On 7 February Frank Robinson died of bone cancer. The only MLB player to win the MVP in both leagues, Frank still ranks #10 on the all time home run list. However, at the time of his retirement in 1976 he was ranked #4 behind Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays before all the steroid boys eclipsed his numbers.
For those of you not familiar with Frank and his career, this is great article from the dean of baseball writers Tom Boswell (click here.) Boswell has a unique perspective of Frank because he covered the Orioles back in the day when Frank was one of their coaches and later as their manager. Boz then covered Frank when the Nationals came to town as their manager.
Mark McCoy provided this nice account of how he wore Frank’s jersey at a recent event. Mark also points out how underrated Frank was and just how great his accomplishments were.
Several years ago CareFirst, my employer, had an event for the sales staff and I came along as the attorney for sales. One of the perks was that we were able to choose an official Orioles uniform shirt with our name and number. I got to play in a pickup game on the field with some co-employees and some old Orioles including Al Bumbry and Rick Krivda.
The real treat was that I got to pick my number. There were several duplicate numbers with most folks choosing either # 5 for Brooks or # 8 for Cal. Some picked #22 for Jim Palmer or #4 for Earl Weaver.
I was the only one to pick number 20. I couldn’t believe that no one else picked it. It still hangs in the back of my closet!
Today, number 20 passed away. He made the Orioles winners from 1966-1971. He won a triple crown, won MVP in both leagues. Was fourth behind Aaron, Ruth and Mays in career home runs when he retired. He was the true team leader and later became the first black manager in baseball. He was also in my mind the probably most underrated player in the history of the game because he played in a smaller market.
If he hadn’t been beaned in a 1967 game he probably would have had another 40 or so home runs in his career.
He loved to crowd the plate. Don Drysdale was told to intentionally walk him in a game. Don was no stranger to the bean ball and he threw at #20s head four times causing him to land on his bottom all four times before taking his base. The next inning #20 hit a home run off of Drysdale.
So long Frank Robinson! You were a huge part of my youth!
