From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C.,
July 4, 1919
Why Robertson Quit
the Giants. . . Former Elizabeth City Southpaw Likes Wholesale Produce
Business. . . And His Family
Davis Robertson, once southpaw of the Elizabeth City base
ball team, who went from Elizabeth city to the New York Giants, has quit the
game and settled down to business in Norfolk, Va. Davis Robertson quit the
Giants just a few weeks ago, after having signed up for the season of 1919 and
has gone into the wholesale produce business with his father, Chas. R.
Robertson, at 25 Roanoke Ave., Norfolk.
Davis Robertson was a great pitcher and a great batter when
he was playing in Elizabeth City. It didn’t take the big Leagues long to find
him and John McGraw of the New York Giants took him in hand. McGraw would have
had another Ty Cobb in Davis Robertson, but Robertson hurt his shoulder and had
to be transferred to the outfield. As an outfielder he was even a greater
success than he was in the pitcher’s box. Fans say that Robertson pulled down
$8,000 with the Giants last year.
But Davis Robertson is temperamental. He has a strong head
as well as a strong arm and won’t stand bullying. John McGraw is something of a
bully. McGraw and Robertson never did get along very well together.
About two years ago Robertson married a Richmond, Va., girl
and she has presented him with a baby. Robertson wanted to be near that wife
and baby this summer and he asked McGraw to send him to Washington. Mrs.
Robertson and the baby were to have spent the summer in Richmond, just three
hours ride from Washington.
But instead of sending Robertson to Washington McGraw told
him to go to St. Louis. And right there Robertson kicked out. Robertson
wouldn’t go to St. Louis; he handed in his resignation to Manager McGraw,
packed his clothes and returned to his family.
Talking to the writer of this newspaper this week Davis
Robertson says he is done with base ball. He says he played ball, not because
he ever liked it, but because he never could see a way out of it since it had
been discovered that he could play. He thinks he will feel more contented in
the wholesale produce business, a business successfully established by his
father more than a quarter of a century ago and to-day one of the leading
houses of its kinds in the booming city of Norfolk.
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