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 Wilbert “Uncle Robbie” Robinson Photo Gallery
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Another Edition of: From the Lighter Side!

Brooklyn Robins’ Manager Wilbert Robinson Agrees to Catch a Ball Dropped From an Airplane!

“Help me lads! I’m covered in my own blood!”

Can you even imagine a stunt like this happening today? With today’s multi-million dollar athletes? Not on your life!

And yet, I can think of at least four instances in baseball’s past in which players agreed to the dangerous publicity stunt of catching a baseball dropped from an airplane: Babe Ruth (of all people!) famously did it; as did Cardinals’ manager Gabby Street (well, actually his “drop” was from the top of Washington Monument, which is just as bad); as did an obscure coach named Grover Land; and, as recounted in today’s featured post, as did 52-year-old Wilbert Robinson, the rotund manager of the Brooklyn Robins (who later became known as the Dodgers). The last prank occurred 104 years ago today, March 13, 1915.

In the featured photo, we see Brooklyn manager Wilbert “Uncle Robbie” Robinson with one of his star pitchers, Rube Marquard, beautifully colorized by Chris Whitehouse, and found on his ManCave Pictures Facebook page.  

Here’s The Setting:

The Brooklyn Robins were in Daytona Beach, Florida for spring training. It just so happened that renowned aviatrix Ruth Law, at the time a recognized pioneer in American aviation, was also in town, having agreed to drop golf balls from her plane as a publicity gimmick for a local golf course. Apparently oblivious to the danger attached to such a crazy idea, the Brooklyn “higher-ups” heard about her and came up with their own bright idea for publicity: “I know…We’ll get one of our players to catch a ball dropped from her plane!”

Think about it: Just how fast would a baseball be traveling at impact if dropped from a plane? [Ed. note: In reviewing my college calculus, I actually remember that acceleration is the second derivative of the position function, r(t); Haha…just thought I’d throw that in here to shake things up! -GL]. By the time it made impact, a baseball dropped from an airplane would be falling with the force of a deadly object. Back then, I doubt anybody thought of such mundane, basic safety concerns. After all, here was a chance for publicity!

Except there was only one problem: Having more sense than management, none of the players would accept the challenge. So it fell to “Uncle Robbie” to please the Brooklyn “suits.” He agreed to participate in the crazy publicity stunt.

But Wait…No Baseball??

And then as the story goes – and just to compound the insanity – some genius forgot to give Miss Law a rather important item: a baseball! So there she is aloft in her plane rapidly approaching the designated drop-spot. Uncle Robbie is positioned far below, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the soon-to-be descending sphere. She suddenly realizes she has no ball. Being the resourceful gal that she is (she sure didn’t get to where is by relying on others!), Miss Law reaches for the next best thing: a grapefruit which she had aboard as part of her lunch.

Hmmm…that explanation always sounded a bit contrived to me. She forgot the baseball? Com’on, give me a break! Rumor has it that Casey Stengel was involved in this nefarious scheme; so a much better explanation is readily at-hand: the “grapefruit thing” was part Stengel’s original plan to trick the gullible Robbie!

So out the window the grapefruit goes, hopefully headed for the catcher’s mitt of the unsuspecting dupe, Uncle Robbie. With all his players on hand to observe the spectacle  –  and with their manager as the unwitting “fall guy,” – a loud “SPLAT!” resonates loudly.  The rapidly-accelerating grapefruit makes contact – not with his out-stretched mitt – but with Robbie’s chest! And just to make matters even worse, it was a red grapefruit!

Robbie Goes Down!

The sudden impact of fruit-hitting-body knocks Robbie off his feet. Down he goes, all 225+ pounds of him. No doubt his life was flashing before him. He thinks he’s been mortally wounded with what he initially perceived to be blood flowing all over his body.

“Help me lads! I’m bleeding to death! I’m covered in my own blood!” Robbie frantically pleads. The players must have been in on the scheme (again, think Casey Stengel!) because they knew at once that it wasn’t blood…but just red grape juice!

With the mess of citrus pulp covering his body, and with his players all doubled over in laughter, Uncle Robbie slowly comes to the realization that his body is still intact. He’s not bleeding to death after all. Trying to stifle their laughter, the players then amble over to the scene and help their fallen – and crestfallen! – manager to his feet.

Robbie Survives! He’s “None the Worse for Wear!”

“All’s well that ends well,” saith the Bard. A good laugh is had by all at Robbie’s expense, as fortunately he’s not seriously hurt. Embarrassed? Yes, most definitely. Hurt? No, just his wounded pride. And being the “good-guy” that he is, Robbie joins in the laughter, as he pokes fun at himself for agreeing to such a dubious scheme. As he regains his composure and saunters away with his gleeful players attending him, he shouts “Never again!” which is followed by loud curses aimed at the idiotic Brooklyn “suits” for putting him in such a dangerous and embarrassing situation.

Life and learn, Robbie!

Gary Livacari 

Photo Credits: Featured photo beautifully colorized by Chris Whitehouse and found on his the ManCave Pictures Facebook page.  All others from Google search

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