RIP - Brooks Robinson

 

Brooks Robinson, the greatest-ever American League 3rd baseman, passed away on September 26, 2023 at age 86.

Robinson played 23 seasons (all for the Orioles) from 1955-1977, and was the team's starting 3rd baseman from April 1958 to May 1976, although he spent some time in the minors during 1959. 

 

Brooks was an 18-time All-Star and a 16-time Gold Glove award winner. He also won the AL MVP in 1964, the World Series MVP in 1970, and the All-Star Game MVP in 1966. 

 

He is 2nd on the All-Time Orioles list for games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, and RBI (all behind Cal Ripken), and 4th in home runs.

 

Robinson retired after the 1977 season, and began broadcasting Orioles' games, through 1993.  He also worked with the players' alumni association, and owned several minor-league teams. 

 

WBAL-TV (Baltimore) obituary   

 

New York Times obituary  

 

ESPN obituary 

 

Stars of the 1960s: Brooks Robinson

7th in a series...

Wow! I haven't had a "Stars of the 1960s" post since last March, so let's revisit the Orioles:

Here are my 4 oldest Brooks' cards. (Actually, the 1967 card is the newest to me, as I only got it 2 years ago.)  In hindsight, I wasn't missing much all those 49 years, since I already had the "reprint" that Topps apparently issued in their 1969 set! :/

Brooks played for 23 seasons - all with the Orioles.  I just recently posted Ed Kranepool's card on my 1966 blog, where I realized he played 18 seasons - all with the Mets.  Sometime I will have to do a study of players from the 1960s who played more than 10 seasons and all with the same team.  (I can only think of Mantle, Gibson, and Yaz off the top of my head.)

Anyway, back to B Robby:  He was an All-Star for 15 consecutive seasons, and won 16 consecutive Gold Glove awards. Surprisingly (to me anyway) he led the AL with 118 RBI in 1964, and was the MVP that year.

1964 Topps Coins

I picked up these 1964 Topps coins while out on a recent antiques expedition with Mrs. Jim from Downingtown.

My only prior coin in this set is Phillies' 2nd baseman Tony Taylor. The 1964 coin set includes two types of coins - "regular", and all-stars, with some of the same players appearing on both. These are actually before my (childhood collecting) time, although I do have a few 1971 coins from back in the day.

I've now doubled my "Warren Spahn collection", having recently acquired his 1964 Topps giant card.

It occurs to me that the only sports "cards" I have bought since 2010 are oddballs like these coins, about a dozen 1964 Topps giant cards, and some early-1960s Philadelphia Eagles.

I've sworn off buying/collecting current-issue cards (for a variety of reasons), and only collect vintage stuff. My 1966 and 1970 baseball sets are about 85% complete, and someday I will resume finishing those sets.