"Talk about quality time. In 1985, Andre Robertson had plenty of it. He never played regularly last year, but when he did get playing time he made the most of it.
A spring training knee injury kept the personable Texan out until the end of May, but upon his return he homered in back-to-back games. He ended up batting .328 while appearing in 50 games, playing mostly at third base, which was something new for him. Robertson's play at third was as smooth as his time at shortstop, but his bat was a pleasant surprise.
'It's a good feeling to know that in limited playing time, you make the hits you get count, and help the team,' Robertson says. 'I certainly am glad to be playing and contributing any way I can. I don't think I've run away from too many balls at third, have I?'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1986 Yearbook
"Andre showed a good stick despite not playing regularly. He began 1985 by being placed on the 21-day disabled list on March 24 with torn cartilage in his left knee and was assigned to Columbus for rehabilitation on May 20.
He went 11-for-28 (.393) in nine games during his rehab and was recalled on May 29. Andre hit a home run in his first start on May 30 against California, and another in the following game on May 31 against Seattle, [hitting] homers in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. He went 7-for-15 (.467 BA) in his first six games, yet played in only five games in June. Andre 3-for-4 for the fifth time in his career (and first time since August 16, 1983) on June 1 against Seattle. He hit in 8 of 12 games in July, going 11-for-33 (.333), and had his third career two-RBI game on September 4 against Seattle.
Andre made his first major league start at third base on July 9 against Kansas City. He played 33 games at third, 14 at shortstop and two at second.
He began the 1984 season at Columbus, making a comeback from his August '83 car accident. He was recalled on April 16 and was the regular shortstop until being optioned back to Columbus on June 15. Andre was recalled to New York on September 9.
Andre anchored the Yankee infield in 1983 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. He 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.
He 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. Andre was optioned to Columbus on July 8 and recalled to the Yankees on August 20. He played outstanding defense and showed potential and improvement at the plate.
Andre began in the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 1979. In 1980 with the Yankee organization, 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. Andre 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.
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 [of] Willie Mays. Andre spent three years at the University of Texas in Austin where he teamed with Jerry Don Gleaton and played against Tim Lollar of Arkansas."
-1986 New York Yankees Information Guide
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