Cooperstown Chronicles – Brooks Robinson
Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI
Miggyboy, a friend of mine from Sporting News, wanted me to profile Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. Here are my findings.
The Numbers
2896 Games (13th All-time)
10654 At Bats (14th All-tim)
.267 Batting Average
1232 Runs
2848 Hits (42nd All-time)
482 Doubles (63rd All-time)
68 Triples
268 HR
1357 RBI (76th All-time)
4270 Total Bases (49th All-time)
Playoffs: 39 Games, 44 hits in 145 At Bats (.303), 17 Runs, 8 Doubles, 5 HR, 22 RBI
Awards
1964 MVP
1966 All-Star MVP
1966 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
1970 Babe Ruth Award
1972 Roberto Clemente Award
16 Gold Gloves
15 All-Star Appearances
MVP Votes in 12 Seasons
Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average – Four times
Slugging % – Twice
OPS – Once
Runs – Three times
Hits - Nine times
Doubles - Seven times
Triples – Three times
Home Runs – Twice
RBI – Eight times (Led league in 1964)
Extra Base Hits – Six times
Intentional Walks – Four times
Total Bases – Seven times
Games – Nine (Led league in ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64 & ’68)
Defensively there has never been a better fielder than Brooks Robinson, the Vacuum Cleaner. Sixteen consecutive Gold Gloves. He helped Baltimore win a couple of World Series titles. He was an MVP, an great person and teammate, a good hitter, and did I mention his fielding? I would have loved to have been around to see Brooks play. The highlights have been great, but can you imagine watching him on the third base line and have him scoop up a ball almost next to you and fire to first to beat the runner? Unbelievable. Although this was a slam dunk, I’m glad I was able to go back and check out his offensive numbers. What a player, what a fielder, what a Hall of Famer!
References
Baseball Reference
Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish
Mo Vaughn
Mark Grace
Dennis Martinez
Chuck Finley
Fred McGriff
Wes Parker
Steve Finley
Orlando Cepeda
Albert Belle
Willie Randolph
Graig Nettles
Luis Gonzalez
Lefty O’Doul
Rocky Colavito
Boog Powell
Jerry Koosman
Mike Cuellar
Edgar Martinez
Mo Morrissey
April 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm #
What a player is right.
Ryan Lester
April 4th, 2008 at 2:21 pm #
No doubt Mo.
Larry Novak
April 4th, 2008 at 7:01 pm #
I did get to see him, both on TV and in Person. This was the best defensive 3rd baseman I ever saw.
As a Yankee fan I “Hated” him along with Frank, Mike Cuellar, Jim Palmer and most of all Earl Weaver.
Absolute SLAM DUNK!
Ryan Lester
April 4th, 2008 at 10:12 pm #
Thanks for adding Larry.
2009 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot | Fantasy Sports Blog
December 8th, 2008 at 9:18 am #
[...] Pinson Boog Powell Tim Raines Willie Randolph Pee Wee Reese* Allie Reynolds Jim Rice Phil Rizzuto* Brooks Robinson* Pete Ro$e Amos Rusie* Jimmy Ryan Ron Santo Curt Schilling Red Schoendienst* (Player/Manager) Ted [...]
Cooperstown Chronicles - Stan Coveleski :: Elites TV
May 13th, 2009 at 1:11 pm #
[...] Pinson Boog Powell Tim Raines Willie Randolph Pee Wee Reese* Allie Reynolds Jim Rice Phil Rizzuto* Brooks Robinson* Pete Ro$e Amos Rusie* Jimmy Ryan Ron Santo Curt Schilling Red Schoendienst* (Player/Manager) Ted [...]