David Robertson pitched in the All-Star game once, in 2011, when he went on to finish the season with a 1.08 ERA and finished 11th in the AL Cy Young Award voting. Jeff Gross / Getty Images
David Robertson, who spent 17 seasons as a reliable reliever for eight big-league teams, announced in a social media post on Friday that he is retiring.
The one-time All-Star began his career with the New York Yankees, with whom he won the 2009 World Series and apprenticed under closer Mariano Rivera. For a period in his career, Robertson would also take on closer duties, mostly during a stint with the Chicago White Sox after leaving the Yankees as a free agent.
Robertson, 40, rejoined the Yankees before stops with the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers. Even late in his career, the durable reliever always seemed to be in demand. The right-hander pitched for the Phillies last season — his third stint with the team — after joining midseason.
In 881 career appearances, he posted a 2.93 ERA and saved 179 games. His best season came with the Yankees in 2011, when he posted a 1.07 ERA in 70 games, while displaying a knack for working out of trouble with runners on. Three years later, he’d notch a career-high 39 saves for the Yankees, the first of three straight seasons of at least 30 saves. He’d also pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Robertson built a career with strong command and a fastball that played up thanks to the elite extension that he was able to harness coming off the mound — a product of his above-average flexibility.
“Saying goodbye isn’t easy,” Robertson wrote. “But I do so with deep gratitude for every opportunity, challenge and memory.”