Brooks Calbert Robinson. All of us baseball addicted freaks know the name. We know his 16 Gold Gloves. a lifer in Baltimore. The cornerstone of Baltimore’s golden age. He’s the name every aspiring young 3rd baseman is told to be like. Only our grandfathers could really tell you about him, adding to his baseball mystique, while still playing in debatably the “modern era” (1955-1977), And he’s still alive! Truly making him one of the most unique players in the games history. so, who is this fucking guy?
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1937, went to Little Rock Central High School, Attended The University of Arkansas At Little Rock (not the Razorbacks), the definitive golden son of the city. 6’1 180 pounds in his prime, batted right, threw right. Made his debut at 18 for the Orioles against Washington and went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and for the next 22 years, would be Baltimore’s primary third baseman and change the position forever.
So many great quirky stats mixed with his great accolades, i gotta make a list of ’em:
- His 16 Gold Gloves we’re all in a row, at a time where you didn’t win one just because of your name.
- Led the league in games played in 5 different years, 4 of them in a row (’61 to ’64)
- Despite being a lifetime .267 hitter, he still manage to amass 2848 hits
- Never struck out, or walked, 100 times in a season (averaged 55 Ks a year)
- His lifetime OBP/SLG/OPS is .322/401/723. Yet, still launched a respectable 268 homers
- MVP (’64), 2x WS Winner (’66, ’72), 18x All-Star, WS MVP in ’70
- Went a combined 16 for 33 in the 1970 ALCS and WS, putting the Orioles on his back in the 2nd year of 3 straight Baltimore WS appearances
- 3rd highest Defensive WAR all time (39.1)
- The league average Fielding % during his playing career was .952, Brooks averaged .971
- 1st all time in Total Zone Runs, Games Played at 3rd, Putouts, Assists, Double Plays Turned, and Range Factor at 3B, The Wayne Gretzky of playing the hot corner
- Longest career spent with one team in MLB history
I grew up with some pretty damn good 3Bs, hell my favorite player ever was one in Chipper, but even him and the A Rods, the Arenados, Boggs, Beltres, Rolens etc.. they’d all tell you that Brooks was what they emulated. Taught to emulate. Not only on the field, but off. This guy is literally God in the City of Baltimore. He treated the fans like they were his heroes, and they treated him back like their patron saint. From being the golden boy of Little Rock, Arkansas (sorry Mr. Clinton), to being the greatest athlete in Baltimore sports history, he did it all in the game, and in life. A living legend in the game of baseball, and still walks the same earth as we do. I’d pay a hefty amount to have watched him play in his prime, in Baltimore’s golden age, just to say I saw the greatest 3B ever. Famous former umpire Ed Hurley once said after seeing him play in his time, that “he came to the MLB from a higher league”, and how could you not believe him.
