We Love You Brooksie!!!

Happiest moment in Orioles History? Brooks Robinson leaps
for joy as Orioles celebrate World Series win in Memorial
Stadium, October, 1966.


We pause to pray for one of the most popular baseball players ever who Baltimore fans feel privileged to know since his arrival as a scrawny kid in 1955. We wish Brooks Robinson all the best in his efforts to be successfully treated for prostate cancer. Robinson revealed he has been receiving therapy when he disclosed his condition at an American Cancer Society luncheon, Tuesday, May 12th.

Brooksie added, "It was diagnosed very early and I underwent 39 radiation treatments….I feel healthy and fine and I'm grateful that I was vigilant about my health."

He went on to say, "I've been very fortunate to have an incredible wife and family to support me, the finances to get medical care and the good fortune to be in my adopted hometown of Baltimore, which boasts the best medical care you can get anywhere in the world.”

Ay 71, Brooks Robinson remains highly active in a number of pursuits including being part of the ownership group of an independent minor league baseball team in the Atlantic league that plays in Waldorf, Maryland.

From making his first appearance as a Baltimore Oriole in 1955, Robinson would become a full-time player earning his Hall-of-Fame credentials playing third base with such finesse and skill, he set the model for excellence that would inspire the next generation of hot corner greats including George Brett, Greg Nettles, and Mike Schmidt. He became part of the nucleus of the Baltimore baseball club as it ascended to being a perennial contender winning their first World Championship in 1966, then returning to the World Series for three consecutive seasons, 1969-1971. The Orioles won the 1970 series versus the Cincinnati Reds with Brooks as the series’ most valuable player making some of the most spectacular plays ever recorded helping the Orioles defense keep the Reds’ hitting attack in check allowing the Birds to win in five games. His fielding talents yielded him a remarkable six Gold Glove awards.

With fellow Hall-of-Famers, Frank Robinson, Luis Apparcio, and Jim Palmer as well as Orioles’ legends like Boog Powell, Davey Johnson, Paul Blair, Dave McNally, and Mike Cuellar, Brooks Robinson earned the reputation as Mr. Oriole perhaps the teams’ most beloved player ever second only to hometown hero, Cal Ripken Jr. who found Robinson to be one of his greatest inspirations.

Robinson yielded the hot corner to Doug DeCinces midway through the 1976 season returning as a player-coach the following season, but he would not denied one last hurrah. With Orioles regular catcher, Rick Dempsey on the disabled list, the Orioles were tied in extra innings, Robinson was summoned to pinch hit for fill-in catch Dave Crissone hitting a dramatic game winning home run for a final curtain call. When Dempsey returned to the active roster, Robinson retired as an active player.

He’d go on to serve as the Orioles television analyst with Ford C. Fricke Hall of Fame Broadcaster, Chuck Thompson then Jon Miller before retiring from having an active roll with the team after the 1993 season.

Robinson remains active promoting baseball and various charitable and civic enterprises. For Baltimore baseball fans who began their love affair with the Orioles in the late 50’s through the early 70’s, no one personifies Baltimore Orioles greatness or better defines “The Orioles Way” than the “human vacuum cleaner.”