RIP Frank Robinson

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Passed not too long ago most underrated player.

[h2oya311]

sad news...RIP Mr. Robinson!

[KMayUSA6060]

RIP.

Being an Indians fan, I know they will do well and have a season-long memorial for him.

I'd imagine the Reds, Angels, Dodgers, and Orioles will all do the same - especially the former & latter.

[ALR-bishop]

[GasHouseGang]

Here's a Nabisco card of Frank. RIP.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

RIP.

Being an Indians fan, I know they will do well and have a season-long memorial for him.

I'd imagine the Reds, Angels, Dodgers, and Orioles will all do the same - especially the former & latter.

Expos would too if they had a team. He was well loved in Montreal.

[Peter_Spaeth]

He was overshadowed by Mays, Mantle, and then Aaron, but what a great baseball player. Imagine, traded for Milt Pappas.

[doug.goodman]

In late 1981 or 1982, I was standing (hunched over my treasure, really) in the rain outside the players parking lot at Candlestick after a rained out Giants game when he drove past me, then stopped and backed up.

He rolled down his window and asked "What are you doing standing there?"

"I was hoping I could get you to sign this baseball" I told him, as I reached it into his car to avoid the wet, and pointed out that it already had Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and a few other HR hitters of note.

"This is a nice ball", he said "what if I just drive away with it?" he chuckled.

"Please don't" I said, as the rain came down a bit harder.

He smiled as he found a good spot on the ball, signed a beautiful signature, carefully handed it back to me avoiding the rain, and said "thank you, now get out of the rain".

"Thank you!", I said and headed to my car to make the 93 mile drive home.

Thank you again, Mr. Robinson.

Doug

[invest]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

In late 1981 or 1982, I was standing (hunched over my treasure, really) in the rain outside the players parking lot at Candlestick after a rained out Giants game when he drove past me, then stopped and backed up.

He rolled down his window and asked "What are you doing standing there?"

"I was hoping I could get you to sign this baseball" I told him, as I reached it into his car to avoid the wet, and pointed out that it already had Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and a few other HR hitters of note.

"This is a nice ball", he said "what if I just drive away with it?" he chuckled.

"Please don't" I said, as the rain came down a bit harder.

He smiled as he found a good spot on the ball, signed a beautiful signature, carefully handed it back to me avoiding the rain, and said "thank you, now get out of the rain".

"Thank you!", I said and headed to my car to make the 93 mile drive home.

Thank you again, Mr. Robinson.

Doug

That is a great story!! RIP Mr. Robinson

Troy

[BaltOrioles]

It seems regularly now, we lose one of my boyhood heroes. RIP Frank. Thanks for all the memories. Greatest trade in O's history. At the time, my mom asked me if Frank and Brooks were brothers. I guess in a way they were, the heart of the Orioles family.

[barrysloate]

His 1966 season was one of the most memorable of all time. Has a player ever had a better season in the first year after being traded?

[commishbob]

frankbanner.jpg

frankauto.jpg

In 1969 or 70 I went with a buddy, also an Oriole fan, to see the O's play at Yankee Stadium on a mid-week afternoon. We'd decided that we'd make a couple of banners to support our club. We set to work dividing an old bed sheet and, with orange paint and a marker, we each created a work of art. His was the number '5' for Brooks Robinson. Mine was a '20' in orange with 'RF' added on.
We missed the Orioles' batting practice session but we hung out near the third base dugout in hopes the players would see our signs when they warmed up. Then a batboy approached me and asked if I would like him to take my banner to Frank in the clubhouse and show it to him. I said 'Sure' and handed it to him not knowing if I'd see it again. Moments later here comes my banner up the dugout steps being carried by Frank Robinson himself. He asked whose it was and brought it over to me and thanked me for bringing it. He asked for my pen and signed it right in the middle on the '0'. 42 years later I still have it. It's discolored and been stained a bit along the way, the orange color had darkened to a pinkish red and the autograph has faded some. But that banner still means more to me than any piece of memorabilia I own.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by commishbob

... Moments later here comes my banner up the dugout steps being carried by Frank Robinson himself. He asked whose it was and brought it over to me and thanked me for bringing it. He asked for my pen and signed it right in the middle on the '0'. 42 years later I still have it. It's discolored and been stained a bit along the way, the orange color had darkened to a pinkish red and the autograph has faded some. But that banner still means more to me than any piece of memorabilia I own.

That is fantastic!

[Chris Counts]

That is a truly epic story Bob.

[horzverti]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

In late 1981 or 1982, I was standing (hunched over my treasure, really) in the rain outside the players parking lot at Candlestick after a rained out Giants game when he drove past me, then stopped and backed up.

He rolled down his window and asked "What are you doing standing there?"

"I was hoping I could get you to sign this baseball" I told him, as I reached it into his car to avoid the wet, and pointed out that it already had Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and a few other HR hitters of note.

"This is a nice ball", he said "what if I just drive away with it?" he chuckled.

"Please don't" I said, as the rain came down a bit harder.

He smiled as he found a good spot on the ball, signed a beautiful signature, carefully handed it back to me avoiding the rain, and said "thank you, now get out of the rain".

"Thank you!", I said and headed to my car to make the 93 mile drive home.

Thank you again, Mr. Robinson.

Doug

Great story Doug!

RIP F Robby

[Blackie]

RIP Mr Frank Robinson!!! Great ball player (very underrated) and a United States Marine!!! God bless you brother and may your family have peace. Till Valhalla brother!!!

[clydepepper]

Just yesterday, I was thinking how overlooked Frank was...even now...

I picked up a nice looking modern card - in a Topps subset titled 'Greatest Seasons'.

The front of the card shows something I'm always attracted to: A picture of Yaz at bat in '67.

I was so very disappointed when I read the back (another inept editor!).

Only off by 44 YEARS!!!


Still, the ONLY player to win MVP in BOTH Leagues!!!

Thanks Frank

67 YAZ A.jpg67 YAZ B.jpg

2001 Topps Team Legends- FRANK ROBINSON Auto.jpg

[scott6649]

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

His 1966 season was one of the most memorable of all time. Has a player ever had a better season in the first year after being traded?

ARod? Actually no it was his second NY season that was great.

[Chris Counts]

The Field of Dreams team in Heaven made a big acquisition today. Frank was always one of my heroes growing up, even though he was long gone from my beloved Redlegs by the time I discovered the game. I collect color images from old Sport and Sports Illustrated magazines, and here are a few of my favorites of Frank. The newspaper collage comes from the Cincinnati Enquirer. RIP Frank — you will be remembered as long as the game is played.

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Just yesterday, I was thinking how overlooked Frank was...even now...

I picked up a nice looking modern card - in a Topps subset titled 'Greatest Seasons'.

The front of the card shows something I'm always attracted to: A picture of Yaz at bat in '67.

I was so very disappointed when I read the back (another inept editor!).

Only off by 44 YEARS!!!


Still, the ONLY player to win MVP in BOTH Leagues!!!

Thanks Frank

Attachment 343651Attachment 343652

Attachment 343653

Actually, that statement is technically correct, as it was 45 years later that Miguel Cabrera won the triple crown in 2012.

If you consider the 45-year span from 1967-2011 (inclusive), Yaz was the only triple crown winner.

Steve

[commishbob]

Beautiful pics, Chris. Thanks for sharing them.


I have a few Sport pics of Frank from his Orioles days. I need to scan them for this thread.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

ARod? Actually no it was his second NY season that was great.

Robinson won the Triple Crown, MVP, and a World Series ring. That's a unique achievement.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

It seems regularly now, we lose one of my boyhood heroes. RIP Frank. Thanks for all the memories. Greatest trade in O's history. At the time, my mom asked me if Frank and Brooks were brothers. I guess in a way they were, the heart of the Orioles family.

http://dougwilsonbaseball.blogspot.c...and-frank.html

Outstanding piece on how Frank and Brooks, two very contrasting men not just racially, forged a friendship. America in 1966 was not exactly past its racial problems, and by all accounts the very cohesive Oriole clubhouse was probably an important factor in their success.

[Mark70Z]

Very sad day... Frank was one of my favorite players growing up.

I was nervous the first time I met Frank since I heard the stories that he could be difficult at times. I brought a 16X20 B&W picture of him in mid swing. When I took the picture out of the box to give him to sign he said, “Wow! Where did you get that picture? I’ve never seen that shot of me before.” I told him and asked if he’d like to keep it and he said, “No, just display that picture in a predomenent location; that’s just a great picture.” He said, “I hope I don’t ruin it with my autograph.“. He just kept on talking and Boog was kidding him about taking so long. He said something like, who do you think you are, Brooks! Good times!

Bob - love hearing about your positive experience. That would be a great memory to cherish.

R.I.P Frank; you were a great one...

[paul]

Truly a great one who will be sorely missed.

Barry, I think Mantle also won the Triple Crown, MVP and WS ring in a single year (1956).

[icollectDCsports]

Very underappreciated playing career, as others have said. And tremendous contributions to the game post playing career. RIP

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Steve D

Actually, that statement is technically correct, as it was 45 years later that Miguel Cabrera won the triple crown in 2012.

If you consider the 45-year span from 1967-2011 (inclusive), Yaz was the only triple crown winner.

Steve

You're right, of course...and I complain about the editors....

[ValKehl]

Franks Robinson managed the Nationals for their first 2 seasons in Washington, DC, and even had them in first place at mid season. I know you will enjoy this read by a Wash. Post columnist who says in this read: "The first time I met Robinson was in December 2004 at baseball’s winter meetings, held that year in Anaheim, Calif. We stood in a hallway, and I was nervous, the new beat writer with no baseball experience somehow tasked with covering Washington’s new major league team — a team that had a Hall of Famer at the helm."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...=.c3091c54064e

[71buc]

Below are my favorite quote and story written about Frank Robinson today. I love the Boswell quote as it sums him up perfectly. Somehow I was unaware that Frank Robinson and Bill Russell were high school teammates in basketball. That must have been one hell of an intense intimidating team.

Frank Robinson didn’t just crowd the plate; he crowded life. (Tom Boswell)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...=.16ff60a59c77

[lowpopper]

Originally Posted by scott6649

I was JUST looking at his stats and wondering why he did not
have a 76 and 77 card. These are great!

Question to All:

Why is he constantly being referred to as an underrated player?
I did not get to see him play but I always saw him as a top dog
among the greats. Growing up, if I said Frank Robinson, my father
would ALWAYS mention "Triple Crown" and "MVP in both leagues".
I think that says it all, no?

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by paul

Truly a great one who will be sorely missed.

Barry, I think Mantle also won the Triple Crown, MVP and WS ring in a single year (1956).

He did Paul, but my point was that Robinson did it in his first year after being traded, making it one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history. Poor Milt Pappas, a fine pitcher but unfortunately on the wrong side of that trade.

[baseballfan]

very sad news RIP. he'll be missed great for the game

Let's go O's

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by lowpopper

I was JUST looking at his stats and wondering why he did not
have a 76 and 77 card. These are great!

Question to All:

Why is he constantly being referred to as an underrated player?
I did not get to see him play but I always saw him as a top dog
among the greats. Growing up, if I said Frank Robinson, my father
would ALWAYS mention "Triple Crown" and "MVP in both leagues".
I think that says it all, no?

Look at the prices of his cards (other than RC and low pop 62) compared to Mantle, Mays, Aaron and Clemente and you'll see the evidence for underrated.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Franks Robinson managed the Nationals for their first 2 seasons in Washington, DC, and even had them in first place at mid season. I know you will enjoy this read by a Wash. Post columnist who says in this read: "The first time I met Robinson was in December 2004 at baseball’s winter meetings, held that year in Anaheim, Calif. We stood in a hallway, and I was nervous, the new beat writer with no baseball experience somehow tasked with covering Washington’s new major league team — a team that had a Hall of Famer at the helm."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...=.c3091c54064e

Good piece. He uses a great phrase at the end -- "the history of the game can't be told without him."

[Skatehabitat24]

Frank had an amazing career and a great series in 66.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

http://dougwilsonbaseball.blogspot.c...and-frank.html

Outstanding piece on how Frank and Brooks, two very contrasting men not just racially, forged a friendship. America in 1966 was not exactly past its racial problems, and by all accounts the very cohesive Oriole clubhouse was probably an important factor in their success.

The two are forever linked when I think about either. What great players but Frank was truly special.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

The two are forever linked when I think about either. What great players but Frank was truly special.

Great pictures and autographed to boot. Thanks for sharing these two shots. Sad days for us O’s fans.