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We Say A Sad Farewell to “Mr. Oriole,” Brooks Robinson

Brooks Robinson, RIP

“Never has a player meant more to a franchise and more to a city than Brooks has meant to the Orioles and the city of Baltimore.” -Oriole historian Ted Patterson. (1)

The baseball world was saddened to learn of the passing of one of the game’s true giants, Brooks Robinson (May 18, 1937-September 26, 2023) at age 86. He’s not only remembered as arguably the greatest defensive third baseman in the history of the game but — perhaps even more importantly — he’s remembered as a man of integrity and honor, one of the most decent and humble human beings ever to play major league baseball.

No tribute to the Little Rock, Arkansas native would be complete without enumerating his many achievements inside the white lines. It’s a legacy of excellence that will likely serve as the gold standard for third basemen for generations. Over his 23-year career (1955-1977), all with the Orioles, he was a member of four pennant winners and two World Series Championships (1966, 1970). Brooks batted .267 with 2,848 hits, 268 home runs, 1357 RBIs,1232 runs, and 18 straight All-Star selections. In 39 post-season games, he hit .303 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. His best year was his 1964 MVP season, in which he hit .317 with 28 home runs, a league-leading 118 RBIs, a .368 on-base percentage, and a .521 slugging average.

All excellent numbers, but of course it was on the defensive side of the diamond where “Mr. Oriole” left his most lasting images. Just a small sampling of his many achievements includes: leading the league in fielding percentage eleven times and assists eight times, both major league records; and putouts and double plays three times each. He still holds major league records for third basemen for career putouts (2,697), assists (6,205), total chances (9,165), and double plays (618). He won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and retired with a career fielding percentage of .971, a record for third basemen until it was broken in 2006, and which still remains the American League record.

It was on a national stage in the 1970 World Series against the Reds where his star shinned the brightest, searing himself into the consciousness of millions of fans as the greatest third baseman of all time. He left viewers in awe — doubting what they were seeing with their own eyes — as he repeatedly “laid himself out,” now diving to his right, now diving to his left, one play after another, making seemingly impossible stops of the Reds’ hard smashes. Overlooked by his brilliance on the field was that he also hit .429 for the series, with two home runs, six RBIs (including RBIs in each of the first four games), and a .810 slugging average, all of which earned him the 1970 World Series MVP award. Overall, it was one of the most spectacular performances in World Series history, prompting this quip from Reds’ manager, Sparky Anderson:

“I’m beginning to see Brooks in my sleep. If I dropped this paper plate, he’d pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first.” (2)

But cold statistics gleaned from the pages of Baseball Reference hardly tell the complete story of Brooks Robinson, a man of remarkable talents whose fame never seemed to inflate his ego and never dampened his folksy, homespun manner, which endeared him to legions of Oriole fans. He was always ready to willingly give of his time to sign autographs, happily engaging in baseball banter with the fans while doing so.

Word of his passing generated streams of encomiums from his many friends and teammates from the baseball world, all of whom remembered him as much more than just a great ball player. Perhaps the most moving and sincere tribute came from teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, Jim Palmer, overcome with emotion when he heard the sad news:

“Great player, great guy on the field, great guy off. Respectful, kind. And you don’t meet too many guys like that. Brooks was a genuine person. There was no acting. Brooks was just a genuine person…I think for all of us who knew him, he was the best.” (3)

And this from baseball commissioner Rob Manfred:

“He was one of the greats of our national pastime. Brooks stood among the greatest defensive players who have ever lived. I will always remember Brooks as a true gentleman who represented our game extraordinarily well on and off the field all his life.” (4)

At the time of his retirement in 1977, he received this fitting tribute from Washington Post sportswriter, Tom Boswell:

“He had great talent and never abused it. He received adulation and reciprocated with common decency…Other stars had fans. Robinson made friends.” (5)

Many honors came his way after his retirement. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, receiving 91.98% of the vote on the first ballot. He was elected to the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and named to Major League Baseball’s All-Century team. A statue of him was unveiled at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in 2011, where his uniform number 5 has also been retired.

Brooks Robinson left an enduring legacy of excellence on the baseball field where he earned the nickname of “The Human Vacuum Cleaner.” It seems very appropriate. But his legacy off the field as a man of integrity, humility, and kindness will surely endure just as long. Let’s take a moment to say a sad farewell to one of baseball’s all-time greats, Brooks Robinson. May he rest in peace. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Constance, and their four children.

  Gary Livacari 

Information: Quote (1) from Brooks Robinson’s Wikipedia page; Quotes (2) and (5) from an article in today’s Washington Post; Quotes (3) and (4) from today’s Chicago Sun-Times; Statistics from Baseball-Reference.com.

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