Wonderful tribute, Joe. This article and your #73 story in The Baseball 100 are still the only places where I’ve read that Brooks, incredibly, almost unbelievably, started out left-handed. The nuggets you dig up and impart are truly incomparable! Speaking of The Baseball 100, absolutely nothing against Cal Ripken, Jr., but Brooks truly was “Mr. Oriole.” Perhaps Brooks and Cal could have been rated a tie at #44 or #73? Or, say (split the difference), #59 maybe?
My first glove (1966) was a Brooks Robinson autograph model from Rawlings. As a kid, I loved watching him and pretending to be him. Thanks for your remembrance.
Beautiful tribute. Too young to have seen him play, but this still brought a tear to my eye. People like Brooks don't seem to come around all that often.
He wasn’t my dad’s favorite player because my dad was a lifelong Tigers fan and Brooks and Frank both seemed to elevate their game against Detroit. We admired them while wishing we had them.
What a wonderful, wonderful tribute to an amazing baseball player, and yet, even more importantly an indescribable-out-of-this-world-inspirational-soul!
wow. I missed that he had passed, and reading this tribute was just an excellent way to honor his life, and the memories he has provided to so many. thank you
What a great player. Remember O’s games at the old stadium. Brooks was no longer playing. Except his sphere was so strong, Orioles & fans alike had changed. In those times — in a very hard bitten and dying steel town — at every O’s game everyone of us felt happy to be an Oriole. That was Brooks Robinson.
In the early 1960s, we (my family) would take 2-3 trips per year to old Comiskey Park on Saturday afternoons. One of those games pitted the Sox and the Orioles.
I only knew Brooks Robinson from his baseball card. During the game, one of the Sox players (I forget who) hit a sharp grounder that went through Robinson's legs (and wound up as a 2 base error). When we were done cheering, my dad leaned over and told me, my brothers, and my sisters, "You'll never see that again."
I did not really appreciate him throwing that wet towel on the moment (the Sox needed all the baserunners that could get), but I never forgot it. And, as Mark Twain observed regarding how much smarter his father became as he (Twain) got older, I never did see that again when Brooks was on the field.
Just found this oral history on the 70 series by Dan Connolly, who the NYT let go from the Athletic. If you still have a subscription there, this piece from the 50th anniversary is incredible.
1970 is when I started noticing pro sports. I don’t have firsthand memories of the Jets or Mets wins, but I do remember Len Dawson and the Chiefs, and even more, Brooksie and the O’s beating the nascent Big Red Machine.
Yes. Whoa. Most of us are flailing around at the ball with our non-dominant hand so that we can save our best coordination for the throw.
Assuming it’s possible to learn to throw very well with non-dominant hand (it seems like it is), then what an advantage to play 3rd base with a glove on the more coordinated hand! It jumps out to me as the difference between Great and GOAT.
Sure - for Brooks Robinson. A bit less-than-optimum for the vast majority. No one is gonna suggest you use your less-dominant arm to make the longest infield throws.
The point is, you don't know that using your dominant arm to throw is better, on balance, than using it to catch. It's certainly reasonable to ask whether using it to catch is better at third, where quick reactions are paramount. And maybe at second or first, where arm strength is less important. The question mostly applies to left-dominant people in the infield, of course.
One thing I didn't realize about Robinson. His 1970 post season has to be in the picture for best post season EVER. Yes he was brilliant on offense and defense in the WS and deservedly won the MVP, but did you know he hit .583/.538/.750 (love it when the BA is higher than the OBP, assuming there is a SacF in there) in the ALCS.? Combined in the 1970 post season, his numbers are .484/.471/.788 in 8 games plus the brilliant defense.
Great tribute. I thought Tony Oliva was Joe's dads favorite player according to 100 outsides of the Hall of Fame. Either way both are awesome
Wonderful tribute, Joe. This article and your #73 story in The Baseball 100 are still the only places where I’ve read that Brooks, incredibly, almost unbelievably, started out left-handed. The nuggets you dig up and impart are truly incomparable! Speaking of The Baseball 100, absolutely nothing against Cal Ripken, Jr., but Brooks truly was “Mr. Oriole.” Perhaps Brooks and Cal could have been rated a tie at #44 or #73? Or, say (split the difference), #59 maybe?
My first glove (1966) was a Brooks Robinson autograph model from Rawlings. As a kid, I loved watching him and pretending to be him. Thanks for your remembrance.
Beautiful tribute. Too young to have seen him play, but this still brought a tear to my eye. People like Brooks don't seem to come around all that often.
He wasn’t my dad’s favorite player because my dad was a lifelong Tigers fan and Brooks and Frank both seemed to elevate their game against Detroit. We admired them while wishing we had them.
Had to read #73 of Baseball 100 and cry again from joy and laughter.
What a wonderful, wonderful tribute to an amazing baseball player, and yet, even more importantly an indescribable-out-of-this-world-inspirational-soul!
God speed, Brooksie!
wow. I missed that he had passed, and reading this tribute was just an excellent way to honor his life, and the memories he has provided to so many. thank you
Beautiful
Terrific essay, Joe.
What a great player. Remember O’s games at the old stadium. Brooks was no longer playing. Except his sphere was so strong, Orioles & fans alike had changed. In those times — in a very hard bitten and dying steel town — at every O’s game everyone of us felt happy to be an Oriole. That was Brooks Robinson.
In the early 1960s, we (my family) would take 2-3 trips per year to old Comiskey Park on Saturday afternoons. One of those games pitted the Sox and the Orioles.
I only knew Brooks Robinson from his baseball card. During the game, one of the Sox players (I forget who) hit a sharp grounder that went through Robinson's legs (and wound up as a 2 base error). When we were done cheering, my dad leaned over and told me, my brothers, and my sisters, "You'll never see that again."
I did not really appreciate him throwing that wet towel on the moment (the Sox needed all the baserunners that could get), but I never forgot it. And, as Mark Twain observed regarding how much smarter his father became as he (Twain) got older, I never did see that again when Brooks was on the field.
Just found this oral history on the 70 series by Dan Connolly, who the NYT let go from the Athletic. If you still have a subscription there, this piece from the 50th anniversary is incredible.
https://theathletic.com/2131244/2020/10/12/50-years-later-an-oral-history-of-the-brooks-robinson-world-series/
1970 is when I started noticing pro sports. I don’t have firsthand memories of the Jets or Mets wins, but I do remember Len Dawson and the Chiefs, and even more, Brooksie and the O’s beating the nascent Big Red Machine.
It might be that catching with your dominant hand is the better strategy?
Yes. Whoa. Most of us are flailing around at the ball with our non-dominant hand so that we can save our best coordination for the throw.
Assuming it’s possible to learn to throw very well with non-dominant hand (it seems like it is), then what an advantage to play 3rd base with a glove on the more coordinated hand! It jumps out to me as the difference between Great and GOAT.
Sure - for Brooks Robinson. A bit less-than-optimum for the vast majority. No one is gonna suggest you use your less-dominant arm to make the longest infield throws.
The point is, you don't know that using your dominant arm to throw is better, on balance, than using it to catch. It's certainly reasonable to ask whether using it to catch is better at third, where quick reactions are paramount. And maybe at second or first, where arm strength is less important. The question mostly applies to left-dominant people in the infield, of course.
One thing I didn't realize about Robinson. His 1970 post season has to be in the picture for best post season EVER. Yes he was brilliant on offense and defense in the WS and deservedly won the MVP, but did you know he hit .583/.538/.750 (love it when the BA is higher than the OBP, assuming there is a SacF in there) in the ALCS.? Combined in the 1970 post season, his numbers are .484/.471/.788 in 8 games plus the brilliant defense.