Brooks Robinson
| Birthdate | 5/18/1937 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1955 |
| Year of Induction | 1983 |
| Teams | Orioles |
| Position | Third Base |
Brooks Robinson won sixteen consecutive Gold Glove Awards and is considered the greatest defensive third baseman in Major League history.
Leave a commentIn the collection:
Brooks Robinson replaced Hall of Famer George Kell as the Orioles third baseman
Brooks Robinson replaced Hall of Famer George Kell as the Orioles third baseman
In the collection is this handwritten letter from Hall of Fame third baseman George Kell with content devoted to Brooks Robinson. Kell writes of knowing of Robinson since Brooks’ teen years in their shared native state of Arkansas.
Kell goes on, “…when I came home in the winter people would tell me that they saw a kid playing American Legion Ball that was from Little Rock who would take my job some day. Well as fate would have it that’s just about what happened.” Kell was traded to the Orioles to fill in at third until Robinson was ready to take the position full time.
Kell praises Robinson, “You could talk about Brooks all day but he possessed three things you must have, he could hit, he could field – the best ever – and he was a class act. No one I know has ever said a bad word or could about Brooks.”
Kell then signed the bottom of the letter.
His World Series MVP performance featured the first two Fall Classic games played on turf
His World Series MVP performance featured the first two Fall Classic games played on turf
A nice companion piece to the previous handwritten letter from George Kell, this photo depicts and is autographed by the pair of Hall of Fame third basemen.
Though they were teammates for two years in Baltimore, Kell is shown in his more familiar Detroit Tiger uniform representing the team for which he played seven years. The shot was likely taken at an Old Timers game.
Brooks is widely considered the greatest fielder at his position. Known as “The Human Vacuum Cleaner”, Robinson starred in the 1970 World Series. In that Fall Classic he made many memorable – and seemingly impossible – defensive plays at the hot corner.
Many fans forget that the ’70 World Series was also the first to be played on artificial turf. The first two games were played at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium.
The third baseman was an 18-time All Star and winner of 16 straight Gold Glove Awards. His finest offensive season came in 1964 when he led the AL in RBI and was the league MVP.
Two years later he was the All Star MVP despite his AL club taking the loss.
Brooks maintains that his most exciting moment in the game was his first World Series in '66
Brooks maintains that his most exciting moment in the game was his first World Series in '66
Brooks Robinson earned his first World Series ring in 1966 against the Dodgers. Los Angeles boasted a pitching staff that included three Hall of Famers in their rotation. As defending champions and winner of two of the last four Fall Classics, the Dodgers knew how to win.
Don Drysdale took the hill in Game. The 6’5″ right-hander retired leadoff man Luis Aparicio then immediately fell apart. Russ Snyder drew a walk before Frank Robinson slammed a two-run homer over the left field wall.
That brought up Brooksie. The third-baseman stunned the Dodger crowd by slugging Drysdale’s 1-1 pitch out of the park. Behind the tone-setting back-to-back homers, Baltimore prevailed 5-2.
From there, Oriole pitchers threw three consecutive shutouts to finish the sweep. The title gave the Brooks and the franchise their first World Series triumph.
Here Brooks responds to a fan’s request to identify his greatest thrill. He writes, “My most exciting moment in baseball was the 1966 World Series. It was my first, a dream come true. Sincerely, Brooks Robinson”.
When former Dodger pitcher Joe Moeller looked through the collection he stumbled across this note from Brooks. Moeller remembered facing Robinson in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.
After some arm twisting, the good-natured Moeller added this to the bottom of Robinson’s note, “Jim, Brooks may be in the Hall of Fame, but when he faced me in that series, he grounded out to Gilliam. Tell him I said so! Sincerely, Joe Moeller”.
Brooks hit a Game 1 homer off of Drysdale before Moeller retired him
Brooks hit a Game 1 homer off of Drysdale before Moeller retired him
Joe Moeller was just 23 years old when Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston summoned him from the bullpen to relieve Cooperstown’s Don Drysdale in Game 1 of the 1966 World Series. The American League champion Baltimore Orioles already torched Big D for four runs in his two innings of work.
The first two men to step in against Moeller were future MVPs, Brooks Robinson and Book Powell. In his previous at bat Brooks took Drysdale deep. This time was different.
The Hall of Fame third baseman Robinson fell behind 1-and-2 before grounding out to third. Powell fared no better, hitting a roller to shortstop Maury Wills for the second out of the inning.
When Moeller got Curt Blefary to pop out meekly to shortstop Maury Wills, he gave Los Angeles its first scoreless frame of the Series.
In the next inning 10-time All Star and Hall of Fame shortstop Louis Aparicio nicked Moeller with an RBI infield groundout. Joe responded by getting centerfielder Russ Synder to roll over to second to end the inning. His night was done. The 55,941 in attendance applauded as Moeller left the field.
In two innings of work, Joe gave up one run. He surrendered one hit and one walk.
Shown here is a pair of tickets to Game 1 of the ’66 Fall Classic. Joe adds his signature to them both and writes, “Baseball Thrill” on the loge level pass.
Brooks Robinson was the first World Series MVP third baseman
Brooks Robinson was the first World Series MVP third baseman
The World Series MVP Award was started in 1955. Pitchers took the honor in 12 of the first 15 years it was award. The first third baseman to earn the Fall Classic nod was Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson in 1970.
Robinson is renown as the greatest fielder at his position – and maybe any other for that matter. His glove work was on full display in the 1970 World Series. In the five-game win over the Reds Robinson made several outstanding plays in the field.
Robinson also put on an offensive tour de force. He went 9-for-21 with two doubles, two homers, five runs scored, and six runs batted in. Including his work in the ALCS, Robinson hit .485 and slugged .788 in the 1970 postseason.
Shown here is a ticket to Game 1 of the 1970 World Series. Robinson came up big in that contest, slugging the go-ahead home run in the 7th inning to give the Orioles the victory. The third baseman autographed the ticket and adds the inscription “1970 WS MVP”.
The last of Brooks' four World Series appearances came in 1971
The last of Brooks' four World Series appearances came in 1971
Brooks Robinson appeared on baseball’s biggest stage four times. All four of his World Series showings came from 1966-1971. The Hall of Fame third baseman came up short in ’69 and ’70 and earned rings in ’66 and ’70.
Robinson performed well in October. A career .267 hitter, he hit .303 in postseason play. His final foray into the Fall Classic came in 1971. In the seven-game loss to the Pirates, Robinson hit .318 with a .370 on-base percentage.
Shown here is a ticket to Game 2 of the ’71 Series signed by Frank Robinson. In this contest, a 3-2 extra-inning victory Brooks was the man. He went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. The third baseman’s 10th-inning walk-off sacrifice fly provided the deciding run in the Baltimore walk-off victory.
Teammates loved Brooks Robinson as a player and as a human being
Teammates loved Brooks Robinson as a player and as a human being
Milt Pappas spent his first nine big league seasons pitching with Brooks Robinson behind him at third base. Pappas won 110 games in Baltimore, pitching in the All Star game in 1962 and 1965.
In this handwritten letter the 209-game winner writes about the great defense of Robinson, “It was great having Brooks playing behind me. Knowing he was there made my job easier as a pitcher.” Pappas then signs and dates the piece.
Pappas was one pitch away from a perfect game in September of 1972 when he walked the 27th hitter, Larry Stahl. Though Pappas retired the next batter to preserve the no-hitter, he held a lifelong grudge against home plate umpire Bruce Froemming.
Brooks Robinson played all 23 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles
Brooks Robinson played all 23 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles
Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson played all 23 of his big league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. Among players who suited up for just one team, only Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski matched the feat.
Shown here is a questionnaire filled out by the Human Vacuum Cleaner. He answers queries about his greatest thrill, positive influences on his career, advice to young players, and how he wants to be remembered.
In 2015 the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame recognized Brooksie's 23 years with the Orioles
In 2015 the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame recognized Brooksie's 23 years with the Orioles
Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken share many distinctions. They are the only two men to play home games for the state of Maryland in 20 or more big league seasons. Robinson and Ripken are the only two Orioles to log more than 10,000 at bats. Each man was a first-ballot Cooperstown selection.
Another honor they share is inclusion in the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.
The state’s highest sporting award was bestowed on Ripken in 2005. Ten years later Robinson got the nod. Today ten Cooperstown men are also inducted in the Maryland shrine.
Shown here is a letter from Sam Sibler, the chairman of the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame. In the October 26, 1962 correspondence Sibler informs 16-year MLB vet Bill Nicholson of his selection for the state’s honor.
Nicholson was a four-time National League All Star. Twice he led the Senior Circuit in home runs and RBI. With three 6.0 WAR campaigns, Nicholson’s career WAR stands at 41.9. He earned votes in MVP balloting five seasons, and finished in the top three for the award in 1943 and 1944.
Nicholson’s career 132 OPS+ is equal to Cooperstown’s Tony Gwynn, Rafael Palmeiro, and one point higher than Rod Carew, and Wade Boggs. He left the game with 1,484 career hits, 235 dingers, and 948 RBI.
