Books and articles about Brooks Robinson

Setting the standard by which all who followed him are judged, Robinson played third base with style, class, and an uncanny ability to turn in spectacular plays with startling regularity for 23 seasons. In 16 of those seasons, he was the Gold Glove award winner. For 15 straight seasons, he was the American League's starting All-Star third baseman. He led AL third basemen in assists 8 times and in fielding 11 times. He holds almost every lifetime record for third baseman by a wide margin: most games (2,870), best fielding percentage (.971), most putouts (2,697), most assists (6,205), most chances (9,165), and most double plays (618). After he almost singlehandedly won the 1970 World Series for the Orioles, Reds manager Sparky Anderson quipped: "I'm beginning to see Brooks in my sleep. If I dropped this paper plate, he'd pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first." Robinson is also one of the kindest, gentlest, and most generous ballplayers ever to make a diving stop.

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RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » "[Brooks] was a very intelligent player": Cal Ripken, Sr. » Jon Miller on Brooks' one regret Greatest Teams » Greatest Teams: 1970 Orioles » 1969 Orioles Submissions » Major League Leaders Who Weren't: 1961's Unbalanced Schedule by Fred Worth Ask The Experts » What were the rosters for Game Four of the 1971 World Series? Around the Web » Humility is one reason Brooks Robinson won't celebrate 50 years since his O's debut; his cool relationship with the club is another. from sunspot.net » Maddux wins NL-record 15th Gold Glove from suntimes.com » Maddux wins 15th Gold Glove from chicagosports.com » Brooks Robinson from baseball-reference.com » Brooks Robinson from thebaseballpage.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Robinson didn't play high school ball, and was playing second base in a church league when he was discovered. He worked in slowly as a replacement for Hall of Famer George Kell, who was finishing his career at third base for the Orioles. The Oriole dynasty that developed in the 1960s was built on pitching and defense, but Brooks was head and shoulders above all his smooth-fielding teammates. Wearing his trademark short-billed batting helmet, he was a fair hitter with some power, winning the 1964 MVP award on the strength of his only .300 season (.317), with 28 HR and 118 RBI. He was named MVP of the 1966 All-Star Game after getting three hits and scoring the AL's lone run in a 2-1 loss.

But it was his glove that regularly won games. In the 1966 World Series, his presence at third discouraged the heavily favored Dodgers from employing their bunting game. The Orioles won four straight close games. In the 1970 Series, the Reds nicknamed him "Hoover," expanding upon the "human vacuum cleaner" tag he had been known by. After Robinson won the Series MVP award with a .429 average, two home runs, and a slew of dazzling defensive plays, Reds catcher Johnny Bench noted that "if he wanted a car that badly, we'd have given him one." On one unbelievable play, Brooks fully extended to backhand a sharp grounder by Lee May behind third and a full body length into foul territory, whirled off-balance, and threw a perfect one-hopper off the Riverfront Stadium Astroturf to Boog Powell at first for the out. He won Game One with a seventh-inning solo homer, and homered again in Game Four.

Robinson also holds the dubious distinction of playing on the most All-Star losers, 15 in all, including both 1960 games. Toward the end of his career, his finances were in rough shape. Some naive business deals had gone sour, and he was heavily in debt. The Orioles kept him on, without asking, for two seasons more than Robinson would have realistically played. The balding and slightly paunchy veteran never complained about his problems, and ultimately solved them with the help of a new career as a popular Orioles broadcaster. A classy legend in his own time, Robinson's Hall of Fame induction in 1983 drew one of the largest Cooperstown crowds ever. (SEW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 17, 1955: Future Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson goes 2-4 in his first game as the O's top the Senators 3-1. » May 21, 1956: The White Sox send 3B George Kell, OF Bob Nieman, and pitchers Mike Fornieles and Connie Johnson to the Orioles for P Jim Wilson and OF Dave Philley. Kell will play solid 3B until Brooks Robinson is ready, while Johnson will lead the Birds' starters in wins in 1957. » June 2, 1958: Brooks Robinson, in a 2–1 Orioles loss to the Washington Senators, hits into the first triple play of a record four of his career. The Birds also lose hot-hitting Bob Nieman who, while standing on 3B, is hit by a line drive off the bat of Bob Boyd. It will slow him for two months. » July 9, 1959: Two 20-year-old Baby Birds—Milt Pappas and Jerry Walker—shut out the Senators 8–0 and 5–0. The Orioles recall young Brooks Robinson from the minors. » July 15, 1960: Brooks Robinson goes 5-for-5, hitting for the cycle, to lead the Orioles to a 5–2 win over the White Sox. With three hits yesterday, Robinson has eight straight hits. His 9th inning triple off reliever Turk Lown, seals the win for Milt Pappas over starter Billy Pierce. » September 20, 1960: Boston OF Carroll Hardy pinch-hits for Ted Williams, who is forced to leave the game after fouling a ball off his ankle and grounds into a DP. It is the only time Williams has been pinch hit for; Hardy also pinch hit for Roger Maris when both were at Cleveland. The Orioles win 5–4 when Brooks Robinson pulls away from a pitch and accidentally bloops an RBI single in the 8th. » May 6, 1962: Lee Thomas has five hits to lead a 19-hit attack by the Angels as they beat the Orioles, 15–7, to sweep the 3-game series. Brooks Robinson hits a grand slam to tie the game at 7–7 in the 5th. » May 9, 1962: Brooks Robinson becomes the 6th major leaguer this century to hit grand slams in back-to-back games, as he hits one against Kansas City's Ed Rakow. Baltimore wins 6–3 at home. Brooks hit a grand slam on the 6th. » August 26, 1962: Robin Roberts, discarded earlier in the year by the Yankees, beats Whitey Ford 2–1 on home runs by Brooks Robinson and Jim Gentile to complete a 5-game Oriole sweep of the sagging Yankees. The Twins and Angels are now three games behind New York. » June 5, 1963: Mickey Mantle fractures a bone in his left foot and suffers ligament and cartilage damage to the left knee running into the chain link fence at Baltimore chasing down a Brooks Robinson drive. The Mick will be out for 61 games. Whitey Ford beats Milt Pappas 4–3, as the Yankees return to first place. » August 10, 1963: Benched for poor hitting, Brooks Robinson's streak of 463 straight games at third is stopped. Brooks pinch hits in the 8th inning, however, as the Senators edge the Orioles 6–5. Boog Powell smashes three homers in a losing cause. » October 1, 1963: The season ends, and there are no full-schedule players in the American League for the first time since 1910. Brooks Robinson played in the most games, 161, missing only 1. Ron Santo, Vada Pinson, and Bill White play the full schedule in the National League. » August 2, 1964: In Baltimore's 8–7 win over Kansas City, Brooks Robinson hits a ball that strikes the LF pole at KC and it is ruled in play by John Rice. Brooks is thrown out at 3B. Later Rice admits he made a mistake. » September 10, 1964: Baltimore tops the Senators 12–5, despite Brooks Robinson hitting into his 2nd triple play. Brooks will hit into a record four TPs by the time he hangs up his glove. » November 18, 1964: Baltimore 3B Brooks Robinson is voted American League MVP, outpolling Mickey Mantle 269 to 171. » August 10, 1965: In the 2nd of two at Fenway, the O's Brooks Robinson hits a ball that appears to hit the net above the Green Monster, but is ruled in play by Lou DiMuro. Robinson reaches third with a triple, and then adds a homer in the 7th. Brooks lost another homer last year. The O's win 12–4 after losing the opener, 15–5. » August 18, 1965: In a 3–2 Orioles' win over the Red Sox, Brooks Robinson hits into his 3rd triple play, tying the record of George Sisler, who banged into triple plays in 1921, 1922, and 1926. » September 10, 1965: The Orioles sweep a pair from Kansas City, 5–2 and 10–5. In game 2, the O's get consecutive home runs by in 8th from Brooks Robinson, Curt Blefary, and Adair. » April 12, 1966: In his first American League at bat, Frank Robinson is hit by a pitch from Boston's Earl Wilson. Brooks Robinson then follows with a homer. Frank will later add a homer as the visiting O's win in 13 innings, 5–4, on a walk by Jim Lonborg. » July 12, 1966: St. Louis hosts a hot midsummer All-Star classic. Maury Wills' 10th-inning single scores Tim McCarver, as the National League wins 2–1 in 105-degree heat. Brooks Robinson's stellar game (3 hits, eight chances) earns him the game MVP. Asked about the new ball park, Casey Stengel remarks, "it holds the heat well." On field temperature is 113 degrees. » September 22, 1966: The Orioles beat the host Kansas City A's 6–1 to clinch their first American League pennant. Both Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson have two RBI. Frank Robinson will end the year as the Triple Crown winner, the first to achieve the feat since Mickey Mantle in 1956. He clinches with a batting average of .316, 49 home runs, and 122 RBI. » October 5, 1966: With first-inning home runs by Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson and 11 strikeouts from relief P Moe Drabowsky, the Orioles win Game One of the World Series 5–2. » November 8, 1966: Frank Robinson of the Orioles is the unanimous choice as American League MVP. He is the first player to win the award in both leagues. Teammates Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell follow in the voting. » May 17, 1967: The Orioles become the 8th club in American League history with four or more home runs in one inning when Andy Etchebarren, Sam Bowens, Boog Powell, and Dave Johnson connect in a 9-run 7th. Also homering for Baltimore is Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair, the only time seven teammates have each homered. Those home runs make the difference in a 12–8 Baltimore win over the Red Sox. Boston's Carl Yastrzemski hits two homers, one coming in the bottom of the 7th; the total of five in one inning equals the ML record. Rounding out the round trippers is Don Demeter for Boston. » July 12, 1967: Reds 3B Tony Perez ends the longest All-Star Game (15 innings, three hours and 41 minutes) with a home run off Catfish Hunter. home runs by National League 3B Richie Allen and American League 3B Brooks Robinson account for the other runs in a 2–1 NL triumph. » August 6, 1967: Against Chicago, Brooks Robinson of the Orioles hits into the 4th triple play of his career for a ML mark. It happens in the 5th inning going Boyer (3B) to Buford (2B) to McCraw (1B). » September 23, 1967: The White Sox move to a half game out of 1st place on the strength of Joel Horlen's 3–hitter, an 8–0 whitewash of Cleveland. The Red Sox are in 3rd place, also a half game out, after dropping a 7–5 decision to Baltimore. Yaz's 42nd home run had given the Red Sox a 5–4 lead, but a Brooks Robinson home run in the 8th inning won it for the O's. » April 27, 1968: Tom Phoebus, the Orioles' top pitcher last year, throws a 6–0 no-hitter against the Red Sox. Brooks Robinson drives in three runs and makes a great stab to rob Rico Petrocelli of a hit in the 8th. Converted OF Curt Blefary catches the game. » August 25, 1968: After five hours: 27 minutes, the Orioles defeat the Red Sox, 3–2, in 18 innings when Brooks Robinson drives in Boog Powell. Roger Nelson pitches the last seven innings for the win over Stephenson. » April 16, 1969: The Orioles take first place in the American League East with an 11–8 win at Boston, in a game stopped in the last half of the 8th because of rain. Baltimore will remain in 1st place the rest of the season. Billy Conigliaro, playing in place of his brother, smashes a pair of homers for his first ML hits, but Don Buford, Paul Blair and Brooks Robinson answer for the O's. » August 30, 1969: Merv Rettenmund drives in three runs to lead the Orioles to a 6–3 win over the Angels. The O's score their last run on a single by Brooks Robinson in the 7th and three consecutive passed balls by Jose Azcue which ties the American League record for catchers. He is the first backstop on the 20th-C list not to be catching Hoyt Wilhelm, though Wilhelm comes in to relief Vern Geishert in the 8th. » September 4, 1969: Down 4–1 in the 9th against the Tigers in Detroit, Baltimore gets consecutive home runs from Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, and Brooks Robinson off Earl Wilson to tie. Tom Timmermann then gives up the winning run on a double, sac fly, and Baltimore chop as the O's win, 5–4. » October 15, 1969: A memorable World Series game pits Tom Seaver against Mike Cuellar. RF Ron Swoboda's questionable dive at Brooks Robinson's sinking liner with runners at 1B and 3B in the 9th inning results in a brilliant catch, even though Frank Robinson tags and scores the tying run. In the 10th, Mets pinch-hitter J.C. Martin, running illegally inside the 1B line after a bunt, is hit on the wrist by P Pete Richert's errant throw, enabling pinch runner Rod Gaspar to score from second as the Mets win 2–1. The game is enlivened by Earl Weaver getting thrown out after protesting ball and strike calls by Shag Crawford. Earl is the 3rd manager to leave early in a World Series, but the first since 1935. » June 20, 1970: Brooks Robinson's 2,000th ML hit is a big one—a 3-run homer off Washington's Joe Coleman in the 5th inning. The drive snaps a 2–2 tie, and the Orioles hang on for a 5–4 victory. » July 7, 1970: Brooks Robinson cracks a 10th inning grand slam off New York's Lindy McDaniel to give the Orioles a 6–2 win. » October 10, 1970: Baltimore overcomes a 3–0 deficit to beat the Reds 4–3 in the World Series opener at Riverfront Stadium as Boog Powell, Ellie Hendricks, and Brooks Robinson contribute home runs to the winning effort. The Jackson Five sing the National Anthem. » October 13, 1970: The Orioles win their 3rd straight over the Reds 9–3, with winning pitcher Dave McNally slugging a grand slam off Wayne Granger, the only one by a pitcher in World Series history. Frank Robinson and Don Buford also contribute homers, and 3B Brooks Robinson continues his excellence with the glove, as he makes two spectacular grabs in the field. » October 14, 1970: After Casey Stengel throws out the first pitch, Lee May's 8th-inning 3-run homer gives the Reds their first Series win 6–5. RF Pete Rose throws out Brooks Robinson at the plate and homers in the 5th. The loss ends the Orioles' 17-game winning streak which started at the end of the regular season. » October 15, 1970: For the 3rd time the Orioles overcome a 3–0 deficit to bury the Reds 9–3 and win the World Championship four games to one. Frank Robinson and Merv Rettenmund each homer and drive in two runs. Brooks Robinson, the "human vacuum cleaner," easily wins the World Series MVP award. » October 4, 1971: Baltimore wins its 2nd straight game in the ALCS, beating Oakland 5–1 on home runs by Boog Powell (2), Brooks Robinson, and Ellie Hendricks. Four of Baltimore's seven hits against Catfish Hunter are homers. » October 11, 1971: Brooks Robinson ties a Series record by reaching base five straight times on three hits and two walks as Baltimore rolls over Pittsburgh 11–3 to take a 2-0 Series advantage. » October 16, 1971: Brooks Robinson drives in Frank Robinson in the 10th inning to give Baltimore a Series-tying 3–2 win. » April 16, 1972: With a rainout yesterday, the Orioles and Yankees decide to open the season in Baltimore with a doubleheader. But rain wipes out the nitecap and the O's win the rain-shortened opener before just 11,995 fans, 3–1. There is one out in the bottom of the 7th when the game is called. The O's score an unearned run in the 2nd and Brooks Robinson knocks in two more to back Pat Dobson's pitching. After a long rain delay, Doyle Alexander pitched the 7th for the O's. » July 29, 1972: Brooks Robinson hits a 2-out home run in the 11th to give Baltimore a 4–3 win over the Indians. Frank Duffy hits his 1st ML home run for the Tribe and John Lowenstein hit a home run in the 9th to briefly give the Indians the lead. » April 6, 1973: At Baltimore, Dave McNally fires a three-hitter as the Orioles roll over the Brewers, 10–0. Don Baylor has three doubles, a homer, and four RBIs, while Brooks Robinson bangs two homers for four RBIs. » June 15, 1974: Baltimore beats the White Sox, 4–3, in 11 innings. Don Baylor enters the game in the 9th as a pinch runner and makes the record books with a steal and twice getting caught stealing, thanks to misplays by the Sox. Bobby Grich opens with a single and Tommy Davis singles him to 3B. Davis is then picked off, but an error by Dick Allen at 1B allows both runners to move up. After an out, Ellie Hendricks singles Davis home and Baylor pinch runs. Baylor gets caught stealing second but 2B Ron Santo drops the throw from Ed Herrmann. Baylor then swipes 3B and, following a intentional walk to Brooks Robinson, he is caught stealing home, Herrmann unassisted. Andy Etchebarren strikes out to end the unique frame. Baylor's mark is a ML record, but will be matched four times in the National League between 1987 and 1992. » October 5, 1974: The Orioles beat the A's 6–3 in the American League opener as Paul Blair, Bobby Grich, and Brooks Robinson blast homers. » November 29, 1975: Two Orioles standouts, with a combined total of 24 Gold Glove Awards, are each honored for the last time. Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair are the two making swan songs on TSN fielding team, while outfielders Garry Maddox and Fred Lynn each win the award for the first time. » December 4, 1976: Aurelio Rodriguez becomes the first American League 3B since 1959 to beat out Brooks Robinson for the Gold Glove Award. Other Newcomers on TSN fielding team include 3B Mike Schmidt, OF Dwight Evans, and C Jim Sundberg, who would combine to win 24 awards. » April 19, 1977: Brooks Robinson makes his last home run a dramatic one. Pinch hitting for Larry Harlow, he hits a three run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning off Dave LaRoche to beat the Indians 6-5. Brooks will go to bat just 47 times this year, finishing his career with 268 homers. In yesterday's game against Cleveland, O's rookie Eddie Murray hits his first ML homer, off former Oriole Pat Dobson. » August 21, 1977: Rick Dempsey returns to active duty after breaking his finger, and Brooks Robinson goes on the voluntary retired list. » September 15, 1978: Phil Garner hits his 2nd grand slam in two days as the Pirates beat the Expos 6–1. Garner is the first National League player to have slams in consecutive games since Jimmy Sheckard (9/23, 24/01) and the first major leaguer since Brooks Robinson, in 1962. Garner will end the season with 12 dingers. » January 12, 1983: Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal are elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. Robinson becomes the 14th player elected in his first year of eligibility. » July 31, 1983: Brooks Robinson, Juan Marichal, George Kell, and Walter Alston are inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York, bringing the total number of inductees to 184.