Frank Robinson 1935-1919

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson passed away last week, after an amazing career. In the early 1970’s I was just starting to follow other teams besides the Braves when the Orioles were good. The tall Robinson stood out to me, with his long name and longer stirrups.

 

Here’s a list of accomplishments compiled by Larry Hayes for Horsehide Trivia, with a few of my comments added in.

 

First player to hit All-Star game home runs for both leagues - NL ASG HR = 1959 (2); AL ASG HR = 1971 [Nobody remembers Robinson’s because of Reggie Jackson’s towering blast.]

 

First player to appear in both the All-Star game the World Series for teams in both leagues - NL AS in 1956, 57, 59 (1), 59 (2), 61 (1), 61 (2), 62 (2) & 65. AL AS in 1966, 67, 69, 70, 71 & 74.

 

First player to win the Rookie of the Year Award unanimously - NL ROY 1956 (1st MVP for a Cincinnati player); AL MVP 1966

First player to win both the Rookie of the Year AND the Most Valuable Player Award unanimously - 1961 NL MVP *+ 1966 AL MVP [*Teammate Joey Jay got a single first-place MVP vote, the only thing keep his 1961 vote from being unanimous as well.)

 

Still the only player to win the MVP in each league.

 

First Reds player to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

 

First player to collect 120 RBI in a season in each leagues - NL RBI = 4 X w/120+; In AL = 122 in 1966

 

First post-expansion player-manager – in 1975 & 76 for CLE. Others include Pete Rose and Joe Torre.

 

First modern era Hall of Famer to get hit by 150 pitches (198). Since passed by HOF Craig Biggio.

 

First Manager of the Year to have won an MVP OR Rookie of the Year as a player - MOY = 1989 Later Joe Torre joined the club.

 

Has the most career home runs, having only hit 40 or more once during his career - 49 in 1966 for BAL

 

When he retired ranked 4th all-time on the career home run list - retired after 1976 season with 586 HR. Only players with more at that time were Ruth, Aaron & Mays.

 

For four straight seasons during the apexes of the career of Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey and Mickey Mantle, it was Robinson who led the majors in intentional walks.

 

His number 20 has been retired by three franchises - by CIN, BAL & CLE. Those same three franchises each have a statue of him in front of their stadiums. Two franchises have retired the numbers of Hank Aaron and Greg Maddux. Aaron has statues outside Miller Park, SunTrust Park, and Turner Field. Bob Uecker has two statues: one inside and one outside Miller Park. Those Brewers like their statues.

 

He is the only manager to manage the same franchise in two countries. Managed the Montreal Expos in Canada 2002, 2003 & 2004 then stayed with the team as it moved to Washington, DC and became the Nationals 2005 & 2006.

 

He was a high school basketball teammate of all-time NBA great Bill Russell.

 

Jim Palmer describes him as “the best player I ever saw.”

First player to cut his stirrups to make them longer. Robinson looked great in his Orioles uniform, with the vertically arched lettering on the back of his jersey. As a Red the names were placed under the numbers. But not even Robinson could make the all-red Indians uniforms look good.

 

Paul Lukas at Uni Watch posted a much better analysis.

 

Achieved what many still think impossible: He is both a giant of the game and underappreciated.    SABR Bio