Multi-sport athlete being inducted into IU Hall of Fame

While at IU during the 1940s and ‘50s, Bobby Robertson excelled both on the football field and the baseball diamond, and his impact on IU Athletics earned him a spot in this year’s IU Hall of Fame class.

Because he passed away in the early 2000s, Robertson’s friend and former Herald Times sportswriter Bob Hammel will accept the award on his behalf.

Hammel said that he remembers his old friend as a fantastic athlete, excelling at several sports both in high school and college.

“He had exceptional skills at football and baseball and even played basketball, as well, at Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana,” Hammel said.

Robertson grew up in South Bend, wanting to play football for Notre Dame, one of the top football programs in the country at the time.

Robertson played halfback at South Bend Washington High School, and though he was talented enough to play at the Division-I level, Fighting Irish Head Coach Frank Leahy didn’t offer Robertson a scholarship.

Instead, Robertson accepted a scholarship from IU.

As a Hoosier, Robertson was awarded a letter in three of the four years he played: 1949, 1950 and 1952.

In 1949 and 1950, Robertson led the Hoosiers in rushing, scoring and punting.
Hammel said Robertson did so well because he was a smaller halfback who was quick and had great moves.

Robertson’s biggest accomplishment, Hammel said, was defeating the No. 11 Fighting Irish and setting an IU record with 185 rushing yards in the victory.

“Bobby was the star of that game,” Hammel said.

But after Robertson’s junior year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War from 1952-1953.

When Robertson came back from the war, he decided to play baseball for the Hoosiers with one year left of eligibility.

In 1954, Robertson led the conference with a .438 batting average and was named to the All-Big Ten team.

The next year, Robertson was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, but he spent only three seasons in their minor league system due to deteriorating eyesight from diabetes, which ended his career.

Hammel will accept his honor Friday at a Hall of Fame dinner and talk about how important Robertson was to IU Athletics.

“I always felt he should be in this Hall of Fame, and I’m glad they got around to doing it,” Hammel said. “I’m really happy that I get to be the one speaking about him.”