Floyd Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Floyd Robinson |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 9, 1935 Prescott, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 10, 1960, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1968, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .283 | ||
| Home runs | 67 | ||
| Runs batted in | 426 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Floyd Andrew Robinson was a talented American baseball player. He was born on May 9, 1935. Floyd played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, and Boston Red Sox. He was known for batting left-handed and throwing right-handed.
Contents
Floyd Robinson's Early Baseball Journey
High School Sports Star
Floyd Robinson grew up in San Diego, California. He went to San Diego High School. There, he was a star in both baseball and football. He was so good at football that the University of Arizona offered him a scholarship to play quarterback.
Choosing Professional Baseball
Even with a football scholarship offer, Floyd chose to play professional baseball. In 1954, he signed a contract with the San Diego Padres. At that time, the Padres were part of the Pacific Coast League. Later, in 1960, the Chicago White Sox signed an agreement with the Padres. This led to Floyd joining the White Sox team.
Playing in Major League Baseball
First Steps in the Big Leagues
Floyd Robinson made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on August 10, 1960. He was 24 years old. His team, the White Sox, played against the New York Yankees. Floyd started the game in right field. He got his first career hit on September 18, 1960. It was a single against Jim Bunning of the Detroit Tigers. In his very next turn at bat, he got his first RBI (Run Batted In). This happened when he hit a single that brought Ted Kluszewski home.
Working with Great Managers
For most of his seven years with the White Sox, Floyd was managed by Hall of Famer Al López. Floyd had a lot of respect for López. In 1966, Eddie Stanky became the White Sox manager. This was Floyd's last year with the team.
A Fantastic First Full Season
Floyd's first full year in the major leagues was 1961. It was a great season for him. He finished tied for third place in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year award. He had an impressive batting average of .310. He also hit 11 home runs and had 59 runs batted in. He collected 134 hits and earned 52 bases on balls (walks).
Leading the League in Doubles
In 1962, Floyd continued to shine. He finished 10th in the voting for the American League MVP award. That year, Mickey Mantle won the award. Floyd had 187 hits in 600 turns at bat. His batting average was .312, which was the third best in the league. He led the entire league in doubles with 45. He was also fourth in the league for runs batted in with 109.
A Historic Game
On July 22, 1962, Floyd Robinson made baseball history. He got six hits in six turns at bat in a nine-inning game. All of his hits were singles. This is a very rare achievement. Only 35 players in the American League have ever done this.
Close to the World Series
In 1964, Floyd's team, the White Sox, came very close to reaching the World Series. They won 98 games and lost 64. They finished just one game behind the New York Yankees. This was one of three years in a row that his team finished second in the American League. The White Sox had played in the 1959 World Series the year before Floyd joined the team. Floyd never played on a team that had a losing record.
Career Highs and Later Years
Floyd hit his career high in home runs in 1965. He hit 14 home runs and had 66 runs batted in. This was his last big year for hitting. In December 1966, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played one season with them. In November 1967, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He played 53 games for them. On July 31, 1968, the Boston Red Sox bought his contract. Floyd played 23 games for the Red Sox, and his final career game was on September 29, 1968. A knee injury he got in 1967 shortened his career.
Career Statistics
Over his nine seasons in Major League Baseball, Floyd Robinson had a batting average of .283. He hit 67 home runs and had 426 RBIs. He also had 140 doubles, 36 triples, and 42 stolen bases. He scored 458 runs. When playing defense, Floyd made only 30 errors in 886 games. This gave him a strong fielding percentage of .981.
Life After Baseball
Family and Business Ventures
Floyd Robinson is a cousin of Tommie Reynolds, who also played in Major League Baseball. After his baseball career, Floyd and his wife, Sandra, became business partners. They married in 1965. They invested in many real estate properties and apartment buildings. They also owned a small grocery store for a while.
Helping the Community
One of their important projects is the Golden Age Garden. This is an apartment complex for senior citizens with lower incomes. It is located in the Mountain View neighborhood of San Diego, where Floyd grew up. In 2007, Floyd and Sandra started a non-profit organization called the Floyd Robinson Foundation. This foundation helps others in the community.
Honors and Heritage
In 2009, Floyd Robinson was honored by the San Diego Hall of Champions. He was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame. This hall celebrates San Diego's best athletes for their achievements both in sports and in their communities. Floyd is also partly of American-Indian heritage, as he is a descendant of the Blackfoot Nation.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
