What appeared to be a simple mystery involving a black and white photograph of a Chicago Cubs batter wearing No. 19 turned out to be much more intriguing. This photo, featured on a card from Upper Deck’s Hall of Famers set in 2001, was initially thought to depict Ernie Banks. However, closer inspection revealed that the player was someone else entirely. Through detailed analysis of the photo's background and historical context, the identity of the player and the date of the photograph were uncovered. The journey involved examining stadium features, player uniforms, and game records from the early 1960s.

Unraveling the Location and Time Period

The first clue in solving this mystery lay in the unique setting of the photograph. The distinctive fence visible in the background matched one found at the Polo Grounds in New York, specifically during the Mets' first Opening Day there in 1962. This narrowed down the time frame significantly, as the Cubs wore their particular road uniform design only between 1958 and 1968. Given that the National League did not play at the Polo Grounds from 1958 to 1961, and it closed after 1963, the photo must have been taken either in 1962 or 1963.

To pinpoint the exact date, further investigation into players who wore No. 19 during those years was necessary. Daryl Robertson and Jimmy Stewart emerged as potential candidates. By ruling out games played by other players and considering Robertson's brief major league career, it became clear that the photo depicted Robertson batting for the Cubs against the Mets at the Polo Grounds on May 16, 1962. This day game resulted in an 11-inning loss for the Cubs with a final score of 6-5. Robertson had a notable performance, contributing an RBI via a sacrifice fly in the second inning, scoring none other than Ernie Banks. The sparse crowd of 3,273 attendees aligns perfectly with the few fans visible in the photo.

The Short but Memorable Career of Daryl Robertson

Daryl Robertson's major league career was remarkably brief yet memorable. After playing just nine games for the Cubs in 1962, he never returned to the majors. His stint included starting five of those nine games, where he managed only two hits in 19 at-bats while striking out 10 times. Despite his limited time, Robertson left an indelible mark through this photograph immortalized on a baseball card intended to feature Ernie Banks.

Robertson's career took a swift turn shortly after the game at the Polo Grounds. He was sent to the Cubs' Double-A affiliate in San Antonio within days and traded to the Cardinals a couple of weeks later as part of a deal bringing Alex Grammas and Don Landrum to the Cubs. Sadly, Robertson passed away in 2018, leaving behind this fascinating piece of baseball history. Thanks to the curiosity of Kasey Ignarski, co-author of Cubs By The Numbers, this mystery has been unraveled, revealing a lesser-known chapter in baseball lore.