Brooks Robinso, the Hall of Fame 3rd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 86. The “Human Vaccuum Cleaner”, as he was known as, was an All-Star 18 times! He also won an astounding 16 Gold Gloves! He was arguably the best defensive 3rd baseman in MLB history. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983, becoming the first 3rd baseman to be inducted in his first year of eligibility.
Brooks won the AL MVP award in 1964, and was an integral part on some of the best teams the Baltimore Orioles ever had. His first World Series win came in 1966, but it would not be his most impactful World Series win. After the Mets beat the Orioles in the 1969 World Series, Robinson was instrumental in bringing the Orioles back to the World Series in 1970. All he did that year was play in 158 games, hit 18 home runs, drive in 94 runs, and hit .276. More importantly, he hit .429 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs in the World Series. The Orioles beat the Reds in 7 games, and Robinson was named the MVP of the World Series for his heroic efforts. Although Robinson will always be a Baltimore icon, he was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1937.
His number 5 was retired on April 14th, 1978. He truly changed how 3rd base was played and viewed from a defensive perspective. He will forever be remembered as a hero in Baltimore, and he was honored with a statue unveiling at Camden Yards on September 29th, 2012. Only 5 other players in Orioles history have this distinct honor.
However, he wasn’t just known for his on the field heroics. A collection of his memorabilia was put up for auction in 2015 and garnered $1.44 million for charity. Everything but his Hall of Fame ring was put up for sale. That’s the type of man Brooks was.
Between his on the field honors and heroics, and the touching tributes to him from all corners in the baseball community, it’s clear Robinson’s memory will never fade. He’s the true definition of a sports icon, and created memories for both Orioles fans and baseball fans worldwide for decades.
RIP to a true baseball legend.