Remembering The Great Player And Man, Brooks Robinson

Often calming and needed now: “Here’s a groundball to third, Robinson to Powell and the Orioles win,” was Jim McIntyre’s call as the Baltimore Orioles led by Brooks Robinson, who sadly died days back at age 86, “5’d” the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970/AKA “Brooks Robinson Series,

It was a routine play on a ball hit by Reds’ pinch hitter, Pat Corrales, who both recently died and was benefitted by money raised by the Orioles’ “Kangaroo Court,” after his wife died, now so many years ago.

There were so many great defensive plays made by Brooks in that W.S. including one on John Bench 2 outs before the end and another on “The Big Bopper,” Lee May (there seemingly is always “sad news” and idiots “on the doorstep,” but the music and thoughts of Brooks’ play on May, and other plays help) in game 1, that defies belief.

He also starred at the plate and his and Roberto Clemente’s performances in back to back World Series, all but one of the 12 games in the day, in the ’70 and ’71 Fall Classics, also help.

I could field a little bit and to practice, now away from immediate grass, (alas it was a Tom Goode, pronounced Goud, who snapped, Earl Morrall held and from my #, 32, Jim O’Brien kicked, giving Baltimore a Supe crown following the Brooks led World Series crown in ’70 and another with a deformed mouth, whose magnitude I was too immature to grasp, who so often chased us when there was grass, with “there is no ball playing on the grass”) I threw the softer ball against a wall and I was “Great” aka George Scott or Wes Parker at first, I think Rod Carew, better known for great hitting at second, Bud Harrelson at “short,” and always Brooks-he could come in, stay back, was prepared and anticipated at third.

There were so many clutch hits and when one adds that regarding fielding, I think only Clete Boyer or Billy Cox could perhaps match at “The Hot Corner,” I put Brooks at the head of any great third sacker’s list, adding my Dad’s Harold “Pie” Traynor, along with Ed Mathews and Mike Schmidt.

After his great play on May, Brooks homered to break a (3-3) tie in the Orioles’ key (4-3) win in the ’70 opener.

In ’66, when his O’s swept my Dodgers, Brooks followed Frank Robinson’s home run with one of his own T1/#1 and that is just two of so many, big Brooks hits.

I do not need stats, but check those of Brooks Robinson vs the Twins in the ’70 ALCS and his .429 batting average vs the Reds, in that aforementioned ’70 W.S.

Before the 1969 Mets, a tremendous 100 wins team with great pitching and a Gil Hodges managed, effective “platoon lineup,” got breaks and used great skill to “5” a truly great 109 wins O’s team, they had to overcome a series opening loss and the fact a 2 out, B7, clutch hit by Mr. Robinson, Brooks, tied # 2.

It is certainly noteworthy that Brooks Robinson, who made so many great defensive plays in his 4 World Series appearances, was himself “robbed” of a hit, on a catch by Ron Swoboda, (T9, #4, Mets up (1-0) and 2 games to 1) that also truly defied belief.

In 1992, I interviewed Brooks and he loved the fact, I knew that his 2,000th big league hit was also his 200th such home run.

An incredible player and man, Brooks Robinson! He is pictured and almost certainly above.