PHILADELPHIA — On the day of his Major League debut Wednesday vs. the Phillies, Reds catcher Chuckie Robinson was headed onto the field for batting practice when he saw his grandfather and father — “Big Chuck” and “Little Chuck” — on the dirt near the screen. Known as “Baby Chuck” around his family, Robinson stopped and gave them both a hug.
A dream — decades in the making — came true for three generations of professional baseball-playing Chuck Robinsons from Danville, Ill. Big Chuck, aka Chuck Sr., played one season in the White Sox organization in the 1960s. Little Chuck played in the Cubs’ system in ’91. Like Chuckie, they were catchers.
“I just gravitated towards it,” Robinson said. “I guess it’s in my blood.”
During the Reds’ 7-5 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, Robinson was 1-for-2 with his first Major League hit — a one-out single to center field in the top of the fifth inning. The ball was tossed into the visitors’ dugout for safe keeping.
“I saw it go through and I was like, ‘Yes, thank you!'” said Robinson, who was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. “[Rhys] Hoskins was at first base and was like, ‘It took me 12 at-bats.’ I’m super grateful and happy for that first knock.”
Reaching the top level of baseball is, of course, a big feat that not many get to enjoy. Even rarer in the recent history of the Major Leagues have been Black catchers. Elston Howard and Hall of Famer Roy Campenella were two of the greatest at the position, but there hasn’t been a star African American catcher since Charles Johnson earned four Gold Gloves, two All-Star appearances and a World Series title during his career from 1994-2005.
Black Canadian catcher Russell Martin — a four-time All-Star and 2007 NL Gold Glove winner — last played in 2019, and Bruce Maxwell was the last African American catcher to play in the Majors when he played for Oakland from ’16- 18.
“I was a late Draft pick, always against the odds. I always try to keep that chip on my shoulder,” said Robinson, who was drafted in the 21st round by the Astros in 2016. “It kind of adds fuel. I know I am representing a lot of people out there. I like being in the position I am in.”
As a 4-year-old, Robinson went to his grandfather and told him he also wanted to be a baseball player when he grew up.
“He said, ‘Paw Paw, this is what I want to do.’ I said, ‘Let’s do this. We’ll try to make it possible, and I will show you the way,'” Big Chuck said before Wednesday’s game.
Robinson’s father noted that baseball was not a compulsory sport, however.
“Chuckie knew from the very beginning — his siblings as well — that we never forced the game on them,” Little Chuck said. “We were very conscious of him not just doing baseball to try to live through us because he had seen us do baseball. It just naturally came to him, and we allowed him to exercise and do what he felt he wanted to do. Now, we’re here.”
Robinson, 27, was selected by the Reds from the Astros in the Triple-A Phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. In 58 games this season with Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, he batted .266/.320/.399 with five home runs and 25 RBIs.
“He’s impressed everyone that he’s come across in player development,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He’s played well. He’s found ways to improve his game offensively, defensively. He’s absolutely earned the opportunity. Very well liked, very well respected on teams he’s been on.”
Despite the long road to reach the big leagues, and their own short pro baseball careers, the elder Robinsons never gave up hope for Chuckie.
“We kept the faith. We had that perspective and we just kept believing and we kept trusting,” Big Chuck said.
The Reds initially called up Robinson to their taxi squad on Aug. 1, and he was the 27th man for the Field of Dreams Game vs. the Cubs in Iowa on Aug. 11. But he did not get to play and was sent back to the Minors.
On Tuesday, Robinson was recalled when the Reds optioned Michael Papierski. The news came via Louisville manager Pat Kelly.
“I was in my car and PK called me. He was like, ‘It’s for real this time.’ I was like, ‘OK, yes!’ I was excited,” Robinson said. “The first person I called was my Grandpa. He basically taught me everything I know about the game.”
Robinson also became the 58th player to appear in a game for the Reds this season, breaking a 2003 franchise record. He’s the seventh catcher.
The family made the trip from Illinois to be there to see the debut of “Baby Chuck.” They had time together on the field after the game, too.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this day,” Robinson said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than to be out there playing the game in front of my Grandpa, my Dad, my family. It was awesome.”
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