Nov 1966 - Traded to the NY Yankees

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This is the story of a man who was once billed as "the black Mickey Mantle" and survived the intense pressures of major league baseball for a successful 16-year career in "America's Pastime." 

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William Henry "Bill" Robinson was born on June 26, 1943 in McKeesport, PA. After high school, Bill was signed by the Milwaukee Braves and assigned to a farm team. At 18, Bill Robinson was ranked by scouts as one of the best rookie outfielders ever, better than Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson. 

 

Robinson finally made it to the majors during a late season call up to the Atlanta Braves on Sept 20, 1966. In Nov 1966, the Yankees traded Clete Boyer to the Braves for the young Robinson, who carried with him a .298 average, a rocket arm and great power.

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With Roger Maris being traded to the Cardinals and the future of an aging and aching Mickey Mantle in doubt, New York Yankee manager Ralph Houk salivated at the thought of Robinson in his outfield. "He has the best arm I have ever seen," Houk told a reporter for the Washington Post.