Frank Robinson
| Birthdate | 8/31/1935 |
| Death Date | 2/7/2019 |
| Debut Year | 1956 |
| Year of Induction | 1982 |
| Teams | Angels, Dodgers, Indians, Orioles, Reds |
| Position | Right Field |
Frank Robinson was MLB’s first African-American manager. In 1975, his first at bat as player/manager for the Indians, he hit a home run.
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Frank tied the rookie record for homers and helped the Reds tie MLB's single-season team mark
Frank tied the rookie record for homers and helped the Reds tie MLB's single-season team mark
Frank Robinson burst onto the Major League scene in 1956 as a 20-year-old outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He immediately made an impact, scoring 122 runs while tying Wally Berger’s rookie-record with 38 home runs.
The Reds’ offense exploded that season. They led the National League in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases. Cincinnati ranked second in hits, batting average, and on-base percentage.
Eight Reds players finished with at least 10 home runs. The lineup featured four of the NL’s top ten home run hitters: Robinson (38), Wally Post (36), Ted Kluszewski (35), and Gus Bell (29).
Their power barrage neared historic levels. In the second-to-last game of the year, Smoky Burgess blasted their 221st home run. That shot tied the Major League record for home runs by one team in a single season. The 1956 Reds didn’t just win games—they slugged their way into the record books.
Displayed here is a sheet autographed by 26 members of that legendary squad. Frank Robinson’s signature runs along the top, a memento from his first season in the big leagues.
That year marked the beginning of a Hall of Fame career and a historic campaign for Cincinnati’s powerful lineup.
Frank Robinson's 1959 cycle included a homer off of Sandy Koufax
Frank Robinson's 1959 cycle included a homer off of Sandy Koufax
When Frank Robinson hit for the cycle on May 2, 1959, he did it in style. The Hall of Famer victimized four different Dodger pitchers and hit his homer off of the Left Arm of God, Sandy Koufax.
Robinson walked and singled off of Dodger starter Gene Snyder, doubled off of Carl Erskine, tripled off of Johnny Klippenstein, and homered off of Koufax. It was one of 7 career dingers Robinson hit off of Koufax.
Though he hit just .233 in 121 career plate appearances against Koufax, Robinson slugged .505. Among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances agains the Dodger great, only Hank Aaron (.647), Roberto Clemente (.550), and Willie Mays posted a higher slugging percentage.
In the photo here Koufax shakes hands with 21-year old Joe Moeller after preserving the win for the young righty. The save was the seventh of Sandy’s career. It was a three-inning performance and came after Moeller scattered three hits over six innings. Moeller also signed the photo.
Robinson had a walk, a single, a double, and two RBI off of Moeller in ten career plate appearances.
In one of the worst trades in Orioles history, Robinson was dealt away in 1965
In one of the worst trades in Orioles history, Robinson was dealt away in 1965
The Reds’ trade of Frank Robinson to the Orioles remains one of the worst in baseball history. His first season in Baltimore Robinson won the Triple Crown, the regular-season and World Series MVP awards.
Termed by the Reds to be too old at age 30, Robinson was a star for the Orioles. In six seasons in Baltimore he hit an even .300 with a .401 on-base percentage and a .543 slugging mark.
Pitcher Milt Pappas was the centerpiece the deal masterminded by Oriole GM Harry Dalton. Reducing the hurler to merely a man in a regrettable trade sells Pappas short.
Born Miltiades Stergios Papastergios, Pappas won 110 games in Baltimore during his first nine big league seasons, pitching in the All Star game in 1962 and 1965.
Overall, Pappas finished with career numbers quite similar to those of Don Drysdale. The two hurlers finished with the same career win total of 209 though Drysdale finished with two more losses than Pappas.
Of course Pappas was never the dominant pitcher that Big D was. The most wins Pappas ever recorded in a single season was 17, a mark eclipsed by Drysdale four times, highlighted by Drysdale’s 25-win Cy Young season on 1962.
Shown here is a 1962 Topps baseball card that Pappas has autographed.
Frank Robinson is a Triple Crown winner and the first man to earn the MVP in each league
Frank Robinson is a Triple Crown winner and the first man to earn the MVP in each league
Frank Robinson burst onto the big league scene as the NL Rookie of the Year for the Reds in 1956. An All Star in his first season, he was just 20 years old.
Ten of his first 14 years he slugged over 30 homers. Robinson’s first decade in the majors came with Cincinnati. In each of his first seven seasons Robinson received support in MVP balloting.
In 1961 he hit 37 homers with 124 RBI with a .323 average and a .404 on-base percentage. His .611 slugging mark, 1.015 OPS topped the Senior Circuit. For his efforts, writers voted him the National League MVP
Robinson’s time in the Queen City included .303 with a 154 OPS+. The outfielder averaged 32 homers and 100 RBI per year with the Reds.
After the 1965 season Robinson was traded to the Orioles. His first season in Baltimore was magnificent. Robinson batted .316 with 49 homers and 122 runs batted in to earn the Triple Crown. By earning the AL MVP he became the first man to claim the award in both leagues.
He capped off the campaign by slugging two homers with a 1.232 OPS in the four-game sweep over the Dodgers in the World Series. His performance earned him the World Series MVP.
After the ’71 season he left Baltimore. Over the next five years Robinson played for the Dodgers, Angles, and Indians.
In 1975 he broke the managerial color line when he was named player/manager of the Tribe. Showing his usual flair, he hit a home run in his first at bat in that capacity.
By the time he retired as a player in 1976, Robinson had 2,943 hits, 528 doubles, 586 homers, and 1,812 RBI. When he left the game his home run total was surpassed by only three men – Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays.
Shown here is a Topps 1966 batting leaders card autographed by the top three finishers, Robinson, Tony Oliva, and Al Kaline.
Frank Robinson was the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1966
Frank Robinson was the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1966
Frank Robinson had a dream season in 1966. The Triple Crown winner in his first American League campaign, Robinson led the Orioles to the American League championship.
In the four-game sweep of the Dodgers, Robinson hit the only triple while topping both clubs in home runs and RBI. His efforts earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
Shown here is a pair of the Fall Classic opener at Dodger Stadium. Joe Moeller, the youngest starting pitcher in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers signed both of them.
In World Series play Frank Robinson hit 8 home runs with a .554 slugging percentage
In World Series play Frank Robinson hit 8 home runs with a .554 slugging percentage
Frank Robinson is one of baseball’s under-appreciated inner-circle Hall of Famers. The 1966 Triple Crown winner, Robinson was the first man to earn the MVP in both the National and American Leagues.
He was also a stellar postseason performer. In his first October appearance in the 1961 World Series, Robinson tallied a .400 on-base percentage and a .533 slugging mark in the five-game tilt.
His first season after getting traded from Cincinnati to Baltimore, Frank let the Orioles to the 1966 Fall Classic. Robinson’s two home runs helped the O’s sweep the defending-champion Dodgers. His 12 total bases and 1.232 OPS earned him the World Series MVP award.
The Orioles and Robinson returned to baseball’s biggest stage in 1969, starting a three-year run as American League champions. Though Baltimore bowed to the Miracle Mets in ’69, Robinson slammed his fifth World Series home run in the five-game set. In 1970 he slammed two more long balls, earning his second ring.
Shown here is a ticket to Game 2 of the 1971 Fall Classic. The Orioles erupted for 11 runs in the game behind Robinson’s three hits and two runs scored. In 26 career World Series games, Robinson slugged eight home runs while recording a .554 slugging percentage and a .903 OPS.
Robinson made history as baseball's first African-American manager
Robinson made history as baseball's first African-American manager
After a fine big league career, Frank Robinson continued to leave his mark on Major League Baseball. A trailblazer, he will always be remembered as the first African-American manager of a big league club.
Robinson broke the managerial color barrier when he piloted the Indians in 1975 as a player/manager. In fact, he hit a homer in his first at bat in that capacity.
In the collection is a lineup card from Robinson’s time as skipper of the Baltimore Orioles. The game was near the middle of Cal Ripken’s consecutive game streak, the 1,142nd straight game for the Iron Man.
Robinson ended his Major League managerial career with more than 1,000 wins.
Frank Robinson was a first-ballot selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame
Frank Robinson was a first-ballot selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame
Frank Robinson had one of baseball’s greatest careers. His accolades career stats include 2,943 hits, 586 homers, 1,812 RBI, and a 154 OPS+. Robinson also earned the 1966 American League Triple Crown.
After waiting the required 5 years upon retirement, Robinson was a first-ballot selection for the Baseball Hall of Fame. As part of the induction class of ’82, he went in with fellow first-ballot man, 25-time All Star Hank Aaron.
The pair was joined by Veterans Committee selections Commissioner Happy Chandler, and longtime New York Giants shortstop Travis Jackson.
The quartet was inducted on August 1, 1982 on a hot summer day in Cooperstown. Shown here is an invitation to the festivities signed by Jackson at the bottom.
HE WAS GOOD, BUT NO WILLY MAYS