Frazier Robinson

Henry Frazier Robinson
(Slow, Hank)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 178 lb.
• High School Dunbar High School (Okmulgee)
• Debut 1942
• Final Game 1948
• Born May 30, 1910 in Birmingham, AL USA
• Died October 15, 1997 in Kings Mountain, NC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Frazier Robinson was a Negro League catcher for nine years. His brother Norman Robinson also played in the Negro Leagues.

Robinson played semi-pro ball during the 1930s, and was signed, along with his brother, to the Kansas City Monarchs' travelling "B" Team, then named the "Satchel Paige All-Stars", managed by Newt Joseph. Paige gave him his nickname "Slow", based upon his slowness of speech.

He debuted in the top levels of Negro League ball with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1942, signed to help replace the injured Joe Greene late in the season. When Greene returned, Robinson remained as a backup catcher but did not play in the 1942 Negro World Series. He split 1943 between the Monarchs, New York Black Yankees and Baltimore Elite Giants before joining the US Navy.

Exiting the Navy after World War II, Robinson backed up Bob Clark with Baltimore in 1946. He became a starter at age 38 in 1948 and ended his career by hitting .225 in 1950. He and his brother were again teammates in 1946-1947.

Frazier was noted for his trouble hitting the curveball.

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• Catching Dreams by Frazier Robinson and Paul Bauer, published 1997

Related Sites

• Frazier Robinson at the SABR Bio Project