Brooks Robinson was a third baseman with the Baltimore Orioles in the 1950s through ‘70s who won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves Awards and became a Major League Baseball (MLB) legend.
- Died: September 26, 2023 (Who else died on September 26?)
- Details of death: Died of coronary disease at the age of 86.
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Brooks Robinson’s legacy
Robinson was scouted by several baseball teams as a teenager – and offered a full scholarship to play basketball at the University of Arkansas – but he chose to join the Orioles, fresh out of high school in 1955. He went on to spend his entire MLB career in Baltimore, becoming the team’s star and a beloved Baltimore legend. A skilled fielder widely considered the best third baseman in baseball history, he was called “The Human Vacuum Cleaner” for his ability to scoop up any ball.
In his early years, Robinson shuttled back and forth between the Orioles and their Minor League affiliates, but by 1960, he was with the Orioles for good, and he won his first of 16 consecutive Gold Gloves Awards in that year. Robinson was also an All-Star in 1960, playing in his first of 18 consecutive All-Star Games, and he was named the Most Valuable Oriole.
His success continued for years. In 1964, he led the league in RBIs and was named the American League’s MVP. In 1966, Robinson took the Orioles to their first-ever World Series victory, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baltimore would win the World Series again in 1970, beating the Cincinnati Reds. Robinson was named World Series MVP that year, and he is remembered for an incredible catch in Game One. With Robinson, the team made two other World Series appearances, in 1969 and 1971, losing to the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates.
When Robinson announced his retirement in 1977, fans gave him a standing ovation at his final game and came out in record numbers for his retirement ceremony. His No. 5 jersey was retired, and in 1983, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Statues of Robinson stand in downtown Baltimore and at Camden Yards, the team’s stadium.
After his retirement, Robinson worked as a color commentator for the Orioles for more than a decade and a half. He co-founded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and served as its president for many years.
Notable quote
“I guess you might say that the ’70 Series was the biggest moment of my career as I look back at it. I had a lot of big ones, but that series was probably the highest point. Everyone seems to want to know about Game Five. Johnny Bench came up in the ninth inning of that game and lined a foul ball that I swore I wouldn’t be able to reach, but somehow I caught it. There were a lot of other exciting plays in that series, but people for some reason want to talk about that particular catch!” —from an interview for This Great Game
Tributes to Brooks Robinson
Full obituary: The Washington Post
