Brooks Robinson, former third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles and the much beloved color commentator for the Orioles' television network, retired from baseball in 1977 after 20 years and 72 days in the major leagues. He was later elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in a landslide, receiving 92 percent of the votes cast.
Earl Weaver once said about him, "Brooks leads the league every year in everything that's right," and his long list of accomplishments certainly proves this statement true.
Robinson was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the American League in 1964, MVP for the 1966 All-Star Game, and MVP for the 1970 World Series. He received 16 straight Gold Gloves from 1960 through 1974, and was picked for the Sporting News' American League All-Star Team nine times.
In 1964, Robinson led the American League in RBI's and achieved a career high of 28 homers in the same year. He hit 17 or more homers nine times, 11 or more 11 times, had six career grand slams, holds the American League record for most sacrifice flies and ranks 31st on the all-time major league hit list.
During his outstanding baseball career, Robinson held, and in some cases still holds, numerous major league lifetime records. These include: highest fielding percentage, most seasons played, most games played, most chances accepted excluding errors, most putouts, most assists, and most double plays.
Robinson's 268th and last home run provided one of the most emotional experiences in Orioles' history. It was April 19, 1977 at Memorial Stadium; the O's trailed the Indians, 5-2, in the 10th. With one out and runners on 1st and 2nd, Lee May singled in a run. The O's now trailed by 2 as Brooks came to the plate as a pinch-hitter for Larry Harlow. He ran the count to "3 & 2," fouled off a number of pitches, then hit a home run into the left field stands off southpaw Dave LaRoche to win the game 6-5.
Today, in addition to doing color commentary, Robinson serves as a vice-president of Personal Management Associates (PMA). PMA is a company that provides athletes comprehensive counseling and support in their professional, financial, and personal lives. Additionally, he is a special assistant with the Crown Central Petroleum Company.
