979 World Series championship to pass away.
1. John Milner died in 2000
2. Willie Stargell died in 2001
3. Bill Robinson died in 2007
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Robby was one of my favorites on that team. Time marches on.
Gail
Bill Robinson
I am new around this site, and just read this thread on Bill Robinson. It is news to me about his death. He was a wonderful guy from what I read about him over the years. He was such a joy to watch him played during the Pirate games. I am sadded to know of his death. But have such fond memories of the games I saw him play at the games in Pgh. while in my teens and on tv.
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I recall the new GM of the Yankees when CBS acquired the team, Mike Burke, was eager to break with the Yankees questionable history with black ballplayers, and traded Clete Boyer for him to Atlanta in 1967
Things didnt work out for Robby tho in NY-had 3 bad years, and didnt blossom until he later went to the Phils and Pirates
DREW
2005 World Series Champs
Wasn't he the Mets first base coach when the Mets won game 6 in the 86 WS.
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And he was also prominent in one of the team's many brawls back then. It was him and Rick Rhoden, a former teammate. Not sure what triggered it.
He was hitting coach, too. Insisted on being called "hitting coach" rather than "batting coach". It seemed like everyone on that team flourished. It's hard to tell how much was their talent and what role coaching played, but you'd have to call his coaching successful. That team could hit.
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After being overhyped and failing badly with the Braves and Yankees (1966-69) ,as their Centerfielder of the future, Robinson spent the next 2 1/2 years in the minors before getting a chance with the Phillies in late June 1972. He had three productive seasons playing on a part-time basis with the Philies including a fine 25 HR, 65 RBI, .288 season in 1973, his best season to that point. Traded to Pittsburgh before the 1975 season, he became a fixture with the Pirates over the next eight seasons. His best years were 1976: 21 HR/64 RBI/.303 B.Avg.followed by a superb 1977 season where he hit 26 HR, with 104 RBI, and a .304 B.Avg., his career best in all major offensive categories. He had 24 home runsa and 75 RBI as a solid contributor to the 1979 World's Champion "We Are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates. Lifetime Robinson belted 166 home runs, hiting .258 overall.
After finishing his playing career with the 1983 Phillies, Robinson was a Mets coach several years and he managed Winter League baseball teams in Venezuela and the Caribbean, but he never reached his goal of managing a major leagues team. He died at age 64 in 2007.
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