Remembering Frank Robinson, part of the worst trade in Reds team history
Source: 24/7 News
Photo: Shutterstock
Crowding the plate, fearsome and fearless, Frank Robinson hammered
his way into the Hall of Fame.
His legacy, however, was cemented that day in 1975 when he simply
stood in the dugout at old Cleveland Stadium - the first black
manager in Major League Baseball.
Robinson, the only player to earn the MVP award in both leagues and
a Triple Crown winner, died Thursday at 83. He had been in failing
health and in hospice care at his home in the Bel Air section of
Los Angeles. MLB said he was with family and friends at the time.
''Frank Robinson's resume in our game is without parallel, a
trailblazer in every sense, whose impact spanned generations,''
Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Robinson hit 586 home runs - he was fourth on the career list
behind only Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays when he retired
and now ranks 10th. An MVP with Cincinnati and Baltimore, he led
the Orioles to their first World Series championship in 1966.
''Frank Robinson and I were more than baseball buddies. We were
friends. Frank was a hard-nosed baseball player who did things on
the field that people said could never be done,'' Aaron posted on
Twitter.
''Baseball will miss a tremendous human being,'' he said.
An All-Star outfielder in 12 seasons and a first-ballot selection
to Cooperstown, Robinson also was a Rookie of the Year, a Gold
Glove outfielder and a bruising runner.
But his place in the sport's history extended far beyond the
batter's box and basepaths.
Robinson fulfilled his quest to become the first African-American
manager in the big leagues when he was hired by the Cleveland
Indians. His impact was immediate and memorable.
The Indians opened at home that year and Robinson, still active,
batted himself second as the designated hitter. In the first
inning, he homered off Doc Medich and the crowd went crazy,
cheering the whole April afternoon as Cleveland beat the Yankees.
The Reds, Orioles and Indians have retired his No. 20 and honored
him with statues at their stadiums.