Earlier today, former Yankees reliever David Robertson took to his social media platforms to officially announce his retirement from baseball. At 40 years old entering what would have been his age-41 season, this news hardly comes as a surprise, especially considering how the past few years went for the former Olympian. Still though, for anyone that’s familiar with me, this news is devastating.

Robertson was first drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Draft and worked his way through the minors before eventually making his MLB debut in 2008. The next year wass when he truly made his mark, as during that playoff run, he pitched out of a bases-loaded-nobody-out jam in the 11th inning of the ALDS Game 2 against the Twins. I remember telling someone then “this guy’s going to be good.” And my love affair had begun.

From that playoff run onward, I was D-Rob’s No. 1 fan and maintain that title to this day. His best season came two years later in 2011 when he finished with a 1.08 ERA across 70 appearances, earned his only All-Star nod, and received down-ballot Cy Young and MVP votes. He was the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer ever, and he served that role well for one year before the 2014-15 offesason, when Brian Cashman ruined my life. He finished his first stint with the Yankees with a 2.81 ERA across 402 games, and then joined the White Sox in his first dalliance with free agency.

D-Rob spent two and a half seasons on the South Side before Brian Cashman made attempted to make amends with me personally and brought him back alongside third baseman Todd Frazier and bullpenmate Tommy Kahnle for the 2017 playoff push and run. That postseason we saw something truly remarkable out of Robertson when he came in and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings as the Yankees clawed their way back to steal victory out of Luis Severino’s hands in the one-and-done Wild Card game. His second stint in the Bronx ended after the 2018 campaign when Brian Cashman once again ruined my life; he signed with the Phillies in free agency.

D-Rob’s initial foray in Philadelphia would also be quickly forgotten, as injury forced his two-year deal down to just seven games in 2019 before he was shut down due to Tommy John surgery and unable to return to the mound until 2021, missing the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign completely. However, he had an opportunity to suit up for Team USA at the Olympics, where he appeared in three games and helped Team USA earn a silver medla after losing to Japan in the finals.

The Olympics stint and overall resume was enough to earn D-Rob a flyer from the Rays to help bolster their bullpen for their own playoff push and run. Unfortunately, that Rays stint did not go great for him, but he was able to secure a free agent contract for his second stint in the city of Chicago, just this time he’d pitch for the Cubs. They eventually traded him to the Phillies for his second stint there, and he got to return to the World Series for the first time since facing Philly with New York in 2009. D-Rob saved the Game 1 win in Houston and threw scoreless ball across four appearances, but the Astros won it in six. From 2023 onward, he bounced around to the Mets, Marlins, and Rangers until ultimately signing a midseason contract with the Phillies in 2025, which we now know would end up being his final season as a major leaguer.

The tail end of D-Rob’s career might soil some memories of him for some, but he really should be remembered fondly for a truly impressive career. It’s not often that someone gets drafted with the pedigree of a reliever and actually makes it to have a 15-year career. Not only that, but he’s a World Series champion, a World Baseball Classic gold medalist, and an Olympic silver medalist. He finishes his career with a 2.93 ERA, an ERA+ of 143, 179 saves, and 1,176 strikeouts across 881 games. He’s not going to be a Hall of Famer (though he’d have my vote….which is only partially why I don’t have a vote), but he’s the pinnacle of what a truly good and stable relief pitcher should be.

Sure, there were some bumps, but overall more good than bad and again a 15-year career as solely a relief pitcher is something truly remarkable in my books. That’s the most volatile position in the game and for him to have done that for as long as he did should be remembered fondly. I wrote his entry into PSA’s Top 100 Yankees series as well, and every year I’d show back up to plead my case to Brian Cashman to either sign him in free agency or trade for him at the deadline. This is why, even though I don’t show up often around here anymore, I jumped at the chance to write his retirement post. He helped me fall in love with the game when I was just getting into it, and he’s why relief pitchers are my favorite players and why I’ve been obsessed with them.

Thank you, D-Rob, for letting this one baseball fan fall in love with you. I’ll cherish the memories of wearing my socks high during those playoff runs you were part of, and sometimes even channeling your spirit for the ones you weren’t a part of as well. I’ll miss my annual tradition. Congratulations on an amazing career and I wish you nothing but the best in retirement and on your next venture.

I knew this day would come, but I still think back to just commenting about D-Rob in the old PSA comments section before I even joined the staff year. Age comes for us all, I guess. But today we wear our socks high with pride for this Yankee that was, and tomorrow, we hang them up even higher.