Eight decades later, Robertson has
perfect partner in White Sox history
By Paul Ladewski
Posted on Monday, July 27th
For 87 years, Charlie Robertson had a rather lonely existence in local baseball
annals. In 1922, he had become the first and last White Sox pitcher to author a
perfect game, a feat achieved so long ago that his name had withered into relative
obscurity since then. Only after Mark Buehrle pitched a similar gem last week did
Robertson finally have a partner and he became relevant again.
So who was this person forever linked with Buehrle in White Sox history? And
what is his story?
Charles Culbertson Robertson was born on Jan. 31, 1896, in Dexter, Tex., a speck
on the map about 100 miles north of Dallas. In 1919, after three years at Austin
College in nearby Sherman, Tex. he signed with the White Sox at 23 years of age.
The 6-foot, 175-pound right-hander made his major league debut that season, and
he spent the next two campaigns in the minor leagues.
Prior to the 1922 campaign, White Sox pitcher Dickey Kerr walked out on the
team in a salary dispute. One year after Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams were
suspended for their parts in the Black Sox scandal, the absence of Kerr left the staff
with one proven starter. When his team got off to a 4-6 start, Manager Kid Gleason
inserted Robertson into the rotation even though he had only 10 innings of major
league experience. It was move made out of desperation more than anything else.
When the 26-year-old known as Robby took the mound at cozy Navin Field in
Detroit on Sunday, April 30, there was no hint about what was to take place. In his
first start of the season, Robertson allowed 12 hits and four walks in an
unimpressive 7-3 victory against the Indians in Cleveland four days earlier.
What’s more, the Tigers line-up was no pushover but one that featured outfielder
Ty Cobb and first baseman Harry Heilmann, future Hall of Fame members. I