David Robertson (baseball)'s Success and Achievements in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: August 18, 2025

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of David Robertson (baseball).

David Robertson, nicknamed "D-Rob", is a professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. Throughout his MLB career, he has pitched for several prominent teams, including the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers. He is known for his effectiveness as a reliever and closer, making him a valuable asset to any team's bullpen.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1996: Mariano Rivera's 100 Strikeout Season

In 1996, Mariano Rivera had 100 strikeouts in a single season.

2005: Freshman Year at Alabama

In 2005, as a freshman at the University of Alabama, David Robertson appeared in 32 games, compiling a 7–5 record with eight saves and a 2.92 ERA. He set a single-season rookie record with 105 strikeouts and earned several Freshman All-American honors.

2006: SEC Championship and Cape Cod League MVP

In 2006, David Robertson helped lead the Crimson Tide to their 25th SEC Championship. In the same year, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and was named the most valuable player of the playoffs.

2007: Minor League Season

In 2007, David Robertson pitched for multiple teams, including the Charleston RiverDogs, Tampa Yankees, and Trenton Thunder. He combined for an 8-3 record, four saves, and a 0.96 ERA, striking out 114 batters in 84+1⁄3 innings. He was also a mid-season South Atlantic League All Star.

2008: Success in Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

In 2008, David Robertson pitched for Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, achieving a 4-0 record with three saves and a 1.68 ERA. He struck out 77 batters in 53+2⁄3 innings and was named the International League's "Best Reliever" by Baseball America.

2009: World Series Champion

In 2009, David Robertson was a member of the New York Yankees team that won the World Series.

2009: Postseason success and World Series win

In the 2009 playoffs, David Robertson entered two games in high-pressure situations and did not allow any runs to score, earning the win in both games. The Yankees won the 2009 World Series.

2011: Breakout Season

David Robertson had a breakout season in 2011, finishing with a 4–0 record, one save, 34 holds, a league-leading 1.08 ERA, and a 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings ratio. He led MLB with an adjusted ERA+ of 410 and recorded 100 strikeouts, becoming the first Yankee reliever since Mariano Rivera in 1996 to reach that mark. He also received votes for the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards and won the This Year in Baseball Setup Man of the Year Award.

2011: High Socks for Hope Foundation

In 2011, David Robertson and his wife started "High Socks for Hope", a charitable foundation, to aid victims of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado strikes. David Robertson agreed to donate $100 for every strikeout he recorded in the season and was nominated for the 2011 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award for his efforts.

2011: Exceptional Performance with Bases Loaded

In 2011, David Robertson demonstrated exceptional performance in critical late-inning situations, striking out 14 of the 19 hitters he faced with the bases loaded and allowing only one hit. This earned him the nickname "Houdini".

2011: MLB All-Star

In 2011, David Robertson was named an MLB All-Star.

2011: Eighth Inning Setup Role and All-Star Selection

In 2011, due to injuries to other pitchers, David Robertson assumed the eighth-inning setup role for the Yankees and was named to the 2011 American League All-Star roster, replacing David Price.

2017: World Baseball Classic Gold Medal

In 2017, David Robertson pitched for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, winning a gold medal.

2018: Lifetime Stats and Thurman Munson Award

In 2018, after an 11-year career, David Robertson held a 2.88 ERA with 137 saves in 654 games pitched, ranking 10th among active players, and had an average of 11.97 strikeouts per nine innings. In 2018, he also received the Thurman Munson Award.

2022: Phillies Advance to World Series

In 2022, David Robertson played for both the Cubs and Phillies, achieving a 4-3 record with 20 saves and a 2.40 ERA. His 731 career games played were 8th-most of all active pitchers. The Phillies advanced to the 2022 World Series, where Robertson earned a save in Game 1, but the Phillies lost to the Houston Astros in six games.