Frank Robinson, a Baltimore Orioles legend and pioneer for Major League Baseball, twice won the World Series with Baltimore and broke the color barrier for African American managers.Robinson died three years ago Monday at the age of 83. But his legend, impact and brilliance as a player and a man resonate no less now than when he starred for the black and orange.Arguably, the greatest trade in Baltimore sports history brought Robinson to Baltimore from Cincinnati in 1966. The Reds thought Robinson was an “old” 30. Robinson took that personally and took it out on opposing teams. That 1966 season saw him win MVP for a second time and led the Orioles to its first World Series crown.He’d add another championship to the resume in 1970 — his 586 career home runs remain 10th all time.The fire that made him a Baseball Hall of Famer led him to fight for African American advancement. He became the first Black manager in MLB history, taking the reins of the Cleveland Indians in 1975 as a player-manager. Of course, he hit a home run during his first at-bat.Robinson managed four different teams, including the Orioles, earning Manager of the Year in 1989.His was the first statue unveiled in 2012 when the O’s created its Hall of Fame Garden, an honor that meant the world to Frank Robby.”This ballclub, this organization and I came together, and we became recognized over the country,” Robinson said in 2012.Robinson remained an important ambassador for the game until the day he died — a pioneer for African Americans in baseball, a hero for so many in Baltimore.Robinson spent the entirety of his life advocating for racial equality. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President George W. Bush in 2005.Video below (2019): Remembering Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson, a Baltimore Orioles legend and pioneer for Major League Baseball, twice won the World Series with Baltimore and broke the color barrier for African American managers.
Robinson died three years ago Monday at the age of 83. But his legend, impact and brilliance as a player and a man resonate no less now than when he starred for the black and orange.
Arguably, the greatest trade in Baltimore sports history brought Robinson to Baltimore from Cincinnati in 1966. The Reds thought Robinson was an “old” 30. Robinson took that personally and took it out on opposing teams. That 1966 season saw him win MVP for a second time and led the Orioles to its first World Series crown.
He’d add another championship to the resume in 1970 — his 586 career home runs remain 10th all time.
The fire that made him a Baseball Hall of Famer led him to fight for African American advancement. He became the first Black manager in MLB history, taking the reins of the Cleveland Indians in 1975 as a player-manager. Of course, he hit a home run during his first at-bat.
Robinson managed four different teams, including the Orioles, earning Manager of the Year in 1989.
His was the first statue unveiled in 2012 when the O’s created its Hall of Fame Garden, an honor that meant the world to Frank Robby.
“This ballclub, this organization and I came together, and we became recognized over the country,” Robinson said in 2012.
Robinson remained an important ambassador for the game until the day he died — a pioneer for African Americans in baseball, a hero for so many in Baltimore.
Robinson spent the entirety of his life advocating for racial equality. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President George W. Bush in 2005.
Video below (2019): Remembering Frank Robinson
