| Charlie Robertson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1896-01-31)January 31, 1896 Dexter, Texas, U.S. | |
| Died: August 23, 1984(1984-08-23) (aged 88) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 13, 1919, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 18, 1928, for the Boston Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 49–80 |
| Earned run average | 4.44 |
| Strikeouts | 310 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Charles Culbertson Robertson (January 31, 1896 – August 23, 1984) was anAmerican professionalbaseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as apitcher, and is best remembered for throwing aperfect game in 1922.[1]
Robertson was born inDexter, Texas and grew up inNocona, Texas.[2] He graduated fromNocona High School in 1915. Charles attendedAustin College from 1917 until 1919.[2]
He began his career with theChicago White Sox in 1919 at the age of 23. Robertson was an average player for most of his career, having a career record of 49–80 and never winning more than he lost during a single season.[2]
His main pitch throughout his career was a slowcurveball which he often threw on the first pitch to a batter on any side of the plate, followed by afastball up in the zone.
On April 30, 1922, in just his fourth career start, hepitched the fifthperfect game in baseball history against theDetroit Tigers atNavin Field (later known as Tiger Stadium) inDetroit. He became the first pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game on the road.[2]
The Detroit lineup featured such Hall of Famers asTy Cobb andHarry Heilmann, who both complained that he was doctoring the ball throughout the game. The Tigers submitted several game balls toAmerican League PresidentBan Johnson after the game to check for irregularities, but Johnson dismissed the charge.[2]
Robertson's perfect game was the last for 34 years, whenDon Larsen pitched one in the1956 World Series against theBrooklyn Dodgers; the next regular season perfect game would not come untilJim Bunning's perfect game in 1964.[3]
After the perfect game, he suffered arm troubles for the rest of his career. He pitched one season for theSt. Louis Browns and two years with theBoston Braves and retired from baseball in 1928.[4]
After retiring from baseball, Robertson became a prosperous pecan broker inFort Worth, Texas. He returned to the limelight afterDon Larsen threw a perfect game in the1956 World Series, the first in theMajor Leagues since Robertson's own 34 years earlier. Six days after Larsen's game, Robertson appeared as a contestant onWhat's My Line?.[5]
Robertson was married to Fay Redus, whom he met when he was first invited tospring training by theChicago White Sox. He died in 1984 inFort Worth, Texas, at age 88, and was the last surviving player who played for the1919 Chicago White Sox.[a][1]
· Baseball Almanac| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chicago White Sox Opening Day Starting pitcher 1924 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Perfect game pitcher April 30, 1922 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher April 30, 1922 | Succeeded by |
