Charlie Robertson

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Charlie Robertson
Pitcher
Born: January 31, 1896
Died: August 23, 1984 (aged 88)
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 13, 1919
for the Chicago White Sox
Final game
June 18, 1928
for the Boston Braves
Career statistics
Win-Loss Record     49-80
ERA     4.44
Strikeouts     310
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • Threw a perfect game on April 30, 1922

Charles Culbertson Robertson (January 31, 1896August 23, 1984) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Born in Dexter, Texas, and grew up in Nocona, Texas graduating from Nocona High School in 1915. Charles attended Austin College from 1917 until 1919. He began his career with the Chicago 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. His main pitch throughout his career was a slow curveball which he would often throw on the first pitch to a batter on any side of the plate, followed by a fastball up in the zone.

[edit] Perfect game

On April 30, 1922, in just his fourth career start, he threw the fifth perfect game in baseball history against the Detroit Tigers at Navin Field (later known as Tiger Stadium) in Detroit. He became the first pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game on the road. The Detroit lineup featured such Hall of Famers as Ty Cobb and Harry Heilmann, who both complained that he was doctoring the ball throughout the game. A spectacular diving catch by Johnny Mostil on a liner to left by Bobby Veach in the second inning preserved the historic feat. The Tigers submitted several game balls to American League President Ban Johnson after the game to check for irregularities, but Johnson dismissed the charge. No pitcher would equal the feat after Robertson for another 34 years, until Don Larsen in 1956.

After the victory, he suffered through arm troubles for the rest of his career. He pitched one season for the St. Louis Browns and two years with the Boston Braves and retired in 1928. He died in Fort Worth, Texas at age 88.

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Preceded by
Addie Joss
Perfect game pitcher
April 30, 1922
Succeeded by
Don Larsen
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