Results tagged “York White Roses” from York Town Square

Baseball great Brooks Robinson is seen in his York (Pa.) White Roses uniform in 1955. His statue can be seen everyday in Brooks Robinson Plaza at York's Sovereign Bank Stadium. Background posts: Brooks Robinson - and stories about his York, Pa., pro debut - enduring and York Town Square reader: 'I thought Vic Wertz had some connection to York?' and Baseball's Methuselah played for White Roses.

True or false?

Brooks Robinson broke into professional baseball in York and went to the majors and greatness after a short gig here, never to return to minor league baseball?

The answer is .... .

Brooks Robinson's statue is the key part of his namesake plaza at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The Hall-of-Fame third-basemen, who started his career at second base for the York White Roses, has fought back from a bout with cancer. Background posts: York has Brooks Robinson statue. Where's Baltimore's? and Revs will easily pass 1969's full-season attendance stats and Batter up, pass the hot dog: York relishes the Revolution.

Brooks Robinson's revelation this week that he had been diagnosed - and now cleared - of prostate cancer brings to mind two stories about when Brooksie played with the York White Roses.

Brooks, of course, started his professional career in York in 1955.

And the story has often been told about how public address announcer George Trout introduced him as "Bob" Robinson.

Although Trout soon was informed of his mistake, the two local newspapers kept up the "Bob" Robinson routine for a good two weeks... .

A Life magazine artist captured the York White Roses in this 1941 painting. This scene is probably at York's Martin-Parry field. After World War II, the York White Roses played its games at Memorial Stadium, constructed to honor those who died and served in the war. It was at Memorial Stadium that Brooks Robinson made his major league debut on June 3, 1955.

I took a swing in a York Sunday News column about the night that Brooks Robinson broke into professional baseball. That was the night that P.A. announcer George Trout got his name wrong and the newspapers had him as second baseman "Bob" Robinson for the next two weeks.

But I particularly like the anecdote from shortstop Curly Holtzapple, the other half of the double play duo with Brooks, that I included with my column: