BALTIMORE — Brooks Robinson, the Corridor of Fame third baseman whose skillful method and folksy model made him some of the beloved and achieved athletes in Baltimore historical past, has died. He was 86 years previous.
The Orioles introduced his demise in a joint assertion with Robinson’s household on Tuesday. The assertion didn’t say how Robinson died.
The Orioles held a second of silence earlier than their sport in opposition to the Washington Nationals, and groups lined up exterior their dugouts to pay their respects. Additionally earlier than the sport, followers gathered across the 9-foot-tall bronze statue of Robinson inside Camden Yards.
“Nice participant, nice man on the sphere, nice man off the sphere,” mentioned Orioles Corridor of Fame teammate Jim Palmer, overcome with emotion. “Respectful, good. And you do not meet a number of guys like that. Brooks was an actual particular person. There was no performing. Brooks was only a actual particular person.”
Coming of age earlier than the free agent period, Robinson spent his complete 23-year profession with the Orioles. He virtually single-handedly helped Baltimore defeat Cincinnati within the 1970 World Collection and pitched in Sport 1 of the Orioles’ 1966 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers to seize their first crown.
Robinson made 18 All-Star Video games, received 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and was named the 1964 AL Participant of the 12 months after batting .318 with 28 dwelling runs and a league-leading 118 RBI.
“He has been an integral a part of the Orioles household since 1955, and can proceed to have a long-lasting impression on our membership, our neighborhood and the game of baseball,” the crew mentioned.
He completed with 268 homers, drove in 1,357 runs and hit .267 in 2,896 profession video games. Not unhealthy for No. 5, the boy from Arkansas.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred known as Robinson “one of many greats of our nationwide pastime.”
“Brooks was among the many biggest defensive gamers to ever reside,” Manfred mentioned in a press release. “…He was a mannequin of excellence, sturdiness, loyalty and profitable baseball for the Orioles.
“I’ll all the time keep in mind Brooks as a real gentleman who represented our sport extraordinarily nicely on and off the sphere all through his life.”
Robinson will perpetually be remembered for his work ethic and the talent he displayed on the sizzling nook, the place he established himself as the most effective third basemen in baseball historical past, whether or not charging gradual balls or catching liners down the third bottom line.
“Brooks could have been the final man within the clubhouse on sport day, however he could be the primary man on the sphere,” former Orioles supervisor Earl Weaver mentioned. “He would take his floor balls, and we have been all like, ‘Why does Brooks must take any floor balls?’
“I do not count on the rest from Brooks. Seeing him work like which means a number of younger guys arising. He is been very constant, and he is fastened everybody.”
Robinson arrived in Baltimore in September 1955 as an 18-year-old after spending most of his first skilled baseball season with York’s Class B crew. He went 2-for-22 with the Orioles and struck out 10 occasions.
He competed among the many seniors and juniors till July 1959, when he remained in Baltimore for good.
“I believe he in all probability all the time knew what it meant to be within the massive leagues at 19 years previous. After which I believe if you get to the massive leagues, you get right here, it’s a must to keep right here, and it’s a must to work out the best way to get higher.” Palmer mentioned. “You need to resolve who you wish to be like. I believe for everybody who knew him, he was the perfect.”
Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. was born in Little Rock on Might 18, 1937. He finally made Baltimore his dwelling however by no means misplaced his Southern accent, which went down nicely with followers in blue-collar Baltimore, who appreciated his down-home attraction and down-to-earth demeanor. .
Nicknamed “Mr. Oriole,” he was a sporting hero in Allure Metropolis, within the pantheon with former Colts outfielder Johnny Unitas and Orioles outfielder Cal Ripken, performing for a special technology.
Many Orioles rooters who by no means received to see Robinson play have been nonetheless in a position to take pleasure in his remarks as a result of he was a part of syndicated broadcasts.
Ripken was often called “Iron Man” as a result of he performed in 2,632 consecutive video games, however Robinson wasn’t keen on sitting on the bench both. From 1960 to 1975, he performed in a minimum of 152 video games in 14 seasons and in 144 video games the opposite two years.
“I am a man who simply needed to see his title within the lineup each day,” he mentioned. “For me, baseball was a ardour to the purpose of obsession.”
Robinson retired in 1977 after batting simply .149 in 24 video games. His jersey was retired that yr.
Robinson’s most memorable MVP efficiency got here within the 1970 World Collection, when the Orioles rebounded from their beautiful defeat to the New York Mets the earlier yr and Robinson redeemed himself after batting simply 1-for-19 in that Collection. As a result of he was so sensational on the sphere throughout Baltimore’s five-game victory over the Reds, few do not forget that he batted .429 and homered twice and drove in six runs — or that he made an error in his first sport within the subject.
In Sport 1, Robinson hit the tie-breaking dwelling run within the seventh inning. One inning earlier, he made a sensational catch on a backhand drive down the road by Lee Might, spun into foul territory and in some way knocked out the runner.
Robinson contributed an RBI single in Sport 2 and perpetually turned part of World Collection lore together with his breakout efficiency in Sport 3. He made an amazing leaping catch by Tony Perez to start out a double play within the first inning; He charged a gradual curler within the second half and despatched off Tommy Helms; Then cap off the memorable afternoon with a diving catch of a liner by Johnny Bench. The collection ended, fittingly, in a tie in opposition to Robinson in Sport 5, a 9-3 Orioles victory.
“I began seeing Brooks in my sleep,” Reds supervisor Sparky Anderson mentioned through the collection. “If I drop this paper plate, he’ll decide it up in a single fell swoop and knock me out first.”
Anderson additionally mentioned, “He can throw his glove on the market and he’ll begin 10 double performs on his personal.”
Palmer and different teammates would possibly say the nation ought to see what Robinson does routinely through the common season. Robinson used to blush when requested to recall his heroics in October 1970.
“I inform folks I’ve performed 23 seasons and I’ve by no means had a five-game profitable streak like I did in that World Collection,” he mentioned. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime five-game collection for me, and it occurred to be in a World Collection.”
His legacy at Maryland continued lengthy after his retirement.
There’s a Brooks Robinson Drive in Pikesville, and the annual state highschool All-Star Sport performed at Camden Yards is known as in his honor.