Posted on 05/05/2010 3:45:06 PM PDT by MDJohnPaul
When Lee May cracked a two-bouncer inside the third-base line in game one of the 1970 World Series, Brooks Robinson’s response was nothing short of legendary.
Wheeling three paces to his right, Baltimore’s third baseman fielded the ball in foul territory, took two more steps and threw against his momentum. The throw bounced once on its way to first baseman Boog Powell and beat May.
It was one of many in a spectacular defensive performance by Robinson that helped the Orioles defeat the Cincinnati Reds in five games, as the World Series MVP lived up to his nickname of the “Human Vacuum Cleaner.”
“It’s just a reflex action more than anything else,” Robinson recalled, still downplaying his prowess.
Forty years after perhaps the best fielding display in baseball history, Robinson's hair is gray and he no longer sports a lanky physique.
He remains, however, the only non-pitcher to win 16 Gold Gloves, given in recognition of defensive play. No one ever spent more consecutive seasons with a big league club than the 23 he logged with the Orioles from 1955-77.
Equally enduring is the Hall of Famer’s character.
One of Baltimore’s favorite adopted sons, he stands out as a class act from a bygone era, one whose life seems to embody the all-American values portrayed in a Norman Rockwell painting of the third baseman signing autographs at Memorial Stadium.
“A lot of times we have a Tiger Woods who’s not really who we thought he was,” said Jim Palmer, a Hall of Famer pitcher who played with Robinson. “Well, that’s not the case with Brooks.”
As Baltimore fans reminisce about 1970, Robinson remains humble and unassuming. The 72-year-old grandfather is committed to his family and his community, his Catholic faith sustaining him in the face of health concerns.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicreview.org ...
There are likenesses of Frank Zappa at the rest areas on the interstate going into Baltimore...oh but I think he's a native son.
Hat's off to him...good to see an article about him.
I’ve met some 13 baseball Hall-of-Famers. Brooks Robinson tops them all when it comes to personable interaction.
He was a pretty good hitter too. One of the best defensive third basemen in baseball plus a humble guy.
He could be clutch...couple of good Series’ hitting in ‘70 and ‘71. Couple of years over .300 and a couple with 100+ RBI, five seasons over 20 dongs. He was pretty consistent. But he’d save the Orioles plenty of runs on the field every year.
I was fortunate enough to once work with one of his sons. The whole family is nothing but class. Terrific people.
I cancelled TV and could care less about sports anymore as the NFL, NBA and probably the MBL are pro-Obama.
I forget somebody talking a few years ago about how some players batting .220 can make crazy money. Brooks would be a superstar today with his stats.
I met Brooks when I was a little boy with other fans. He was great. He took pictures with the fans and signed autographs.
Frank Robinson on the other hand was very unpleasant and could not be bothered.
I could not imagine having people pester you all day long.
Another reason why I like Phil Mickelson. He spends hours signing autographs especially for kids. After 18 holes of golf in competition, I would not want to sign loads of autographs.
Tiger never did it until this year after the scandal.
Dave Concepcion
Tommy Helms
Tony Perez
Pete Rose
Johnny Bench
Don Gullett
You guys were awesome back then. The Big Red Machine is legendary, even in Da Burgh! I lived in Pittsburgh and had lots of cousins in Cinci. We always had a love/hate thing going between the Reds and the Pirates. Of course, that was when Roberto Clemente was still alive and playing right field for the Bucs. My favorite player was always Willie Stargell, who was also a class act.
They built Three Rivers Statium about the same time they built Riverfront. I used to go see the Pirates at Forbes field before that. Is Riverfront still standing?
Not much of a baseball fan, but I have always admired Brooks. (Iwas born in Maryland and have lived here all of my life.)
No, the city tore Riverfront Stadium down. Now we have the Great American Ballpark, which is a very stadium with grass...
You're a liar. Yea, I finally said it to your face. You seemed to know every stroke that occured at the Masters didn't you? But yet you are on record saying you hate golf and that you cancelled your TV.....as echoed above....Your clairvoyance was amazing.......
For someone who hates sports, you certainly seem to be obsessed with sticking your nose into sports threads tho don't you?
Here's a site that just might pique your interest Frantzie......Just for Frantzie
It can be watched on the Internet. The US Open runs their own feed but it can be watched on Channel Surfing. Still sad about Tiger sucking and being a disgrace?
How about 20 year old Rory McIlroy? He can drive it 353 yards without steroids or HGH. Tiger is only hitting about 295 and Phil’s drives are 320+ yards and in the fairway. Nice.
Sadly I missed the internet stream on Thursday and Friday at Quail Hollow - I heard your hero Tiger was just horrible. It would have been worth a few laughs to watch.
In 36 holes he supposedly hit 3 fairways? LOL!
I loved Willie Stargell. I can still see the way he used to swing his bat before every pitch....back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and around and around 3 times. Every pitch.
They tore down Riverfront some years ago I believe. They built Cynergy Field to replace it.
The thing I remembered most about Riverfront is when we'd drive past it on the highway, we kids would be in the back seat looking out at it and it seemed to never get any smaller. 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles...still there it was...HUGE.
In my mind, I can still see the big lighted Hudepohl sign they had on the highway near the stadium. Loved Cincy.
ping
Thanks for posted. Nice article. As a Reds fan I very much remember that 1970 World Series. Robinson was simply unbelievable in that series making plays that defied description. The MLB recently replayed the first two games from that World Series late last year.
I played many years of baseball and softball, with what must have been tens of thousands of times at bat, and I always copied Stargell's pre-pitch warmup... and not once in my life has anyone come up to me and said... "hey, that's the way Willie Stargell does it!" :( Which always shocked me. Though I don't do the three times around at the end... only once. I guess that's why.
My uncle in Cinci had 11 kids. My mother used to put me on the bus to Cincinnati in the summer to go spend a couple of weeks with them. Those were great summers, and my cousins and I always had a huge rivalry between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Of course, they called it "Pissburgh" and of course I'd remind them that their drinking water supply was down river from me. :) That was back before the Stillers were any good... but the Buckos were something special then... as was the Big Red Machine.
I really wish Pete Rose had not had his falling out with baseball, because he was my favorite Red. There was just something about Charlie Hustle that seemed old school. Something about him that proved that hard work paid off. The fact that he ran to first base when he received a walk was proof that it never hurts to work hard. Life's reward is not at the end of the journey, it's who we become along the way. He seemed to epitomize that for me when I was a kid,
Cheers!
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