Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[David W]

You have some very nice progressive proofs.

[BaltOrioles]

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Baltimore Orioles of the late 1960's and 1970's were one of the most successful franchises in baseball, being in playoff contention every year. However, if I described a team, over an 11 year period, as having a .582 winning percentage, 8 First Place finishes, 2 Second Place finishes and 1 Third Place finish, 10 Playoff Appearances with 5 League Championships, you would probably assume I talking about the hated Yankees from their hey day.

I'm actually talking about an Orioles farm team. From 1966-1981, Miami was the Orioles class A affiliate in the Florida State League. From 1966-1970, they were known as the Miami Marlins. in 1971, they were renamed the Miami Orioles. A number of future Orioles played in Miami, over the years, including Jim Palmer, Don Baylor, Eddie Murray, Mike Flanagan, Dennis Martinez, Cal Ripken Jr and John Shelby, to name a few.

Here's what the Marlins/Orioles accomplished during an 11 year run.

Combined record

1968–1978 (879-629) (.582)

Yearly records

1968 (87-55) 1st Lost in Championship Series
1969 (80-52) 1st Florida State League Champions
1970 (88-45) 1st Florida State League Champions
1971 (94-47) 1st Florida State League Champions
1972 (73-57) 1st Florida State League Champions
1973 (77-64) 2nd Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1974 (74-58) 3rd Missed Playoffs
1975 (79-57) 1st Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1976 (79-63) 1st Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1977 (72-66) 2nd Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs
1978 (76-65) 1st Florida State League Champions


Here are all the Miami programs from that incredible run. On a side note, the programs, from 1971-1978, parallel the Orioles spring training programs.

Miami Marlins / Orioles programs from 1968-1978

1968 Miami Marlins - Copy.jpg 1969 Miami Marlins (40 pgs) - Copy.jpg

1970 Miami Marlins - Copy.jpg 1971 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg

1972 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg 1973 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg

1974 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg 1975 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg

1976 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg 1977 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg

1978 Miami Orioles - Copy.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Mark...awesome Test discs (they look just fine)...

Some of you may remember at Memorial Stadium the "Hit & Run Club" which was a bar/restaurant located near the front entrance...

From Cal's rookie season of 1982, here is a placemat from the restaurant signed by most of the team:

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by David W

You have some very nice progressive proofs.

Thanks David. I'm trying to find more blank backs as well. I see you have quite a number of Brock examples.

[mrmopar]

Always thought these were neat, but too expensive. The value is always there is the metals, I suppose. I have a different Brooks, also signed, that may be platinum. I'd have to try to dig it out, as I don't recall.

[Mark70Z]

Day 332 (November 27, 2020 – 332)

I may as well follow up the 1967 Test Discs with two 1968 Topps Test Discs. The Brooks disc for 1968, as you can see, have Brooks’ photo reversed, but is the same setup as the 1967. Also, the one full color disc proof has a white background rather than the silver foil. To date I’ve only seen the white background proofs associated the ’68 discs and not the ’67’s.

1968 Topps Test Discs

Day 332 a 1968 Topps Test Disc a.jpg
Day 332 b 1968 Topps Test Disc b.jpg

[BaltOrioles]

Over the years, it's been popular for sporting goods companies to attach cards of players to their gloves at the retail level. I call them cards, but they are sometimes referred to as glove tags.

I'm curious if anyone has found any additional Orioles to the ones I've picked up. I've got Mike Flanagan and Eddie Murray from Wilson Sporting Goods, plus a Rawlings Sporting Goods tag of Cal Ripken Jr. My best guess is that the Flanagan is from 1982, Murray around 1985 and Ripken about 1996.

Additions to the list appreciated.

Orioles Glove Tag Cards

1982 Wilson Sporting Goods.jpg 1985 Wilson Sporting Goods.jpg 1996 Rawlings Sporting Goods.jpg


As an added bonus, Brooks Robinson appeared on a couple of Rawlings Sporting Goods cards in the 1960's, but I don't consider them part of the glove tag category. The first one was cut off the glove box.

1964 Rawlings Sporting Goods.JPG

robinsonrawlings1.jpg robinsonrawlings2.jpg

[roarfrom34]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

Over the years, it's been popular for sporting goods companies to attach cards of players to their gloves at the retail level. I call them cards, but they are sometimes referred to as glove tags.

I'm curious if anyone has found any additional Orioles to the ones I've picked up. I've got Mike Flanagan and Eddie Murray from Wilson Sporting Goods, plus a Rawlings Sporting Goods tag of Cal Ripken Jr. My best guess is that the Flanagan is from 1982, Murray around 1985 and Ripken about 1996.

Additions to the list appreciated.

Alan:

The tag on the left is from 1985 and the card from 1996 on the right is not a tag per se but rather included with the purchase of a Cal Jr. mini glove/ball set:

[BaltOrioles]

Thanks Bill. I appreciate the additions to the list.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by BaltOrioles

As an added bonus, Brooks Robinson appeared on a couple of Rawlings Sporting Goods cards in the 1960's, but I don't consider them part of the glove tag category. The first one was cut off the glove box.

Alan,

The Brooks Robinson Rawlings has eluded me over the years. Tell me you have another one... I know Scott (quitcrab) has an example, but i don't really know a lot about this Rawlings item.

[Mark70Z]

Day 333 (November 28, 2020 – 333)

Early Brooks photos are probably my favorites. Youthful kids basically trying to make it in the big leagues. This photo is taken by The Sunpapers Joe DiPaola, Jr. in March of 1957. Notice the back of Brooks’ jersey you can see a number 4 on the back; he was wearing #34 at the time. You don’t see many photos of Brooks in uniform where he’s not wearing good ole’ #5. This photo has made its rounds and is in rough shape with all the editorial marks and general handling damage. Pretty awesome photo in my book…

1957 Photo

Day 333 a.jpg

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

Alan,

The Brooks Robinson Rawlings has eluded me over the years. Tell me you have another one... I know Scott (quitcrab) has an example, but I don't really know a lot about this Rawlings item.

Mark,

I'm sorry to say, I don't even have the B&W Rawlings card. Wish I did. I've only seen one in auction and I was easily outbid. It might even be the one that Scott owns. I saved the photo from the auction, but don't know much about it's origin. I assume it's from 1969, based upon the stats on the back. Maybe Scott can offer more background info for us.