RIP Brooks Robinson

[HanSenSE]

First I'm seeing this and haven't seen any confirmation, but, damn.

 

[Cosmo]

RIP to a legend. 86 years is a good life lived.

 

[Neutral Corner]

One hell of a ballplayer. Rest.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

This would be so sad at any time of the year, but during the final week of the Orioles' best season in decades is particularly heart-breaking. Hopefully the O's can win it for him. RIP to one of the best to ever play the game.

 

[matt_garth]

 

[micropolitan guy]

From what I understand from my Maryland friends, he was a community icon in addition to being a HOFer. A man who helped me in my youth, in a way he could never know.

 

[MileHigh]

An absolute legend. Was just a tad too young to fully embrace and watch his greatness, but my dad raved about him.

RIP.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

When I was 13, some baseball card show organizers would bring in a current player or former player to sign autographs at monthly shows in the next town over from us.

On the day that my Babe Ruth League opened its season, I was wearing my replica California Angels uniform as my mother took me prior to my game to meet Brooks and get his autograph. Brooks was super-nice, commented on how he wished my uniform was an Orioles one, wished me luck for the season (didn’t happen; I majorly sucked and we went 4-10) and not only signed a ball for me, but also took a picture with me.

For years afterward, my mother, who was only a slight baseball fan, would rave about how nice he was. RIP

 

[Cosmo]

The broadcast booth got real dusty for Jim Palmer and Ben McDonald in the pregame. Then Kyle Bradish worked a 1-2-3 first and Gunnar Henderson led off the bottom with a towering homer. A nice way to honor the man.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

When I was 13, some baseball card show organizers would bring in a current player or former player to sign autographs at monthly shows in the next town over from us.

On the day that my Babe Ruth League opened its season, I was wearing my replica California Angels uniform as my mother took me prior to my game to meet Brooks and get his autograph. Brooks was super-nice, commented on how he wished my uniform was an Orioles one, wished me luck for the season (didn’t happen; I majorly sucked and we went 4-10) and not only signed a ball for me, but also took a picture with me.

For years afterward, my mother, who was only a slight baseball fan, would rave about how nice he was. RIP

My Dad's uncle got me an autographed Brooks lithograph in the '80s. It reads "To BYH: Sorry the game moves so slow." @BTExpress But seriously, my great-uncle was a great guy but he had some mobility issues, so wherever he got this, he didn't have to go far in small-town Florida to get it. They certainly don't make guys like Brooks anymore. Can you imaginer a HOFer signing at a monthly card show now, or just posing for pictures with teenagers in their baseball uniforms?

 

[garrow]

RIP to one of the all-time greats. Loved the O's cap with the cartoon bird and the black background.

Also an alum of one of the most prominent high schools in U.S. history--Little Rock Central.

 

[maumann]

When you say "best third baseman" to a generation of Baby Boomers, Brooksie is No. 1 on the list by a pretty good margin, with perhaps Ron Santo or Graig Nettles in the discussion. Brett and Schmidt were better hitters but I don't think Robinson had an equal as a defender. Aurelio Rodriguez was damn good, but he was no Brooks Robinson.

The fact that nearly every third baseman since has been compared to him defensively is a testament to how great he was at the hot corner. He was a virtual human highlight reel in the 1970 World Series, earning that Vacuum Cleaner nickname. He made both the All-Star team and earned a Gold Glove in every season from 1960 to 1974.

His offensive production tailed off somewhat after 1965, but the Orioles had Frank and Boog in the middle of the lineup. One of those increasingly rare guys who spent his entire career in the same uniform.

RIP, Mr. Robinson. A baseball nation turns its grateful eyes to you.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Very sad that Brooksie didn't get to see his ballclub in one more pennant race. And make no mistake, it was his ballclub. He loved Baltimore, and Baltimore loved him.

He was a great guy, first off. Meet him for the first time, and that's the impression you would get. The man put on no airs.

He would not have been drafted today. The measureables were not there with Brooks. What he did, he did with smarts, instinct and intensity.

You've seen plenty of third basemen making diving snags of liners destined for the outfield, the stuff of Brooks Robinson's highlight reel. But what I remember growing up is that I don't think there is a third baseman yet, to this day, who was his equal at the barehanded pickup and throw on a slow roller. It was automatic.

I might go get some National Bo tonight in No. 5's honor.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[Michael_ Gee]

When you say "best third baseman" to a generation of Baby Boomers, Brooksie is No. 1 on the list by a pretty good margin, with perhaps Ron Santo or Graig Nettles in the discussion. Brett and Schmidt were better hitters but I don't think Robinson had an equal as a defender. Aurelio Rodriguez was damn good, but he was no Brooks Robinson.

The fact that nearly every third baseman since has been compared to him defensively is a testament to how great he was at the hot corner. He was a virtual human highlight reel in the 1970 World Series, earning that Vacuum Cleaner nickname. He made both the All-Star team and earned a Gold Glove in every season from 1960 to 1974.

His offensive production tailed off somewhat after 1965, but the Orioles had Frank and Boog in the middle of the lineup. One of those increasingly rare guys who spent his entire career in the same uniform.

RIP, Mr. Robinson. A baseball nation turns its grateful eyes to you.

Schmidt won 10 Gold Gloves, nine of them consecutively. He was the best fielding third baseman of his era as Robinson was on his.

 

[UNCGrad]

This is wonderful from SVP:

 

[User 149557]

Sportscenter spent 10 seconds on his death. How do they not have prerecorded obits from Tim Kurkjian on every aging baseball great?

 

[goalmouth]

Twenty years ago we were in Baltimore and discovered we were too late for what turned out to be a paid signing for 200 people. He was on his way out and I asked for an autograph. Neither of us had a pen. His flack tried to shoo us away. Brooks stops him and says, How about a photo? And that's how we got a family portrait with Brooks Robinson.

 

[Songbird]

He goes in what could be a magical year for the O's.

One of those players I wish I could have seen.

 

[HanSenSE]