HERE’S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Cincinnati on Tuesday night featured a tribute to the sport’s greats, living and deceased.
Each team had a Franchise Four, voted on by fans, and that sort of thing will always induce arguments because: A, fans sometimes vote for their favorites and not the greatest players; B, when there can only be four, someone (or several someones) get left out.
Cincinnati, of course, will never get over the years of The Big Red Machine, the Reds teams of 1970-76 that twice won the World Series and four National League pennants. The Reds’ Franchise Four reflected that era: Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Joe Morgan. The fourth: Long-time shortstop Barry Larkin (1986-2004).
Missing: Frank Robinson.
Except Robinson was there. He was one of the Baltimore Orioles’ Franchise Four.
Robinson, a fine outfielder, played the first 10 years of his career with the Reds and hit 324 home runs and drove in 1,004 runs for them. The Reds went to one World Series in his tenure (1961) and lost to the New York Yankees. Robinson played six years with the Orioles and continued to post similar numbers. Robinson joined the O’s in 1966 and was with them as they won the World Series twice (once over the Reds).
Robinson, named to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, always seems to get overlooked in discussions of the game’s greats. He hit 586 home runs in 21 seasons and hit .294 for his career, a figure that would have been higher had he not stuck around for three non-descript seasons with the Cleveland Indians.
So here’s to you, Mr. Robinson. Some of us do not forget.
P.S. The American League topped the National League 6-3, winning this game for the third consecutive year. Mike Trout, who homered leading off for the AL, was the MVP for the second straight year.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .
Twistity Sports Exclusive: A Faded Rose
Emma Stone Explains Twitter To Woody Allen
-
Famous British Olympian Retires After an illustrious career adorned with numerous accolades, Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female...
-
Manchester City Brings it Home with a 3-1 Victory! Following Manchester City’s impressive 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in...
-
Murray’s New Goals Before Retirement Andy Murray, the renowned British tennis player and three-time Grand Slam champion, has shared...
-
Kylian Mbappe led Paris Saint-Germain to a resounding 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their...
-
Klopp acknowledges defensive flaws as Liverpool suffers unexpected defeat against Arsenal. Following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat against Arsenal, manager Jurgen...
-
Ryan Mendes’ Heroic Penalty: Captain Leads Cape Verde to Victory In a historic moment for Cape Verde, the national...
-
Probe Raises Questions About PSG’s 2017 Deal and Political Involvement. French authorities have launched an investigation into allegations...
-
As Ireland faces a back-three injury crisis ahead of the Six Nations, some players have an opportunity to step...
-
16-year-old Luke Littler Makes History as the Youngest Player to Join the Prestigious Premier League Darts Luke Littler, the...
-
Get ready for the electric thrill! In a groundbreaking move, Formula E announces its exclusive broadcasting partnership with TNT...
-
Captain Kohli’s Record-Equalling Century Lights Up World Cup Match Against South Africa. On the occasion of his 35th birthday,...
-
All-Rounder Stokes Aims for Recovery Ahead of Upcoming India Test Series England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced that...