My childhood idol was Brooks Robinson. He was a professional baseball player- a third baseman who played his entire career for the Baltimore Orioles. At age nine, I watched Brooks perform spectacular feats during the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The Orioles won that championship on Brooks’ shoulders as he wowed with both his defensive and offensive skills.
Brooks Robinson died September 26th at 86 years of age. He played his last professional game in 1977- so why does his passing provoke sadness and nostalgia 46 years later? Because, unlike many so-called sports legends who come and go each generation, Brooks Robinson was not only a sports icon, but a truly remarkable man.
Born in Little Rock, Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. grew up in a working-class household. His father was employed at a bakery, his mother at Sears. The youngster made money as a paperboy, delivering the Arkansas Gazette. Brooks’ father introduced him to baseball, using a sawed-off broomstick as a bat. Later, when Brooks’ talent became apparent, a teammate said he was not an overly strong or tall athletic specimen, but had “baseball savvy and is always cool when the chips are down.”
Brooks Robinson arrived in the Baltimore lineup in 1955, a young talent on a new franchise transferred from St. Louis. But Oriole baseball fans quickly saw the content of Robinson’s character.
It took a few years for Robinson and the Orioles to gel into a winner, but when their baseball engine revved into high gear, there was no stopping the Baltimore birds. Early on, a term was coined to symbolize the franchise’s growing success. It was called the “Oriole Way”, which focused on achievement through teamwork, solid fundamentals and a solid scouting system. An alternate version could have been “Brooks’ Way”, since all those qualities were embodied by Mister Robinson.
In the 1966 World Series, the Orioles made their dominance official, sweeping the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers, four games to none. A famous photo at the Series’ conclusion showed a jubilant Brooks Robinson leaping for joy- an expression of pure ecstasy for a dream achieved. The Orioles would also make World Series appearances in 1969-1971. Brooks Robinson would pair with first-rate playing partners Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer to achieve another championship in 1970.
Brooks’ individual performance in the ’70 Series was one for the ages. After he stopped every line drive, ground ball and hurtling baseball hit his way- to the frustration of the Red’s legendary lineup- he was forever called “the human vacuum cleaner”. Was Brooks the best athlete on that field? Not likely- but he was arguably the most instinctive and intelligent third baseman who ever put on a glove.
In Major League Baseball, supreme fielders at each position are given “Gold Gloves” to celebrate their defensive skills. Brooks Robinson won 16 straight Gold Gloves as a third baseman and played that position in 18 straight All-Star games. No other player has come close to achieving that consistency of excellence. Brooks played more games at third base than anyone in history.
At his farewell game in 1977- at age 40- many tears were shed for the man who played a grownup version of child’s game. During his later Hall-of-Fame induction speech, a humble Brooks Robinson remarked when looking back at his career: “I keep asking myself, how could any one man be so fortunate?”
Life after baseball was not always a picnic- living a hero’s legacy can be challenging, even for a man of Robinson’s caliber. Post-baseball business ventures didn’t always go according to plan. But through the years, Brooks was a treasured and approachable Oriole legend. Despite being a native Arkansan, Robinson became as Maryland as crab cakes or Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner.
Famed sports columnist Thomas Boswell described Robinson’s persona: “He had great talent and never abused it. He received adulation and reciprocated with common decency. Other stars had fans. Robinson made friends.”
Brooks Robinson would have undoubtedly excelled in any profession he pursued. His every-man physique and down-to-earth personality was paired with an intense drive to succeed. What he achieved was a testament to the power of hard work and dedication. Brooks was the man you wanted playing on your team, living on your street, or simply being your hero.
Former teammate Jim Palmer summed up Brooks’ lasting legacy when he said this week: “We all know what a great player he was, but we also know how special a person he was. God, I love that man.”
As the 2023 Oriole’s team concludes a season of excellence, with possibilities for another World Series championship, current players will certainly be inspired by the former third baseman. Brooks Robinson will be remembered, crouched at third base, symbolizing all the essential qualities that propel teams to their highest level of performance.
Brooks Robinson’s passing also provides introspection to those of us in the autumn years of our lives. Heroes seldom live up to the hype and expectations we unjustly place upon them. But Brooks Robinson’s sporting career was a shining example: sometimes heroes exceed far beyond our childhood adulation. With inspiration from Brooks’ extraordinary life, perhaps we too can be someone’s hero.
