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 goes on to praise 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 signs the bottom of the letter.