Herk Robinson
Encyclopedia
Spencer "Herk" Robinson is a retired American
front office executive in Major League Baseball
. He served for almost a decade as general manager
of the Kansas City Royals
, from October 10, 1990, through June 17, 2000, and was an executive in the Royals' front office for almost 35 years.
Robinson attended the University of Miami
and Washington University in St. Louis
. He entered baseball with the Cincinnati Reds
in 1964 as secretary of minor league
clubs and switched to the Baltimore Orioles
after the 1968 season. In December 1969, Robinson joined the year-old Royals as assistant director of scouting and began a steady rise through the Kansas City organization, switching from baseball to business operations in 1980. After ten seasons as the Royals' top administrator, he was given the general manager role when John Schuerholz
departed for the Atlanta Braves
following the 1990 campaign
.
However, Robinson's tenure as top baseball executive in Kansas City was marked by the club's continued decline from perennial contender to also-ran in the American League West Division and, after 1993, the AL Central. The team's original owner, Ewing Kauffman
, died in 1993, and Robinson presided during a transitional period before the club was purchased by former Wal-Mart
CEO David Glass. The Royals recorded only three over-.500 seasons during that period, and lost 90 games or more three times, including in Robinson's final full season, 1999
.
After his replacement by Allard Baird
, Robinson became the team's executive vice president and chief operating officer. He retired from that position in May 2004, although he began the season still associated with the Royals as a member of the club's board of directors
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
front office executive in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He served for almost a decade as general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, from October 10, 1990, through June 17, 2000, and was an executive in the Royals' front office for almost 35 years.
Robinson attended the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. He entered baseball with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1964 as secretary of minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
clubs and switched to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
after the 1968 season. In December 1969, Robinson joined the year-old Royals as assistant director of scouting and began a steady rise through the Kansas City organization, switching from baseball to business operations in 1980. After ten seasons as the Royals' top administrator, he was given the general manager role when John Schuerholz
John Schuerholz
John Schuerholz is the President of the Atlanta Braves of the National League. Before joining Atlanta, he spent twenty-two years with the Kansas City Royals organization, including nine as the club's General Manager. Among the teams he has built are the 1985 Royals and 1995 Braves, both world...
departed for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
following the 1990 campaign
1990 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 6th in the American League West with a record of 75 wins and 86 losses.-Offseason:* December 5, 1989: Richard Dotson was signed as a free agent by the Royals....
.
However, Robinson's tenure as top baseball executive in Kansas City was marked by the club's continued decline from perennial contender to also-ran in the American League West Division and, after 1993, the AL Central. The team's original owner, Ewing Kauffman
Ewing Kauffman
Ewing Marion Kauffman was an American pharmaceutical magnate, philanthropist, and Major League Baseball owner....
, died in 1993, and Robinson presided during a transitional period before the club was purchased by former Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
CEO David Glass. The Royals recorded only three over-.500 seasons during that period, and lost 90 games or more three times, including in Robinson's final full season, 1999
1999 Kansas City Royals season
The 1999 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing 4th in the American League Central with a record of 64 wins and 97 losses.-Notable transactions:...
.
After his replacement by Allard Baird
Allard Baird
Allard Baird is the former general manager of the Kansas City Royals. He now works for the Boston Red Sox as vice president, player personnel, serving under general manager Ben Cherington...
, Robinson became the team's executive vice president and chief operating officer. He retired from that position in May 2004, although he began the season still associated with the Royals as a member of the club's board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
.