Nate Robertson named 2004 Graduate of the Year
⋅ NBC
Just before speaking with Nate Robertson about being selected as the 2004 National Baseball Congress World Series Graduate of the year we watched him defeat the mighty New York Yankees 4-2. This came just two weeks after they roughed him up and knocked him out of the game in the second inning. “They knocked me around pretty good the first time I faced them this year,” said Robertson, “One day you’re great, the next you’re humbled.”
Humbled….Exactly what the 27 year old left handed Detroit Tiger starter has remained since winning a starting position in Detroit and experienced success during the 2004 season. “I love playing in the major leagues, but this is what I do it’s not who I am. I am blessed to be here and doing what I’m doing.”
Robertson played for the El Dorado Broncos in the 1996 and 1998 National Baseball Congress World Series. Although both are fond memories, the first memory Robertson pointed out to me was a disappointing one. “I remember being 16 years old and being asked to play for a team called the Wichita Alumni. I was excited but they wouldn’t let me play because they were concerned about my age.” That same year Barry Bonds
was selected as the NBC Graduate of the Year. “I remember looking at the program though and seeing Bonds on the cover. To be honored in the same way he was is huge.”
In the 1996 tournament Robertson lead the El Dorado Broncos to a NBC World Series Championship with a victory over the Tacoma Timbers in the championship game. He pitched five gutsy innings on only two days rest allowing only two hits. It was a huge victory for the Broncos who came back to defeat the Timbers twice in the championship series. In 1998 Robertson led the Broncos to another Championship in which Robertson went seven and one-third innings allowing five runs but striking out 11. “Both of those summers were important to me. I had tough springs at Wichita State before the 1996 summer with the Broncos and the 1998 summer with the Broncos. I still feel they helped me get here because they established me as a legitimate pitcher to watch.” Robertson is the only pitcher in the NBC World Series 70 year history to win two National Championship games.
In 1996 Robertson broke his foot during the spring season at Wichita State University. In 1998 he had elbow surgery during WSU’s spring season. “I went through a lot of adversity those two seasons as a Shocker, but the NBC helped me get back on track and not lose any ground on my goal,” said Robertson.
Robertson is a native of Wichita and went to high school at Maize High School. He then went to Wichita State before being drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1998. He made his major league debut with the Florida Marlins on September 7th, 2002 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers before the 2003 season, and ironically the morning after he married his wife Kristin who was a native of Florida. They are now both residents of Detroit, Michigan.
The Graduate of the year award is bestowed upon an athlete that participated in the National Congress World Series and is having a breakout season in the Major Leagues. After defeating the Yankees that day Robertson moved his record to 9-4 on the season. He is among the top twenty-five pitchers in the Major Leagues and is even amongst the top five in several categories.
“I am reminded all the time by the media about my statistics and how well I’m doing, but just like the Yankees showed a few weeks ago you can’t press what you’re doing and try and control too much. You have to go out and do your best when you get your chance and hope God takes care of you.”
The National Baseball Congress is proud to have Nate Robertson as the 2004 Graduate of the year.
