Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[roarfrom34]

I learned yesterday that former Orioles pitcher Roric Harrison passed away earlier in the week at the age of 76...

Roric pitched in 39 games for the Orioles in '72 but his true claim to fame came on October 3rd of that season when he homered in a game vs. Cleveland, thus becoming the last A.L. pitcher to hit a home run in the pre DH era.

RIP Roric

[Lucas00]

Here's a super neat original photo I got yesterday. A kid with some 1961 Topps MVP and all stars. Brooks is on top!

The photo is stamped Aug 14 1961.

"Hobby card collection"

[roarfrom34]

I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Brooks' memorial service yesterday morning at Camden Yards. It was a beautiful day to honor a truly beautiful man...(BTW for those who couldn't attend, it's available on YouTube).

RIP Brooks.

[roarfrom34]

over the past week or so I've seen quite a few neat Brooks related things on social media...

this obviously isn't mine, but saw this on Instagram yesterday & thought members here would enjoy seeing it as well:

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Brooks' memorial service yesterday morning at Camden Yards. It was a beautiful day to honor a truly beautiful man...(BTW for those who couldn't attend, it's available on YouTube).

RIP Brooks.

Glad that some of you guys were able to attend the Brooks memorial service. Of course I would have liked to as well, but was unable to make the trip. I did watch it and was a very nice gesture.

Would have liked my hero to go on forever but it’s not meant to be. I’m still saddened and don’t really like to think about Brooks’ passing. He’ll surely be missed…

[roarfrom34]

Being in town for the ALDS game, I stopped by the Babe Ruth Birthplace on Sunday as I had seen on social media they had they opened a new exhibit dedicated to Brooks the day prior...

Things that I enjoyed the most were the game used jerseys, his very first first MLB contract from 1955 that was signed by both Brooks and his father (Brooks was only 18 at the time) and the original artwork from the cover of the Orioles 1983 media guide:

[ksfarmboy]

Great display, thanks for sharing Bill!

[roarfrom34]

*sold*

[roarfrom34]

While I've owned a Ticketron example of Brooks' final career HR for quite awhile, I was finally successful in extracting an Orioles' box office stub from a friend of mine (attendance was only 4826) & yes, I did take note that the ticket holder sat in Section 5, Seat 5...



This particular game was always personally memorable to me because I lived in the Columbus, OH area at the time and listened to the game on the Indians radio network (not to mention it ended up being his final big moment)...

I've posted these before but here is the pitching chart that Scott McGregor kept that night:



Back in 2019, SABR put out a notice to their membership that they were looking for writers to compose an article/chapter about the biggest games in Orioles history for a book they were publishing, I offered to write the account for this event as well:

[roarfrom34]

Another recent acquisition was this Japanese advertising flyer from 1984 that was inserted inside
the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, promoting the upcoming exhibition series between the Orioles and various other Japanese teams (sponsored by Fuji Film).

The reverse side features Yomiuri Giants star Sadaaki Yoshimura, who had a banner year in 1984 and was one of the Central League's best players in the mid 1980s, but tailed off later in his career.

[ripfan008]

Wow Bill, great advertisement! I've never seen that one before.

[Chstrite]

Looking for the Brooks Robinson 1967/68 Coca Cola #3 ML All Star Excise Tax West Virginia. Look closely at the front and back. Front has Brooks face, #3 to left and a Star to right. On top of cap, it has an outline of WV map with a 1 at bottom. Pretty rare. Recently added to the Brooks Master Set and sadly I don’t have it…leaving me at 99.70% complete (305/306 items…I have one item at PSA for grading). I have a lot of Coca Cola Caps available to trade or happy to pay. Please dig into your collection to see if you have one and willing to sell and/or trade.

If you have one, email me at charles.strite@yahoo.com

Thanks

[roarfrom34]

today I learned that Dick Drago, who pitched in 36 games (earning three saves) with the Orioles in 1977 passed away the other day at the age of 78. Drago is probably most remembered as being the pitcher who surrendered Hank Aaron's final career home run (#755) the season prior:

[roarfrom34]

Leo Burke, a Hagerstown, MD native who played in a dozen games for the Orioles in the late 1950's passed away in October at the age of 89:

[roarfrom34]

been a difficult month or so for reporting on the passing of former Oriole players....

was recently confirmed that outfielder Joe Gaines, who played in 82 games for the Orioles in 1963-64 passed away back on May 30th of this year at the age of 86.

[roarfrom34]

n the past couple of months I've acquired original artwork of Cal Ripken Jr. painted by Arthur K. Miller and Leon Wolf respectively:

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

n the past couple of months I've acquired original artwork of Cal Ripken Jr. painted by Arthur K. Miller and Leon Wolf respectively:

“Really NICE” art pieces Bill. What’s your favorite art piece in your collection?

[roarfrom34]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

“Really NICE” art pieces Bill. What’s your favorite art piece in your collection?

Thanks Mark....I think it would have to be the piece of Dick Perez original artwork I acquired about 10 years ago via an in person auction at the annual Ripken Aspire Gala .

[roarfrom34]

just a heads up that Brooks is the cover subject of Beckett's latest edition of their "Vintage Collector" magazine (nice article inside about his cards & collectibles)...My subscription copy got a little beat up so I'm going to pick up a fresh copy at Barnes & Noble...

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

Thanks Mark....I think it would have to be the piece of Dick Perez original artwork I acquired about 10 years ago via an in person auction at the annual Ripken Aspire Gala .

Understand why that would be a favorite. Really like the background on this piece as well; kinda exudes the Perez vibe.

[roarfrom34]

met up with a buddy to share our annual holiday season meal as well as to trade some items & I picked up from him this Country Time Lemonade drink mix from '93 which shows Brooks on the box & promotes the card set they put out in conjunction with it...