Wilbur Robinson

September 3, 1943

"Moooo," he taunts the aggressive bull from the safety of the fence post and stared him down in defiance. Although his father warned his siblings and him to stay away from the bull that "had actually gored people in the past,” a young Wilbur Robinson cannot resist the temptation and thrill. He also cannot refuse his sister’s dare and persistent instigation. “Go ahead, brother,” she urges.

“Mooooo,” he repeats, still bating the animal that can quickly end his life. His siblings laughed and cheered at such bravery from a six-year-old child. His father, on the other hand, was not amused and orders the children to “go to the house and get a switch.” Mr. Robinson understood that to mean that “someone was getting a beating.”

As a child, life on Mr. Willis’ dairy farm in Cherry Hill, NJ, was more than enough to satisfy the curiosity and expel the energy of the Robinson children. While their father was busy working on the farm, the children pranced around in epic battles of cowboys and Indians. Mr. Robinson recalls a time when he was supposed to be taking a nap but, instead he sneaked out of bed and danced around his room in one of his sister’s dresses. His father did not enjoy this performance. He gave young Wilbur “one of the best whippings of [his] life.”

The family was tight-knit and the children were each other’s most beloved playmates. They did not know or understand the racial tension and division of the era.

As a pre-teen, Mr. Robinson learned the importance dedication to a goal and teamwork. He was privileged to be one of three African-American players on the local Little League baseball team. Not all competing teams welcomed African Americans on the field and he recalls having racial slurs hurled at him by unwelcoming fans from the opposing teams. Despite the deterrents, in 1955, his team won nine consecutive games to qualify for the championships and, ultimately, became the first integrated team to advance to the World Series in Williamsport, PA.

Register Now!

Beginner Bridge Classes

Saturdays, 1-3 pm, beginning February 4

Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, beginning February 7

Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, beginning March 1

Defense Bridge Class

Wednesdays, 4-6 pm, beginning February 8

In 1956, for the first time in history, Mr. Robinson's team competed in consecutive World Series Championships. The stands were filled with fans cheering for the eleven- and twelve-year-old players. “We were signing autographs just like the big guys,” he smiles in fondly recalling. Although his team was defeated by the Roswell Hondo League, Mr. Robinson admits that his participation on the team served as inspiration for future African-American athletes and credits Coach Bauer with “not only teaching us baseball skills, but how to lose with dignity.”

The Batesville area, which is a section of Cherry Hill that was largely populated by African Americans, is celebrated for producing some of the towns most accomplished competitors in sports. It was not lost on many that American culture was significantly re-charged when Jack Roosevelt Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball; starting at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Mr. Robinson attended and