Rich Robertson – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Rich Robertson wrapped up his six-year Major League Baseball career in 1971, closing out his time as a pitcher who stuck with the San Francisco Giants for every inning. He grew up in Albany, California, and made his MLB debut at just 21 years old in 1966. Robertson quickly became a steady, if not always consistent, part of the Giants’ rotation through the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Robertson went 13-14 in 86 games, racking up 184 strikeouts and posting a 4.94 ERA over 302.1 innings. His best year was 1970, when he started 26 games and threw 183.2 innings. He also led the National League in wild pitches that season with 18, which says a lot about the ups and downs that defined his career.

He showed both promise and unpredictability, a pretty common story for mid-level players during the competitive baseball era of the late 1960s. From his college days at Santa Clara University to his draft and eventual retirement, Robertson’s journey really highlights both the opportunities and roadblocks that shaped baseball careers back then.

Rich Robertson’s Professional Baseball Career

Rich Robertson pitched six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1966 to 1971, always wearing a Giants uniform. He hit his stride in 1970, making 41 appearances and, maybe infamously, leading the National League in wild pitches with 18.

MLB Debut and Early Years

Robertson debuted with the San Francisco Giants in 1966 at just 21. He only saw action in one game that first year, finishing with a 7.71 ERA over 2.1 innings.

In those early years, Robertson flashed some potential but couldn’t always find his control. In 1967, he sharpened up a bit, putting up a 4.50 ERA in limited innings.

By 1968, things started to change. Robertson picked up his first two wins and kept a perfect 1.000 winning percentage in three games. He threw nine innings and struck out eight.

The Giants gave him more responsibility as he developed. In 1969, he pitched in 17 games, starting seven. That year, he tossed his first shutout, but still wrestled with control issues.

His early stats showed a young pitcher trying to figure out how to survive at the top level. His ERA stayed on the high side, but the Giants stuck with him, seeing something worth investing in.

Peak Seasons and Notable Performances

Robertson broke through in 1970, locking down a regular spot in the Giants’ rotation. He pitched in 41 games, starting 26, and logged 183.2 innings.

That year, he went 8-9 with a 4.85 ERA. He finished six games and even picked up a save. His 121 strikeouts were a personal best.

But, yeah, 1970 also showed his control could get pretty shaky. Robertson led the National League with 18 wild pitches. He also walked 96 batters, bumping his WHIP up to 1.606.

He managed several complete games that season, proving he could go deep when things were clicking. The Giants valued his durability, even if his results were all over the map.

That 1970 season was probably the high point of his time with the Giants. He gave them a lot of innings and some stability, even if he kept things interesting (sometimes a little too interesting).

Final Season and Retirement in 1971

Robertson’s last season in 1971 saw the Giants use him less. He pitched in 23 games, starting just six—way down from the previous year.

His numbers took a hit that final year. Robertson finished with a 2-2 record and a 4.57 ERA in 61 innings. He struck out 32 and walked 31.

The Giants mostly used him out of the bullpen in 1971. He made five relief appearances as a closer and finished one game. His role had clearly shrunk from his peak.

Robertson called it a career after the 1971 season, at just 26. He ended up with a 13-14 record and a 4.94 ERA over 302.1 innings.

He struck out 184 batters in his six years with San Francisco. By the early ‘70s, the Giants decided to take their pitching staff in another direction, and Robertson moved on.

Position, Playing Style, and Statistics

Rich Robertson pitched right-handed for the San Francisco Giants from 1966 to 1971. He notched a 4.94 ERA in 86 games and struck out 184 batters in total. His stats paint a picture of a pitcher who struggled to find consistency, posting a -1.6 WAR over six seasons while keeping his strikeout numbers pretty modest.

Pitching Role and Skillset

Robertson worked as both a starter and a reliever during his six years in San Francisco. He started 40 of his 86 games, finished 8, and had one shutout.

He had his biggest workload in 1970, pitching 183.2 innings across 41 games with 26 starts. That season, he ended up 8-9 with a 4.85 ERA.

Robertson’s pitching style leaned more on control than raw power. His career strikeout rate was 5.5 per nine innings, which was below average even for that era. He finished with 184 strikeouts and 153 walks in 302.1 innings.

He showed some real toughness in 1970, going the distance in six of his starts. Even with mixed results, his ability to eat innings made him a valuable part of the Giants’ rotation.

Career Statistical Highlights

Robertson’s career record landed at 13 wins and 14 losses, with a 4.94 ERA. His best season was 1970, with 8 wins (and 9 losses).

Season-by-Season Highlights:

• 1966-1967: Barely pitched, just 4.1 innings total
• 1968: Saw more action, 9 innings pitched
• 1969: Threw 44.1 innings, went 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA
• 1970: Career-high 183.2 innings, 8-9 record
• 1971: Logged 61 innings in his final year

That 1970 season stands out for both the heavy workload and the wildness—he threw 18 wild pitches, which was a lot even for a guy pitching that many innings.

In general, Robertson’s career was more about inconsistency than standout moments. He never managed a winning record in any season where he pitched a significant number of innings.

Key Metrics: ERA, Strikeouts, WAR and OPS

Robertson’s 4.94 career ERA was below the league average for his era. With an ERA+ of 77, he pitched about 23% worse than the average National League pitcher at the time.

His strikeout totals never really jumped off the page. His best was 121 in 1970, which worked out to 5.9 K/9.

Career Sabermetric Snapshot:

• WAR: -1.6 (so, below replacement level)
• WHIP: 1.607 (walks plus hits per inning pitched)
• FIP: 4.25 (Fielding Independent Pitching)

That negative WAR tells you he didn’t provide much value compared to a typical replacement player. The 1.607 WHIP? Way too many baserunners.

There’s no OPS against data in the modern sense, but his opponent batting average and on-base numbers make it clear hitters did well against him. Allowing 9.9 hits per nine innings was a lot for pitchers in that era.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Rich Robertson was born October 14, 1944, in Albany, California, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the post-war boom. His college years at Santa Clara University played a big role in shaping him into a pitcher who would later spend six seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

Birthplace and Family Background

Rich Robertson came into the world in Albany, California, a small city on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Back in the 1940s, Albany was a close-knit community of about 14,000 people.

Growing up in the Bay Area in the 1950s, Robertson got to see a lot of baseball early on. The Giants hadn’t moved to San Francisco yet, but the Pacific Coast League kept the region buzzing with quality baseball.

His family gave him plenty of support for both school and sports. The Robertsons encouraged Rich to pursue athletics and academics, a combo that helped him later on.

With San Francisco and Oakland nearby, Robertson could catch games and watch talented players up close. That early exposure to good baseball probably helped stoke his own ambitions on the mound.

Santa Clara University Baseball Achievements

Robertson went to Santa Clara University, where he honed the skills that would get him noticed by big league scouts. The Broncos’ baseball program offered strong coaching and tough competition.

At Santa Clara, he worked on his mechanics and faced some of the best amateur hitters on the West Coast. The school had a solid rep for producing future pros.

His time with the Broncos gave him a solid foundation for his pro career. College ball let him test himself against talented hitters and get ready for the jump to the next level.

The Santa Clara coaches saw potential in Robertson and put in the time to help him grow as a pitcher. That college experience set him up for moments like leading the National League in wild pitches in 1970, for better or worse.

MLB Draft and Minor League Development

Rich Robertson’s journey to the majors started when the San Francisco Giants picked him in the 5th round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Santa Clara. He spent five years in the minors, sharpening his game before becoming a regular on the Giants’ pitching staff.

Selection in the MLB Draft

The San Francisco Giants spotted Robertson’s talent at Santa Clara and took him in the 5th round of the 1965 draft. He was just 20 at the time.

His college experience had him pretty well prepared for pro ball. The Giants clearly saw enough in him to use a decent draft pick.

Getting drafted put Robertson on the fast track to start his professional career. He kicked off his minor league journey in 1966.

Progression Through the Minor Leagues

Robertson spent most of his minor league days with Phoenix in the Pacific Coast League (PCL), the Giants’ AAA affiliate. That’s where he got his toughest tests before hitting the majors.

In 1966, he made his pro debut at 21. Robertson put up a 13-6 record with a 2.80 ERA over 177 innings. He played in 41 games, started 18, and struck out 148 batters.

The 1967 season saw him take a few lumps, but he kept at it. He finished 8-9 with a 3.93 ERA in 40 games and pitched 190 innings. The Giants trusted his durability.

Robertson’s best minor league year came in 1968. He dominated AAA, going 18-9 with a 2.36 ERA over a whopping 256 innings. He struck out 216 and threw 18 complete games.

By the end of his minor league run, Robertson had 49 wins and 39 losses, with a 3.28 ERA in 791 innings across six seasons.

Legacy and Impact on the San Francisco Giants

Rich Robertson made his mark on the San Francisco Giants during a pretty important stretch in franchise history. His six years helped the team build its West Coast identity and played a part in their first division championship in 1971.

Contribution to Team Success

Robertson played a key role for the Giants from 1966 to 1971. His biggest impact came in the 1971 season when the Giants won their first National League West division title.

He finished with a 13-14 record over 86 games, striking out 184 batters. That showed he could go after hitters in big moments.

Robertson’s spot on the 1971 championship roster was a milestone for the Giants. That division title was the team’s first major win since moving from New York in 1958.

His professional career included four major league seasons with the Giants. The team’s steady run in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s got a boost from pitchers like Robertson, who could step in as both starters and relievers depending on what the club needed.

Recognition Among Teammates and Fans

People around the Giants organization respected Robertson for his dedication and performance. In 2000, the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame honored him, recognizing his journey from local standout to major league contributor.

He joined a pretty exclusive group of Napa High alumni who made it to the majors. Robertson stands alongside Louis Guisto, Bill Buckner, and Warren Brusstar, all former MLB players his high school honored.

Robertson posted a 4.94 ERA, which honestly reflected how tough pitching could get when offense ruled baseball. He managed to compete at the top for six seasons, and that really showed how much the Giants valued having him on the roster.

His career covered a big chunk of Giants history, from the team’s rebuilding years in the mid-1960s to their championship run in 1971.

Post-Retirement Life and Ongoing Influence

After his six seasons with the San Francisco Giants, Richard Paul Robertson stepped away from professional baseball and entered a quieter chapter. Like a lot of former players, he left the spotlight and tried out different paths.

Life After Baseball

Robertson retired in 1971 at just 26, after his last appearance on July 20 for the Giants. Unlike today’s players, who usually leave the game with a comfortable nest egg, guys from Robertson’s era often had to build brand new careers from scratch.

Adjusting to life after baseball wasn’t easy. He’d spent his whole adult life focused on the sport, debuting on September 10, 1966, and giving six seasons to the game.

Most players from his generation went down different roads after retiring. Some stuck with baseball, coaching or scouting. Others moved into totally new fields, using the discipline and work ethic they’d picked up along the way.

Back in the 1970s, baseball didn’t pay nearly as much as it does now, so Robertson and his peers had to find new ways to make a living. Sure, MLB offered pension benefits, but they were pretty limited compared to what players get today.

Influence on Baseball Community

Robertson put up some solid stats during his active years, and that really cemented his lasting connection to baseball history. He finished with a 13-14 win-loss record and a 4.94 ERA over six seasons, showing the grind of a dedicated pitcher in a time when the game was definitely shifting.

In 1970, he led the National League in wild pitches with 18. Sure, that’s not the stat anyone dreams of, but it showed he was a regular part of the Giants’ pitching rotation back then.

Robertson racked up 184 strikeouts during his career. That number proves he could hang at the top level, and it became a small but real part of baseball’s long statistical story.

He played during the late 1960s and early 1970s, right as the sport was going through some big changes. Players from Robertson’s era helped bridge the gap between old-school baseball and the modern game that came after.