Rest in peace mr. Robinson!! A little black girl 11 years old sitting in Memorial Stadium watching the magic at third base ! Witnessing the kindness of the man signing My Autograph and then appreciating that I was a fan was rare and Unforgettable!! He was a great baseball player and a Kind and Generous man❤❤ 1966 was the year I fell in love with the game of baseball⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
If you watched baseball in the 1960s, Brooks was one of the baseball gods, and that's coming from a lifelong Yankees fan. Such a privelege to watch him in action.
I'm 54 and I've bled orange n black since I can remember. Brooks was absolutely part of my childhood. The City. The people of Baltimore will feel this sting for awhile. R.I.P. Mr. Oriole. You have earned it.
Like so many, many Baltmorons, I have a bunch of Brooks stories. I grew up playing ball with one of Connie and his three boys, Christopher, in the Lutherville-Timonium little league circuit. Chris played first base. Me, left field. I remember distinctly slapping a meaningless base hit during a game and seeing Brooks stand up and clap for me from the shaky bleacher seats. Crazy. Years later I was at the Baltimore airport, taking my young family to Disney World and there was Brooks waiting for some other flight, with the stack of newspapers on his lap, as he was so famous for always carrying. I sauntered over to say hi and ask about his boys. We laughed and talked about nothing in particular for five minutes and said goodbye. Just another dad from the neighborhood. Which is what made him so special.
Very true in that many of us Baltimorons have Brooks stories. I went to school with his grandkids and met him at a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot event when i was young
My dad was an Irish immigrant.. he took to baseball the day he got to America.. Brooks Robinson was his favorite baseball player.. I got my dad a signed game used bat from brooksie and my dad cried.. it's a sad day for baseball
I grew up in Maryland , P.G. county just the other side of the D.C. line so we were Washington Senators fans and my dad took me to many games before they moved to Texas. We still recognized and respected the greatness that was Brooks Robinson . Brooks shined like a diamond and was baseball in it's finest hour . RIP the best 3rd baseman EVER .
In southern Ontario as a kid, before the Blue Jays existed, for some reason I decided Baltimore was my team, and Brooks was my favorite player. Makes a great play, hustles off the field. Hits a homer, hustles around the bases. Robinson, Robinson, Boog, Belanger, Blair, Cueller, Palmer, McNally - loved those teams.
@@Zunez52 lol, i gradually leaned more and more with the Jays - hard not to when I lived in Toronto for a bit and usually that's what all the coverage was. I remember the first few years still rooting for the Orioles against the Jays because the Jays were so bad if someone else was going to win I still wanted it to be Baltimore. Grew up across the river from Detroit but refused to join my brother and cheer for those teams, lol. Still - great memories of those great Oriole teams.
So many people have had the experience of meeting their childhood heroes later in life and finding them to be "zeroes" rather than heroes. I was born in Baltimore and was a die-hard O's fan and Brooks Robinson was my favorite. I grew up and became a sports reporter/broadcaster and was fortunate enough to have interviewed and spent time with Brooks on several occasions. I met several athletes who stood out as class acts, including Harmon Killebrew and Lee Roy Selmon, and Brooks turned out to be everything I'd hoped for and more. So caring and generous, just an amazing human being. RIP Brooks
He made everyone in Little Rock proud. He was the nicest guy ever and played some with my dad growing and the same age in Little Rock. He always recognized my dad whenever he saw him and spoke to him every time.
Yes Brooks was a great player. He was a gentleman. Always had time to talk. I was not very old at the time. Brooks talked with me for 30 minutes on a Friday night game. I will never forget this.
I am one of the honored many to have been named after Brooks Robinson. I was fortunate to meet him a few times and each time he told me he was honored to share his name with me. I felt like I lost a piece of me when I got the news. RIP to the greatest 3rd baseman ever.
I'm too young to have ever watched Brooksie play but you can't be an Orioles fan without knowing who he was. Truly a legend of the city, one of a kind. Mr. Oriole
You can't be a baseball fan, let alone an Orioles fan, without knowing who Brooks Robinson was. I met him once and he is deserving of all of the praise he is getting for being an exceptional human.
I started following the Orioles in 1964 and the next six or seven years were the prime years of his career. Even now, 24 hours later, I can't watch or listen to these tributes without tearing up. Brooks was simply the best.
Ya know, getting old sucks. But sometimes it's good to be older. My generation got to see this guy. I got to see him many times. HOF on the field and off. Today's youth will never get it. There was none better than Mr. Oriole.
Brooks is and always will be the GOAT 3rd baseman! No one was as good, they may have hit a little better but, none were the complete package which includes his humanity. R.I.P. to the human vacuum cleaner! 😢
I wouldn’t argue that point but overall Mike Schmidt was the best third baseman and a gold glover and your point about hitting a little better , well Schmidt hit 548 home runs so your point is mute . He’s considered the best third baseman in baseball history .
There was no finer third baseman, including Mike Schmidt and Chipper Jones better than Brooks Robinson. Whether winning an MVP, gold gloves, deferring to Frank Robinson, as team leader - which led to World Series appearances and World Series trophies as well as amassing 2,800+ career hits. Brooks Robinson epitomized and exemplified the Oriole Way. Brooks was revered in Baltimore.
I remember meeting Brooks all the way back in 1982 for an autograph signing. My dad saved a gameball from our Little League Championship where I pitched a struck out 14 in the game. I still remember how awesome he was. Very encouraging and true ambassador of the game. Just checked and I still have thje ball which says, To Ray, Nice going. Brooks Robinson. I still remember how warm and caring he was to everyone in attendance. Johnny Unitas was the same way. We were really blessed in Baltimore with some great sports heroes back then.
That '70 World Series is the first one I remember watching. I was 8 years old, but Brooks' fielding in that series was something I never, ever forgot. He was the greatest fielding third baseman ever, and he was a heck of great clutch hitter as well.
The Orioles that year won their last 11 games in the regular season, then swept the Twins in the AL Playoffs and won the first 3 in the WS vs. the Reds. That's a 17 game winning streak, and by winning game 5 in the series after a loss in game 4, that gave them 18 wins in their last 19 games in 1970. One of the underrated great teams of all time.
In April 1965 I was a 7 year old kid a junior Oriole. My dad took my brother and I to camera day at Memorial Stadium. I was in awe to be standing so close to my hero who was posing in his hitting stance so l could take his picture. After the game my dad and I went home developed and printed the pictures. I still have those 3x5 photos of Brooks, Louis Aparicio and Boog Powell to this day along with one of my prized possessions a Brooks Robinson autographed baseball. When I heard he passed the first thing I did was run downstairs and hold that ball. He will be missed. He was truly a wonderful person.
There's a reason that Brooks Robinson is the only baseball player ever to be painted by the famous illustrator, Norman Rockwell, and it wasn't just because of his athletics; it was because of the authentic gentleman he was. Eternity in peace, Brooksie, and put in a good word for me to the man upstairs, if you don't mind.
Yep. The composition of that piece says it all. He’s standing with a big smile giving an autograph to a kid. Brooks loved baseball and baseball loved him back.
If anyone remembers the old 3M/Sports Illustrated baseball game, I use to play it with my friend when we were kids. I fell in love with the Orioles because of that game. The defensive ratings for Mark Belanger and Brooks Robinson were ridiculous. Later, I found out Brooks was from Arkansas, as is my father. So I became a fan even more. RIP
I remember that game. Me and my brother used to play it all the time. It was a lot of fun. Had those 1970's psychedelic color charts. The White Sox were my favorite team, but I knew you'd have a much better chance if you took the Orioles, so I did. My brother was always some National League team. Fooey.
I was born in 1961 in the St. Louis area, so without saying I am a true Cardinals fan . . . . But every kid I grew up with ALL wanted to be Brooks Robinson when we played 3rd base. 100% of us 💔❤️🩹
I looked up his stats this morning. Won AL MVP in 1964 with 26? homers, 118 rbi, .317 ba. World series MVP, All star game MVP. In addition to catching balls had a great arm. Well rounded player and from what I've been hearing just a great all around guy.
Did not have a great arm but had great hand and eye hand cordination that allowed his average arm to play.....16 consecutive gold gloves in Absolute dominance on both ends of the ball in the 1970 World Series also known as the Brooks Robinson World Series
Growing up a little north of Baltimore, it was not unusual to see Brooks out and about in the community, at the grocery store, pumping gas, at the theater. He was always friendly and gracious to perfect strangers.
Oh one of the greats RIP. Bellanger at SS. Remember Ump Ron Luciano watched Brooks make an amazing play throw the guy out and Ron just stood there and applauded him. Obviously the guy was out.
I met Brooks at a charity event that my dad and grandfather took me to about 20 years ago. He told great stories and was very gracious talking with everyone during the event. So much of the coverage I’ve seen involves Brooks raising money for great causing which shows how tireless the gave back to so many communities after his retirement from baseball. I’m a lifelong Yankees fan but will be rooting hard for the O’s to win a WS for Brooks this fall.
As a kid growing up in Annapolis, Md. in the mid-60's, I was a HUGE fan of Mr. Brooks Robinson. Mr. Robinson held a yearly autograph signing event at a local shopping center and I made my mom take me two years in a row. He was very nice, posed for pictures, shook hands, signed a ball and my glove. A great couple of memories. Just a couple of months ago I ordered a Brooks Robinson jersey, finally, grey with BALTIMORE in script across the front and B. Robinson, don't forget about Frank, on the back with his number 5. When I played third base in high school, of course, I wore number 5 in his honor. RIP Brooksie.
One Of My Favorite Players Ever In Any Sport! I Always Loved Watching Him Play Baseball Everyday! My Father Was Very Blessed To Get A Signed Autograph By Brooks Robinson! Hall Of Fame Person! Love The Book! One Of My Favorite Books In My Life Forever! Hard To Replace A Person Like Him In Any Way Possible! Rest In Peace! Brooks Robinson! Amen! May God Continue To Bless And Heal Your Family Today And Forever! Amen!
Being a die hard Os fan since mid 60s I’ve seen Mr Robinson many many times. Attending game 5 of 1970 World Series will always be my greatest thrill ever in sports. Besides being a great player he was a great human being. Love forever the memories he left us all
Like many from my generation growing up in Baltimore, Brooks was my favorite player, and my hero. Watching him at the hot corner for all those wonderful years making the most extraordinary plays seem almost routine. In Baltimore he was, and is Mr. Oriole. Much like Johnny Unitas was to the Colts, both men were larger than life. Like Johnny U, Jim Palmer and Cal Ripken jr; Brooks took his rightful place on the Mt. Rushmore of Baltimore sports legends long ago. But as the great Jim Palmer so eloquently said. "As great a player as Brooksie was, he was an even greater person". RIP#5 you made this world a much better place for the time the good lord gave you to us.
I was 12 when we went to Memorial Stadium in ‘78 for “Thanks Brooks Day”. He took a lap around the stadium in an old convertible waving and expressing gratitude. As he drove by, I couldn’t hold back the tears. Couldn’t help but think that he was heading somewhere where mere mortals were not allowed. Like some baseball Valhalla.
Look at any interview with Brooks about winning the World Series in ‘66 and you will hear him give much of the credit to Frank. He said, “When we got Frank I knew we had a real shot!” Or words to that effect. I don’t think he ever thought he was as special as he was.
2x World Series champ, WS MVP, 18x All-Star, 16 _consecutive_ Gold Gloves, AL MVP, 23 years with one team. "Brooks Robinson plays 3rd like he was sent down from a higher league." -umpire Ed Hurley of third basemen...all-time assists leader, all-time put out leader, all-time double play leader..... _still, to this day_ "Brooks isnt at his locker yet, but 4 reporters are over there interviewing his glove." - Os executive "he could throw his glove on the field and it would turn 10 double plays by itself." - Sparky Anderson
I remember him being called The Vaccuum cleaner , in a world series game once , because he made the most impossible stops down the 3rd base line I have ever seen
One of the things gone from baseball nowadays is the feeling of rivalry between the leagues. As a kid growing up I was more an American League fan than I was a fan of any team, and those were tough days to be an AL fan. But Brooks was always one of our guys, with Killebrew and Kaline and Yaz and Catfish. Frank Robinson & Frank Howard too, even though they came over from the dark side, they became a real AL'ers. We always lost the All-Star game but won most of the World Series. A reproduction 1966 Orioles jersey with number 5 & B. Robinson on the back is the only baseball jersey I own.
And yet, it could have been totally different as he had such a horrific injury when he was here in Vancouver, playing for the 1958 Vancouver Mounties. I was 4 yrs olde, so not much of a memory for me other than my dad constantly telling me you saw the future Hall of Famer.. R.I.P. Mr. Human Vacuum Cleaner.
I've estimated that I saw Brooks Robinson play over 100 times during his 20+ year career, the first time when he was playing for the York White Roses of the Piedmont League. For several years I lived within walking distance to Memorial Stadium, so a short walk on a warm Baltimore night allowed me to cheer on my first sports hero: Brooksie.
There are so many people in Baltimore who have a Brooks Robinson story. My ex-girlfriend wasn't into baseball but did landscaping at his house and gushed about how nice he was. I have a photojournalist friend who shot a spread for a local magazine on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The setup was Brooks blowing out candles on a cake. Eight years later, he was at a nice restaurant shooting a party for a client and a few tables over was Brooks and his family, again celebrating his birthday. My friend went over to greet him and before he could say anything, Brooks introduced him to his family, saying "This is the man who took my picture blowing out the candles." As if my friend was a celebrity. That's who Brooks was and that gives you a sense of the deep loss we are feeling here.
not just mid-Atlantic area. This kid from San Diego learned to play infield watching #5 on TV. Only so much I could get from the '69 Padres. God speed Mr. Robinson.
The King of the Hot Corner. The Human Vacuum. Mr. Oriole will always be remembered. Even nowadays people still name their kids Brooks because of his Greatness.
Was at that final game at Memorial in '70, sat way out in left field, but after the game we were allowed to go on the field, and somebody scratched in the 3rd base dirt, "Brooks works here"
Check out how John Harbaugh met Brooksie for the first time. His first year as the Ravens Head Coach he took his 6 year old daughter trick or treating. He knocked on a door in the neighborhood and it was Brooksie's house. They spoke for several minutes and John went to finish the night with his daughter. Awesome story.
Brooks is a Baltimore legend, a Little Rock legend and a national treasure. The O's will honor him by winning the WS with our new generation Brooks in Gunnar Henderson.
That would be so cool. As a NoCal Giants fan, if my Giants aren't in it, got to still pull for the orange and black. I got to hit the yard in 2010, very impressive! Brooks was an idle of mine growing up in the 60's and 70's. Sad to hear the news of his passing, but man the memories will never pass.
Not only does he lead in gold gloves,he leads iin father's naming their children after him he once said there was no greater honor that he received.lovevya Brooks
Thanks for this, Rich. As a Gen-Xer (and 2nd baseman), my Boomer dad (who grew up largely in the Pacific Northwest) STILL repeats the story of how he would have been, dat gummit, the next Brooks Robinson...if it hadn't been for puberty and discovering those damn girls. 😂 In short, Robinson's greatness was universal for baseball kids across America in the 50s and 60s. May he finally rest in peace from his duty as the King of the Hot Corner.
What was it about we can’t explain, but you feel it when you watch him play. Belongs with the Legends, not just HOFers, but Legends - maybe 50 of them.
...whenever we would watch the other team's third baseman miss a ball hit to him my Dad would say, "Brooks would've got it!" A saying that we adopted to this day. No. 5 ❤❤❤
If I were mayor of Baltimore, there would be huge statues of Brooks and Johnny Unitas along every road going into that city. To me, they are like lords over the city.
Todays players can learn a thing or 2 from Brooks Robinson about not only how to be a good player but good person. I hear so many stories about players being assholes and rude to ppl but not Brooks Robinson.
Mr . BROOKS ROBINSON IS WHAT YOU NEED IN TODAY'S GAME...NOT GUYS BAT TOSSING LIKE TIM ANDERSON ( I AM A WHITE SOX FAN...AND I DON'T LIKE THAT CRAP) OR ACTING STUPID ON THE FIELD. TOO THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE THAT WATCH THIS MAN PLAY & BE PART OF ORIOLE NATION. SO SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU & BASEBALL FANS ACROSS THE WORLD.THAT LOVED & RESPECTED HIM FOR NOT JUST BEING A GREAT BALLPLAYER.BUT, A GREAT HUMAN BEING, FATHER, SON , TEAMMATE AS WELL. RIP BROOKS ( AND HOPEFULLY, EARL WEAVER & THE REST OF THE O' BIRDS THAT GOT THEIR WINGS BEFORE YOU. GREET YOU AT THE BIG DUGOUT IN THE SKY.
There were a number of Men like him of that era. I looked up to him as I did my two local hero’s of my neck of the woods, Al Kaline & my name sake Gordie Howe.
My large nuclear & extended had the luxury of celebrating Christmas with Brooks & Family for 12+ years in the 70s -80s with 60 year Oriole chaplain Martin Schwalenberg-my cousin
Chipper Jones was not even in the same class as Mike Schmidt. I watched Brooks growing up , he was not only a great ball player but a truly wonderful human being . Overall though Mike Schmidt was the best third baseman in the game . He could field with the best of them and hit more home runs than any third baseman that played , he also could steal 20 or more bases .
Rest in peace mr. Robinson!! A little black girl 11 years old sitting in Memorial Stadium watching the magic at third base ! Witnessing the kindness of the man signing My Autograph and then appreciating that I was a fan was rare and Unforgettable!! He was a great baseball player and a Kind and Generous man❤❤ 1966 was the year I fell in love with the game of baseball⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
If you watched baseball in the 1960s, Brooks was one of the baseball gods, and that's coming from a lifelong Yankees fan. Such a privelege to watch him in action.
I'm 54 and I've bled orange n black since I can remember. Brooks was absolutely part of my childhood. The City. The people of Baltimore will feel this sting for awhile. R.I.P. Mr. Oriole. You have earned it.
Like so many, many Baltmorons, I have a bunch of Brooks stories. I grew up playing ball with one of Connie and his three boys, Christopher, in the Lutherville-Timonium little league circuit. Chris played first base. Me, left field. I remember distinctly slapping a meaningless base hit during a game and seeing Brooks stand up and clap for me from the shaky bleacher seats. Crazy. Years later I was at the Baltimore airport, taking my young family to Disney World and there was Brooks waiting for some other flight, with the stack of newspapers on his lap, as he was so famous for always carrying. I sauntered over to say hi and ask about his boys. We laughed and talked about nothing in particular for five minutes and said goodbye. Just another dad from the neighborhood. Which is what made him so special.
Very true in that many of us Baltimorons have Brooks stories. I went to school with his grandkids and met him at a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot event when i was young
My dad was an Irish immigrant.. he took to baseball the day he got to America.. Brooks Robinson was his favorite baseball player.. I got my dad a signed game used bat from brooksie and my dad cried.. it's a sad day for baseball
I grew up in Maryland , P.G. county just the other side of the D.C. line so we were Washington Senators fans and my dad took me to many games before they moved to Texas. We still recognized and respected the greatness that was Brooks Robinson . Brooks shined like a diamond and was baseball in it's finest hour . RIP the best 3rd baseman EVER .
In southern Ontario as a kid, before the Blue Jays existed, for some reason I decided Baltimore was my team, and Brooks was my favorite player. Makes a great play, hustles off the field. Hits a homer, hustles around the bases. Robinson, Robinson, Boog, Belanger, Blair, Cueller, Palmer, McNally - loved those teams.
How’s that now that you have the Blue Jays? Gotta be awkward when we play each other lol are you still an Os fan at heart?
@@Zunez52 lol, i gradually leaned more and more with the Jays - hard not to when I lived in Toronto for a bit and usually that's what all the coverage was. I remember the first few years still rooting for the Orioles against the Jays because the Jays were so bad if someone else was going to win I still wanted it to be Baltimore. Grew up across the river from Detroit but refused to join my brother and cheer for those teams, lol. Still - great memories of those great Oriole teams.
So many people have had the experience of meeting their childhood heroes later in life and finding them to be "zeroes" rather than heroes. I was born in Baltimore and was a die-hard O's fan and Brooks Robinson was my favorite. I grew up and became a sports reporter/broadcaster and was fortunate enough to have interviewed and spent time with Brooks on several occasions. I met several athletes who stood out as class acts, including Harmon Killebrew and Lee Roy Selmon, and Brooks turned out to be everything I'd hoped for and more. So caring and generous, just an amazing human being. RIP Brooks
He made everyone in Little Rock proud. He was the nicest guy ever and played some with my dad growing and the same age in Little Rock. He always recognized my dad whenever he saw him and spoke to him every time.
Yes Brooks was a great player. He was a gentleman. Always had time to talk. I was not very old at the time. Brooks talked with me for 30 minutes on a Friday night game. I will never forget this.
I am one of the honored many to have been named after Brooks Robinson. I was fortunate to meet him a few times and each time he told me he was honored to share his name with me. I felt like I lost a piece of me when I got the news. RIP to the greatest 3rd baseman ever.
I'm too young to have ever watched Brooksie play but you can't be an Orioles fan without knowing who he was. Truly a legend of the city, one of a kind. Mr. Oriole
You can't be a baseball fan, let alone an Orioles fan, without knowing who Brooks Robinson was. I met him once and he is deserving of all of the praise he is getting for being an exceptional human.
I started following the Orioles in 1964 and the next six or seven years were the prime years of his career. Even now, 24 hours later, I can't watch or listen to these tributes without tearing up. Brooks was simply the best.
Ya know, getting old sucks. But sometimes it's good to be older. My generation got to see this guy. I got to see him many times.
HOF on the field and off. Today's youth will never get it. There was none better than Mr. Oriole.
The most iconic picture for me is when Brooks dives for the line shot catches it and holds the ball up. That's my favorite picture. 😊
RIP Brooks, from an Orioles fan family. Never got to see you play but we'd know your names and skills anywhere. RIP
God bless you Brooks. You are missed from a lifetime Baltimore fan . My idol is gone. Godspeed.
Brooks is and always will be the GOAT 3rd baseman! No one was as good, they may have hit a little better but, none were the complete package which includes his humanity.
R.I.P. to the human vacuum cleaner! 😢
I wouldn’t argue that point but overall Mike Schmidt was the best third baseman and a gold glover and your point about hitting a little better , well Schmidt hit 548 home runs so your point is mute . He’s considered the best third baseman in baseball history .
There was no finer third baseman, including Mike Schmidt and Chipper Jones better than Brooks Robinson. Whether winning an MVP, gold gloves, deferring to Frank Robinson, as team leader - which led to World Series appearances and World Series trophies as well as amassing 2,800+ career hits. Brooks Robinson epitomized and exemplified the Oriole Way. Brooks was revered in Baltimore.
Is* revered
According to Baseball Reference, he has the top dWAR of any career third baseman.
I remember meeting Brooks all the way back in 1982 for an autograph signing. My dad saved a gameball from our Little League Championship where I pitched a struck out 14 in the game. I still remember how awesome he was. Very encouraging and true ambassador of the game. Just checked and I still have thje ball which says, To Ray, Nice going. Brooks Robinson. I still remember how warm and caring he was to everyone in attendance. Johnny Unitas was the same way. We were really blessed in Baltimore with some great sports heroes back then.
How many millions of folks can say this? "Brooks was my father's favorite baseball player."
I'm definitely one.
Brooks was like a father to all of us.
I’m 40 so it was my grandfather, but not just favorite, it was the end all be all, Brooksie and Johnny U! Couldn’t get no closer to sports heaven
Right here too. And my mom.
Probably anyone named Brooks around Maryland and Northern Virginia.
The entire '70 World Series vs. the Reds is a Brooks Robinson highlight reel.
That '70 World Series is the first one I remember watching. I was 8 years old, but Brooks' fielding in that series was something I never, ever forgot. He was the greatest fielding third baseman ever, and he was a heck of great clutch hitter as well.
Ask Johnny Bench!💯⚾😂
The Orioles that year won their last 11 games in the regular season, then swept the Twins in the AL Playoffs and won the first 3 in the WS vs. the Reds. That's a 17 game winning streak, and by winning game 5 in the series after a loss in game 4, that gave them 18 wins in their last 19 games in 1970. One of the underrated great teams of all time.
@@RRaquellothat is absurd! No wonder they dominated that division for so long. How did they lose to the Mets?
@@Etatdesiege1979 ... Koosman baby ... KOOSMAN!!!
In April 1965 I was a 7 year old kid a junior Oriole. My dad took my brother and I to camera day at Memorial Stadium. I was in awe to be standing so close to my hero who was posing in his hitting stance so l could take his picture. After the game my dad and I went home developed and printed the pictures. I still have those 3x5 photos of Brooks, Louis Aparicio and Boog Powell to this day along with one of my prized possessions a Brooks Robinson autographed baseball. When I heard he passed the first thing I did was run downstairs and hold that ball. He will be missed. He was truly a wonderful person.
There's a reason that Brooks Robinson is the only baseball player ever to be painted by the famous illustrator, Norman Rockwell, and it wasn't just because of his athletics; it was because of the authentic gentleman he was.
Eternity in peace, Brooksie, and put in a good word for me to the man upstairs, if you don't mind.
Yep. The composition of that piece says it all. He’s standing with a big smile giving an autograph to a kid. Brooks loved baseball and baseball loved him back.
As great of a player as he was, he was a much better human being. God rest his soul.
If anyone remembers the old 3M/Sports Illustrated baseball game, I use to play it with my friend when we were kids. I fell in love with the Orioles because of that game. The defensive ratings for Mark Belanger and Brooks Robinson were ridiculous. Later, I found out Brooks was from Arkansas, as is my father. So I became a fan even more. RIP
I remember that game. Me and my brother used to play it all the time. It was a lot of fun. Had those 1970's psychedelic color charts. The White Sox were my favorite team, but I knew you'd have a much better chance if you took the Orioles, so I did. My brother was always some National League team. Fooey.
I was born in 1961 in the St. Louis area, so without saying I am a true Cardinals fan . . . . But every kid I grew up with ALL wanted to be Brooks Robinson when we played 3rd base. 100% of us 💔❤️🩹
Went to 1970 world series game at 11yrs old single Mom! Thanks Mom😇🙏👈🇺🇲👍
Great story, great human being.
Great story from Rich about Brooks. RIP
He was before my time, but I played 3rd base and it is a brutal position. 16x Gold Glove winner is insane.
i was a die hard senator fan but my fav player was Brooks Robinson Rip
I looked up his stats this morning. Won AL MVP in 1964 with 26? homers, 118 rbi, .317 ba. World series MVP, All star game MVP. In addition to catching balls had a great arm. Well rounded player and from what I've been hearing just a great all around guy.
Did not have a great arm but had great hand and eye hand cordination that allowed his average arm to play.....16 consecutive gold gloves in Absolute dominance on both ends of the ball in the 1970 World Series also known as the Brooks Robinson World Series
@markjohnson7488 Brooks has said himself he didn’t have a strong arm. It’s not a knock on him at all.
...and 23 yrs. with the O's! We'd be hard pressed to find that longevity on any team ever! Robinson to Adair to Powell ....double play!
Growing up a little north of Baltimore, it was not unusual to see Brooks out and about in the community, at the grocery store, pumping gas, at the theater. He was always friendly and gracious to perfect strangers.
Oh one of the greats RIP. Bellanger at SS. Remember Ump Ron Luciano watched Brooks make an amazing play throw the guy out and Ron just stood there and applauded him. Obviously the guy was out.
RIP to a legend…
I’ve met many former and current MLB players and Brooks Robinson was definitely among the nicest and genuinely gracious individuals I have ever met!
I met Brooks at a charity event that my dad and grandfather took me to about 20 years ago. He told great stories and was very gracious talking with everyone during the event. So much of the coverage I’ve seen involves Brooks raising money for great causing which shows how tireless the gave back to so many communities after his retirement from baseball. I’m a lifelong Yankees fan but will be rooting hard for the O’s to win a WS for Brooks this fall.
I am so fortunate to have seen Brooks so many times.
As a kid growing up in Annapolis, Md. in the mid-60's, I was a HUGE fan of Mr. Brooks Robinson. Mr. Robinson held a yearly autograph signing event at a local shopping center and I made my mom take me two years in a row. He was very nice, posed for pictures, shook hands, signed a ball and my glove. A great couple of memories. Just a couple of months ago I ordered a Brooks Robinson jersey, finally, grey with BALTIMORE in script across the front and B. Robinson, don't forget about Frank, on the back with his number 5. When I played third base in high school, of course, I wore number 5 in his honor. RIP Brooksie.
Class act. Rare treasure. RIP
One Of My Favorite Players Ever In Any Sport! I Always Loved Watching Him Play Baseball Everyday! My Father Was Very Blessed To Get A Signed Autograph By Brooks Robinson! Hall Of Fame Person! Love The Book! One Of My Favorite Books In My Life Forever! Hard To Replace A Person Like Him In Any Way Possible! Rest In Peace! Brooks Robinson! Amen! May God Continue To Bless And Heal Your Family Today And Forever! Amen!
Everyone around Baltimore seems to have a Brooks Story. What an impact his kindness had on people.
Being a die hard Os fan since mid 60s I’ve seen Mr Robinson many many times. Attending game 5 of 1970 World Series will always be my greatest thrill ever in sports. Besides being a great player he was a great human being. Love forever the memories he left us all
16 Consecutive gold gloves. Holy crap
Thank you Rich! For the memories of Brooks! And for pronouncing "Bal'more" correctly!
Like many from my generation growing up in Baltimore, Brooks was my favorite player, and my hero. Watching him at the hot corner for all those wonderful years making the most extraordinary plays seem almost routine. In Baltimore he was, and is Mr. Oriole. Much like Johnny Unitas was to the Colts, both men were larger than life. Like Johnny U, Jim Palmer and Cal Ripken jr; Brooks took his rightful place on the Mt. Rushmore of Baltimore sports legends long ago. But as the great Jim Palmer so eloquently said. "As great a player as Brooksie was, he was an even greater person". RIP#5 you made this world a much better place for the time the good lord gave you to us.
Watching Brooks play in the playoffs and World Series was priceless! The young people will never know the joy of that era.
Brooks was my childhood hero. He's also my adult hero along with my dad.
Awesome piece. Well done.
I was 12 when we went to Memorial Stadium in ‘78 for “Thanks Brooks Day”. He took a lap around the stadium in an old convertible waving and expressing gratitude. As he drove by, I couldn’t hold back the tears. Couldn’t help but think that he was heading somewhere where mere mortals were not allowed. Like some baseball Valhalla.
Look at any interview with Brooks about winning the World Series in ‘66 and you will hear him give much of the credit to Frank. He said, “When we got Frank I knew we had a real shot!” Or words to that effect. I don’t think he ever thought he was as special as he was.
He always gave credit to Boog Powell of fielding his throws like that one off Lee May. After Boog left, Lee May replaced him.
Rest in Peace 🙏 Brooks
It’s episodes like this that make me so glad I started following you!!
Too young to see him play, but condolences to his family and Oriole’s nation.
2x World Series champ, WS MVP, 18x All-Star, 16 _consecutive_ Gold Gloves, AL MVP, 23 years with one team.
"Brooks Robinson plays 3rd like he was sent down from a higher league." -umpire Ed Hurley
of third basemen...all-time assists leader, all-time put out leader, all-time double play leader..... _still, to this day_
"Brooks isnt at his locker yet, but 4 reporters are over there interviewing his glove." - Os executive
"he could throw his glove on the field and it would turn 10 double plays by itself." - Sparky Anderson
I remember him being called The Vaccuum cleaner , in a world series game once , because he made the most impossible stops down the 3rd base line I have ever seen
One of the things gone from baseball nowadays is the feeling of rivalry between the leagues. As a kid growing up I was more an American League fan than I was a fan of any team, and those were tough days to be an AL fan. But Brooks was always one of our guys, with Killebrew and Kaline and Yaz and Catfish. Frank Robinson & Frank Howard too, even though they came over from the dark side, they became a real AL'ers. We always lost the All-Star game but won most of the World Series. A reproduction 1966 Orioles jersey with number 5 & B. Robinson on the back is the only baseball jersey I own.
Did you know that Brooks was a natural left-hander? This was one of the reasons why he had such an awesome glove hand.
Great story Rich.
He was my dad's favorite player. I think a lot of boys born in Arkansas idolized him.
The best! RIP Brooks!!
He was the Human Vacuum Cleaner.
Thank You Rich. :)
And yet, it could have been totally different as he had such a horrific injury when he was here in Vancouver, playing for the 1958 Vancouver Mounties. I was 4 yrs olde, so not much of a memory for me other than my dad constantly telling me you saw the future Hall of Famer.. R.I.P. Mr. Human Vacuum Cleaner.
I've estimated that I saw Brooks Robinson play over 100 times during his 20+ year career, the first time when he was playing for the York White Roses of the Piedmont League. For several years I lived within walking distance to Memorial Stadium, so a short walk on a warm Baltimore night allowed me to cheer on my first sports hero: Brooksie.
Fantastic story!
I had a Willie Stargell signed ball back in the 70s that I was playing catch with and it also rolled into the sewer.
Brooks was the antithesis of Eisen in every aspect of life.
Brooks Robinson- incredible third baseman batted right, fielded right and was a natural left hander
Made plays in the 1970 world series that I have never seen made again. Greatest fielding 3rd baseball of All time.
There are so many people in Baltimore who have a Brooks Robinson story. My ex-girlfriend wasn't into baseball but did landscaping at his house and gushed about how nice he was. I have a photojournalist friend who shot a spread for a local magazine on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The setup was Brooks blowing out candles on a cake. Eight years later, he was at a nice restaurant shooting a party for a client and a few tables over was Brooks and his family, again celebrating his birthday. My friend went over to greet him and before he could say anything, Brooks introduced him to his family, saying "This is the man who took my picture blowing out the candles." As if my friend was a celebrity. That's who Brooks was and that gives you a sense of the deep loss we are feeling here.
Brooks was the best of Baltimore, hands down. The GOAT. I’ll miss him. :(
not just mid-Atlantic area. This kid from San Diego learned to play infield watching #5 on TV. Only so much I could get from the '69 Padres. God speed Mr. Robinson.
Thanks
the best defensive player, all time at any position, in all of baseball………………wonderful human being, who will be missed……..never be another like him.
The King of the Hot Corner. The Human Vacuum. Mr. Oriole will always be remembered. Even nowadays people still name their kids Brooks because of his Greatness.
Was at that final game at Memorial in '70, sat way out in left field, but after the game we were allowed to go on the field, and somebody scratched in the 3rd base dirt, "Brooks works here"
Check out how John Harbaugh met Brooksie for the first time. His first year as the Ravens Head Coach he took his 6 year old daughter trick or treating. He knocked on a door in the neighborhood and it was Brooksie's house. They spoke for several minutes and John went to finish the night with his daughter. Awesome story.
Brooks is a Baltimore legend, a Little Rock legend and a national treasure. The O's will honor him by winning the WS with our new generation Brooks in Gunnar Henderson.
That would be so cool. As a NoCal Giants fan, if my Giants aren't in it, got to still pull for the orange and black. I got to hit the yard in 2010, very impressive! Brooks was an idle of mine growing up in the 60's and 70's. Sad to hear the news of his passing, but man the memories will never pass.
Not only does he lead in gold gloves,he leads iin father's naming their children after him he once said there was no greater honor that he received.lovevya Brooks
The best thing said about Brooksie: In New York they named candy bars for Reggie Jackson. In Baltimore, they named their children for Brooks.
16 consecutive glove gloves. Enough said!
Mike Schmidt for me… but total props to Brooks. God bless him.
Thanks for this, Rich. As a Gen-Xer (and 2nd baseman), my Boomer dad (who grew up largely in the Pacific Northwest) STILL repeats the story of how he would have been, dat gummit, the next Brooks Robinson...if it hadn't been for puberty and discovering those damn girls. 😂 In short, Robinson's greatness was universal for baseball kids across America in the 50s and 60s. May he finally rest in peace from his duty as the King of the Hot Corner.
What was it about we can’t explain, but you feel it when you watch him play. Belongs with the Legends, not just HOFers, but Legends - maybe 50 of them.
86. BROOKS. "THE MAN" he will be missed
Baltimore. We lost a legend.
😢
The great Brooks Robinson, the third baseman that all others are measured against! R.I.P.
...whenever we would watch the other team's third baseman miss a ball hit to him my Dad would say, "Brooks would've got it!" A saying that we adopted to this day. No. 5 ❤❤❤
If I were mayor of Baltimore, there would be huge statues of Brooks and Johnny Unitas along every road going into that city.
To me, they are like lords over the city.
86!!!
Todays players can learn a thing or 2 from Brooks Robinson about not only how to be a good player but good person. I hear so many stories about players being assholes and rude to ppl but not Brooks Robinson.
Mr . BROOKS ROBINSON IS WHAT YOU NEED IN TODAY'S GAME...NOT GUYS BAT TOSSING LIKE TIM ANDERSON ( I AM A WHITE SOX FAN...AND I DON'T LIKE THAT CRAP) OR ACTING STUPID ON THE FIELD. TOO THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE THAT WATCH THIS MAN PLAY & BE PART OF ORIOLE NATION. SO SORRY FOR ALL OF YOU & BASEBALL FANS ACROSS THE WORLD.THAT LOVED & RESPECTED HIM FOR NOT JUST BEING A GREAT BALLPLAYER.BUT, A GREAT HUMAN BEING, FATHER, SON , TEAMMATE AS WELL. RIP BROOKS ( AND HOPEFULLY, EARL WEAVER & THE REST OF THE O' BIRDS THAT GOT THEIR WINGS BEFORE YOU. GREET YOU AT THE BIG DUGOUT IN THE SKY.
Reckon the Lord was lookin for a third baseman for his baseball team, that's a call-up we all hope for one day. 🛌☕⏳📖🛐🌄
There were a number of Men like him of that era. I looked up to him as I did my two local hero’s of my neck of the woods, Al Kaline & my name sake Gordie Howe.
Al Kaline was a Baltimore boy...went to Southern High School in Baltimore.
He was a man who was sent down from a higher league.
My large nuclear & extended had the luxury of celebrating Christmas with Brooks & Family for 12+ years in the 70s -80s with 60 year Oriole chaplain Martin Schwalenberg-my cousin
Just say it this way: "Brooks Robinson was the greatest. He was also a great baseball player."
Chipper Jones was not even in the same class as Mike Schmidt. I watched Brooks growing up , he was not only a great ball player but a truly wonderful human being . Overall though Mike Schmidt was the best third baseman in the game . He could field with the best of them and hit more home runs than any third baseman that played , he also could steal 20 or more bases .
Playing little league in the 70's anytime someone made a diving play in the infield, he was always christened as Brooks.