BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRO-CANADIAN " CHRISTOPHER J. ROBINSON " IS A CANADIAN FORMER PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CATCHER : GOES INTO THE "HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

                    BLACK               SOCIAL             HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                           Christopher J. Robinson (born May 12, 1984) is a Canadian former professional baseball catcher. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 2003-2005.^[1] He has also competed for the Canadian national baseball team in international competition such as the 2011 Pan American Games, the 2009Baseball World Cup and the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Career

Robinson attended Lord Dorchester Secondary School, where he was named Ontario Player of the Year in 2001. The New York Metsdrafted Robinson out of high school in the 30th round (897th overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, but he did not sign, opting to enroll in college. Robinson enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he played college baseball for the Illinois Fighting Illini baseball team in the Big Ten Conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.^[2] At Illinois, Robinson was named the Big Ten Conference All-Star catcher in 2004 and 2005.

Out of Illinois, the Detroit Tigers drafted Robinson in the third round (90th overall) of the 2005 MLB Draft. He was named the Tigers' best defensive catcher. In 2006, the Tigers traded Robinson to the Chicago Cubs for Neifi Pérez.^[2]

He signed as a minor league free agent with the Texas Rangers before the 2012 season, receiving an invitation to spring training. He was released on March 30. On April 3, Robinson signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles and was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk.^[3]

Robinson started the 2013 season with Norfolk. He was traded to the San Diego Padres on June 20, and assigned to the Triple-A Tucson Padres.^[4] On August 15, 2013, Robinson had his contract selected by the Padres to replace Nick Hundley who had been placed on the paternity list.^[5] Robinson was optioned back to Tucson on August 17 when Hundley returned. He was recalled on September 1 when rosters expanded.^[6] On September 25, Robinson hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the eight inning to record both his first major league hit and home run.^[7] He was designated for assignment on September 30.^[8]

International career

Robinson has also competed for the Canadian national baseball team. Robinson played in the 2002 World Junior Baseball Championship, the 2003 Baseball World Cup, the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the 2009 Baseball World Cup, and the 2011 Pan American Games.