Eddie Robinson, cornerstone of 1948 World Series champion Indians, dies at 100
Eddie Robinson, cornerstone of 1948 World Series champion Indians, dies at 100
washingtonpost.com
Eddie Robinson, cornerstone of 1948 World Series champion Indians, dies at 100
He spent 65 years in baseball as a player, scout and executive and was the oldest living former member of the Washington Senators and New York Yankees.
Obituaries
Eddie Robinson, baseballs oldest living player, dies at 100
Former major league baseball player Eddie Robinson in 2018. ) (Lawrence Jenkins/For The Washington Post)
By Matt Schudel
October 5, 2021 at 8:17 p.m. EDT
Eddie Robinson, the oldest living former major league baseball player, who spent 65 years in the sport as a player, scout and executive and was the last surviving member of the 1948 World Series champion Cleveland Indians, died Oct. 4 at his ranch in Bastrop, Tex. He was 100.
The death was announced by the Texas Rangers, for which Mr. Robinson served as general manager. The cause was not disclosed.
Mr. Robinson helped Babe Ruth onto a baseball field for the last time, was a teammate of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and onetime Negro Leagues phenomenon Satchel Paige, and played alongside Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams in all-star games. Still employed in baseball in the 21st century, he was honored at the 2016 World Series in Cleveland, when he was 95, and continued to follow the game closely until his death, including a podcast that he began this year.
Eddie Robinson during his playing days with the Washington Senators. (File Photo/The Washington Post)
A strapping first baseman who played his first professional game in 1939, Mr. Robinson was a four-time all-star and played with seven of the eight franchises then in the American League, including the old Washington Senators, before retiring in 1957.
He made his major league debut with the Indians in 1942, served in the Navy during World War II, then became a cornerstone of a powerful 1948 Indians team that included six players later enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Bob Feller, Paige, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Joe Gordon and Bob Lemon.
The Indians beat the Boston Red Sox in a playoff game to win the American League pennant, then faced the Boston Braves in the World Series. Clevelands enormous stadium drew more than 80,000 fans to the games.
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By Matt Schudel
Matt Schudel has been an obituary writer at The Washington Post since 2004. He previously worked for publications in Washington, New York, North Carolina and Florida. Twitter
https://twitter.com/MattSchudel