"A fractured neck suffered in an early morning car wreck on August 18 ended his season. His loss was a major factor in the club's fade-out, according to team owner George Steinbrenner. Robertson's injury leaves doubts about his future. Even if he's healthy, he has to prove he is strong enough for a full season. Robertson played some at second base when Willie Randolph was hurt, but is considered the club's shortstop of the future. He struck out 54 times and walked only eight times.
He was a second baseman at the University of Texas, where Met prospect Ron Gardenhire was the shortstop. Andre was originally signed by Toronto in 1979 and went to the Yankees organization in 1980, where he made stops at each level of the minors.
Born in Orange, Texas, Andre was a fan of the San Francisco Giants and Willie Mays."
-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1984 Edition
"During the early 1950's, a Yankee second baseman named Jerry Coleman had an outstanding defensive game against the Cleveland Indians. The next day, a sportswriter wrote: 'Coleman was the darling of the fans all night long.'
And why not? New Yorkers coined the phrase 'DEE-fense' and New York fans know that defense wins important games, more so than all-out offense. There is an air of apprehension when the opposing team has runners on first and third and one out in the late innings of a tie game. There is an audible groan when the batter smashes a hard grounder over second base- but an immediate roar when a shortstop scoops it up, flips to the second baseman, and a double play results. Fans rock the roof with applause- and in 1983 they did exactly that for Andre Robertson, once a promising shortstop, but now THE shortstop of the New York Yankees.
Robertson must fully recover from a car crash on August 18. Among other injuries, he suffered a broken neck.
'I had a friend who had the same accident,' the 26-year-old infielder says, 'and he died. He died from a broken neck. That's what I thought about when I was lying in the hospital. I guess I'm lucky to have this chance.'
And the Yanks are lucky to have his glove. He is smooth, natural, instinctive. Former manager Earl Weaver said that Robertson has more natural instinct than any young shortstop in baseball. His hitting will come around, once he has recovered full use of his arms and shoulders. He is a listener and and a learner. If the big boys on the block carry the offense, he doesn't even have to hit for the Yankees to win ... because if he keeps fielding the way he has in the past, he is sure to be 'The darling of the fans.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1984 Yearbook
"Robertson anchored the Yankee infield with his outstanding defense at shortstop. He hit in 10 straight games from June 8 to June 18, raising his batting average from .210 to .266.
Andre was involved in a serious car accident on August 18 in which he suffered a broken neck, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.
Andre began in the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 1979. In 1980 with the Yankees, he progressed from A ball to AA and finally to AAA in just his second pro season. In 1981 Andre was named to the International League All-Star team as the shortstop. He was called up to the Yankees on September 2 when Bucky Dent was disabled with a torn hand ligament that required surgery. Robertson singled in his first major league at-bat against Mike Jones at Kansas City on September 3 and played defensively in the 1981 ALCS and World Series.
Robertson began the 1982 season at Columbus and was called up to the Yankees on May 13. He hit his first major league home run on May 16 at Oakland off Steve McCatty. He was optioned to Columbus on July 8 and recalled to the Yankees on August 20. Andre played outstanding defense and showed potential and improvement at the plate.
Andre grew up in Orange, Texas where he attended West Orange High and played baseball, football, basketball and ran track. He was All-State twice and All-American once in baseball. He played Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion ball in Orange and was a San Francisco Giant fan as a youngster, particularly Willie Mays. Andre spent three years at the University of Texas where he teamed with Jerry Don Gleaton and played against Tim Lollar of Arkansas."
-1984 New York Yankees Information Guide
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