https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robinbr01.shtml
By Grand Rapids Anonymous
tuesday, september 26, 2023 at 7:28:00 p.m. edt
GRA: I read the obits, and who knows anymore—it seems even a first ballot, Hall of Famer like #5, Brooks Robinson—because he’s White—can’t get the proper salute for a tremendous career—back when baseball was fun.
1969 was the first time I saw baseball on tv—except for local, rare Tigers’ broadcasts—and that was a few minutes of the Mets’ upset of the Robinson boys’ team—the Baltimore Orioles. By next fall, I was subscribing to Sports Illustrated and following the Big Red Machine, as they were called—a supposed shoo-in for the World Series, but Brooks Robinson’s spectacular defense, singlehandedly made the Orioles the champs instead. He also hit .429 with two home runs in the 5 game series. A clutch hitter, Robinson played 23 years—all with Baltimore.
I remember analysts like Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek remarking that Robinson was slow as a runner, but quick as a cat, reacting to hot smashes down the third base line, or to his left. Old video confirms that aplenty.
A great, White player of my youth, whom I didn’t get to see often enough, but heard on the radio through the descriptions of Ernie Harwell (Tigers’ announcing great)—and Kaline was robbed of extra bases by Brooks Robinson, diving to his right and throwing the runner out at first.”
The good old days.
--GRA
N.S.: I recall “Brooks Robby” taking over the ‘70 Series, in which he won the MVP Award, mostly with his glove. He kept going horizontal, to catch line drives and hard ground balls, which would have gotten past any other man on the hot corner.
Seeing as the Series in those days was all day games, most of which were played while we were in school (I can recall one teacher permitting a classmate bring in a little transistor radio, so we could hear a part of one game, while we were in class), I’m guessing that I recall those great Brooks Robby stops from a highlight reel I saw at the time.
Brooks Robinson Highlight Reel
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2 comments:
Baseball on a transistor radio--fantastic--but it was only great back then because the announcers were so distinctive in voice,knowledgeable,and entertaining--yet familiar and soothing to listen to.
From Grand Rapids,I could pull in Chicago,Minnesota,Cincinnati,Cleveland,Pittsburgh,St.Louis and Milwaukee games and the Tigers via WJEF(later WCUZ) in Grand Rapids.Every announcer in those cities were accomplished at the time and varied in style.
Today,95% of the ones I hear,sound just like the rest.
In other words--boring.
--GRA
That World Series and the performance of Brooks Robinson a thing of legend.
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