The following is an informative look at Brooks Robinson's past and present.
For 23 years, from the time he first came up in the Orioles system in 1955 until he retired as a player in 1977, Brooks Robinson added a new dimension to the position he played with such skill and such flare and contributed so many priceless intangibles that gave a new meaning to Baltimore Orioles baseball.
For a quarter of a century, the Orioles had the best record in all of baseball. It was no mere coincidence that the winning tradition AND the Brooks Robinson era began at just about the same time.
His landslide election to baseball's prestigious Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1983 was a vivid illustration that Brooks Robinson is not simply a Baltimore institution. He is, in truth, respected and beloved throughout this country .... and beyond. In 1999 Brooks Robinson was named to the All Century Team - honoring the best 25 players in baseball during the 20th century!
Those of us who have lived in the Baltimore area have had a distinct advantage over the years. We have had the opportunity to see him play here for his only team and to know him better because of his active, on-going community involvement in his adopted home town where he has lived so many years with his wife Connie and their four children (Brooks David, Chris, Michael and Diana).
It was far more than his playing ability that has made Brooks Robinson stand out above the crowd. It has been said that he was the best third baseman who ever played the game - and no one here today will challenge that claim. The fact remains that Brooks is an even better human being!
After his playing days ended in 1977, Brooks joined Crown Central Petroleum Corporation as Assistant to Management to start his second career. Today, Brooks Robinson is a highly acclaimed motivational speaker. He makes numerous appearances around the country at corporate seminars and events. He also stays in close contact with the baseball community.
It has been a rare privilege to have Brooks Robinson among us - one that all of us should treasure dearly!
Brooks left us on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. His spirit will live on amongst all who knew him.
Most Hits (2,848) Most Games (2,871) Most Seasons (23) Most Seasons Leading League in Games (8) Most Seasons Leading League in Assists (8) for Third Basemen Most Double Plays (618) Most Chances (8.902) Most Putouts (2,697) Most Assists(6,205) Most Sacrifice Flies (114) Most Games in a Season (163, twice) Most Seasons Leading League in Fielding Percentage (11) Brooks played in 18 consecutive All Star games from 1960 through 1974 (including 2 each in '60, '61 & '62) and started in 11 of them. He had a .289 lifetime All Star batting average and was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 game in St. Louis.
He was elected to the starting lineup for four consecutive years by vote of fans throughout the country and in 1971, polled more votes than any other American League player.
In the 1970 World Series vs the Cincinnati Reds, Brooks was named the Most Valuable Player by acclamation. His defense was virtually flawless and he tied the record for most hits (9) in a five game series. He also contributed six RBIs, two Doubles and 2 Home Runs. It was during that series that he earned the nickname "Hoover" as in vacuum cleaner, given to him by then Cincinnati first basemen Lee May.
In all, Brooks played in five championships and four World Series for a total of 39 games. During those 39 games the Orioles won 30 for a dynasty-like winning percentage of .769. Brooks batted an impressive .303 while driving in the game-winning run a club record seven times!
Brooks won a record 16 straight Gold Gloves from 1960 through 1975 as the best third baseman in the American League. He was the American League Most Valuable Player in 1964, finished second in the voting in 1966 and third in both 1960 and 1965. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 All Star game and the 1970 World Series. He was chosen as the Most Valuable Oriole in 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1971. He and Frank Robinson were the first players elected to the new Orioles Hall of Fame in 1977.
He was the 1972 winner of what is now known as the Roberto Clemente Award, honoring the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball - both on and off the field. In 1971 he was awarded the Hickock Belt, emblematic of his selection as the national outstanding athlete of the year. In 1972 he was picked Man of the Decade by the Baltimore Advertising Club.
Brooks is one of only 189 men over the 115 year history of the major leagues to have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame - and one of only 16 to have been so honored on the first ballot (not including the five charter members chosen in the first election in 1936).
Brooks Robinson started his professional career, fresh out of Little Rock, Arkansas as a second baseman at York, PA (just 40 miles north of Baltimore) in the Piedmont League. It was his manager at York, Goerge Staller, who wisely recommended that Brooks be moved to third base.
Later that same year he made his Orioles debut under manager Paul Richards who inserted him in the lineup as a replacement for another rookie, Kal Segrist, who was scratched because of an injury. The date was September 17, 1955 and Brooks went 2 for 4 against the Washington Senators while driving in a key run in the 8th inning. From there he went on to:
Play in 2,896 games for the Orioles; seventh on the all-time list. For 15 years (1960-1974) Hit six grand slam home runs. Have eight straight hits on two occasions. Lead the American League in RBI's in 1964 with 116 with a career high 28 home runs. Hit a home run off Dodger's Don Drysdale in his first World Series at bat in 1966. Hit his 268th and last home run in dramatic fashion on April 19, 1977 against the Cleveland Indians. It was a three-run drive in the 10th inning off of Dave LaRoche that gave the Orioles a 6-5 victory.