Andre Robertson on Texas, the Yankees, and the accident that changed everything
Former Major League shortstop Andre Robertson joins Melvin E. Edwards to trace a career that moves from Orange, Texas to the University of Texas, the New York Yankees, and the 1981 World Series. He also reflects on the racial barriers he faced, the coaches and teammates who shaped him, and the car accident that reshaped his playing career and life.
We discuss:
How Andre fell in love with baseball as a kid in Orange, why Texas was the right choice over going pro right out of high school, and what it meant to become the first African American baseball scholarship player at UT. He also shares stories about Yogi Berra, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Tommy John, and George Steinbrenner.
Key topics
* Andre recalls growing up in Orange, Texas, where he started organized baseball at age 8 and played with some of the first Black Little League players in his area.
* He tells two clubhouse stories, including Yogi Berra’s strange instruction to “pair up in threes” and Rickey Henderson’s third-person humor.
* His father coached him early on and helped shape his approach to competition, discipline, and team-first thinking.
* Andre talks about seeing Willie Mays as a kid and realizing he wanted to play at the highest level.
* He explains how a state track meet in Austin led to Texas coach Cliff Gustafson recruiting him after seeing his athleticism.
* At Texas, he had to switch from shortstop to second base, where assistant coach Bill Bethea helped refine his footwork and turn him into a better pro prospect.
* He reflects on the 1979 College World Series, Texas’ dominant run, and the disappointment of being knocked out by Arkansas and a California team.
* Andre describes the social reality of being the only Black player on the Texas team for three years and how he responded to racism by focusing on the game.
* He talks about leaving after his junior year, later returning to finish his degree in 1992 through correspondence courses.
* Andre explains the culture shock of going from Orange, Texas to New York City and how he mentally narrowed his focus to handle Yankee Stadium pressure.
* He shares his major league debut in 1981, Reggie Jackson’s advice to “do what you did to get here,” and the confidence boost from getting hits in his first game.
* He reflects on the 1981 World Series, his limited role as a pinch runner, and the humility of being part of a championship-caliber roster.
* Andre remembers Tommy John as a friendly teammate and as a pitcher whose elbow surgery and long career made an impact on the game.
* He discusses George Steinbrenner’s demanding standards and says the owner’s expectations matched the Yankee tradition of winning.
* Andre recounts the 1983 car accident that fractured his C2 vertebrae, his long recovery, and the blessing of being able to return to baseball at all.
* After playing, he moved into substitute teaching briefly and then spent decades working at DuPont, now Dow.
* He closes with a look at his family, including three successful children, and his plans for retirement, golf tournaments, and more time with his wife.
* The episode ends with his playful Texas and Texas A&M rivalry story, including the card-signing event where Aggies were reluctant to take UT pictures.
Notable quotes
“My father always told me, you don’t need to talk about yourself, but let other people tell your stories.”
“Do what you did to get here.”
“It wasn’t lucky, I was blessed.”
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