Post your favorite Frank Robinson moments here

[Frobby]

Today is the day the Orioles unveil Frank Robinson's statue. I thought it would be nice to honor him by posting some favorite memories of Frank's time with the Orioles:

- Homering in his first game as an Oriole. And the next game. And the game after that.
- Hitting the ball completely out of Memorial Stadium off Luis Tiant, 5/8/66 (his second homer in the doubleheader)
- Jumping over the fence to save a 9th inning, game winning home run by the Yankees, 6/21/66
- Homering in his first AB of the 1966 World Series
- Hitting a game winning homer the final game of the 1966 World Series and winning the World Series MVP
- Walk-off homer to beat the Yankees in 11 innings, 9/2/68
- 3-run walk-off homer to beat the Senators in the bottom of the 11th inning, 6/24/69
- Walk-off, come from behind 3-run homer in bottom of the 9th to beat KC, 7-6, on 5/7/70
- Two grand slams in one game against the Senators, 6/26/70
- Hitting the go-ahead homer in the 1971 All Star Game and named MVP of the game
- 3-run walk-off homer off Rollie Fingers of the A's in the bottom of the 9th, 3-2, 7/28/71
- 500th homer on 9/13/71 (2nd home run of a doubleheader)
- Scoring the winning run in Game 6 of the 1971 World Series on a tag-up, bowling over Manny Sanguillen

Despite all those memorable home runs, it's the last play, his slide into home against the Pirates, that is my favorite. It was a fairly shallow fly, and Frank was 36 years old, but he would not be denied. That was the way he always played, and how I will always remember him.

He deserves that statue, more than I could ever convey to those who weren't lucky enough to see him play for the Orioles.

[OFFNY]

.
The day that I became an Oriole fan, when I was 6 years-old.

GAME SIX of the 1971 World Series. Robinson tagged up on a shallow fly ball, slid underneath a leaping Manny Sanguillen to score the winning run of the game, and the Orioles all mobbed each other at home plate.

[El Gordo]

Shoot Frobby, you hogged all the best ones. The one that always sticks in my mind was the catch and tumble into the MFY RF porch. But a story Palmer told the other night is fun. During the '68 AS game Hawk(A-hole)Harrelson was bugging Frank in the clubhouse. Frank told him to can it. He didn't. Frank picked up the bigger Harrelson and held him off the ground, advising him to desist. Needless to say he did. Don't mess with Frank.

[BobbyWoontz]

- Jumping over the fence to save a 9th inning, game winning home run by the Yankees, 6/21/66

He did again the next nite at Yankee Stadium, this time in left field.

[Roy Firestone]

Frank Robinson was, and is, a very complicated human being. He is not what anyone would call loveable or outwardly warm. Ive known him since 1970 and as a kid he was always the most
intimidating person to be around.
He was also the most important person in the clubhouse.
Even with Brooks, Boog, Palmer, Mcnally and others, when Frank walked into the clubhouse whatever needed to,start..started.

He was an impressive man. Powerfully built, long legs and very muscular. He had a booming voice in the clubhouse and was the master of all ceremonies.
Frank was supremely talented as a player on the field and one of the smartest baseball people Ive ever known watching the game.
He grew up with Bill Russell, the basketball great, and Ive always thought he had alot of Russell's traits...namely, physical ability, leadership, and a staunch attitude that would never
let him back down to anyone or anything.
I saw Frank's very FIRST Oriole home run. It was in spring training and it was the first pitch I ever saw him hit(I think it was the very first pitch he saw as an Oriole in a game) and he hit it over
the clock at the old Miami Stadium, which has been torn down for many years.This was a real shot. Maybe a 400 footer!
Frank of course, was the center of all the great Oriole teams of the 60' and 70's. He won the Triple Crown and I believe he was one of the top 20 players of all time in MLB.
I look at alot of inflated numbers these days, some of which had to do with PED's and wonder if today's generation could truly appreciate Frobby. He couldve easily hit 600 HR's and it was his
regret that he didnt stick around long enough for that milestone.
When he was young, he could really play the outfield and had a great throwing arm. He ran the bases well. I think he was in the conversation when one talked about the five most elite baseball
players of the 60's and 70's: Mays, Aaron,Mantle Clemente, and Frank.
I still think hitting the home runs that helped beat the Dodgers in the 66' World Series were his greatest moments as an Oriole. It was the series that began the Oriole "dynasty", and had he not
gotten hurt in 67' and been hurt for much of 68' (he was experiencing double vision due to a collision with the White Sox Al Weiss), I believe the Orioles were good enough to have competed for at
least two more pennants in both of those seasons.
I too remember him going into the Yankee Stadium RF bleachers to catch the ball off the bat of Roy White to win the game for the Orioles. I remember the HR off Tiant, and his "tag" on the Sac
Fly" in the 1971 World Series...a Series the Orioles shouldve won.
If I had to say what my enduring memory was though, it was just his strutting, confident walk into the clubhouse everyday. You just knew when he walked in it was all business.
I see him alot in Los Angeles these days. He's battled cataracts, some personal ailments, and just growing old was hard for him..but he's still a lion. I dont think I'll ever be able to call him my
"friend" in the way I can call Brooks "friend". But Frank is always royalty to me. I call him what ive called him since I was 15 years old.."Twenty". It is his number, and no one else will ever have
it or wear it in the same way that he did.
The greatest Oriole hitter of them all, Frank Robinson.
Salute that statue folks, there will NEVER be another like him.

[Frobby]

Fantastic tribute, Roy. You captured what I saw from the outside, but from an inside point of view.

[El Gordo]

My favorite Frank Pics:

[Skeletor]

Who's the Yankee in the foreground?

[Roy Firestone]

Who's the Yankee in the foreground?

Former Oriole Curt Blefary who famously said"Im not intmidated by the Orioles..they dont wear an "S' on their chest".Frank went out an bought 11 "s" tee shirts
and the Orioles wore it under their jersey during BP. When Frank gave his cue..they all ripped off their jersey revealing the shirts. The entire field was hysterical
including Blefary. Great time in my baseball life.

[Frobby]

Despite everywhere he has been, Baltimore is still home to the 76-year-old's greatest baseball memories. And on Saturday, Robinson will become a permanent part of the city's baseball home.

Robinson will be the first Orioles legend to have his statue unveiled beyond the left-center-field wall at Camden Yards before Saturday's game against the Oakland Athletics. By the end of the season, his likeness will be joined by those of fellow Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson, Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr.

"It's like a team going in together," said Frank Robinson, who played with, played for or managed each of the other five. "I can't put it in words. It's a tremendous honor. I didn't think about anything like that when I was playing the game, that one day [I] would have a statue at a major league ballpark. I don't know if I've wrapped my thoughts around it yet, but I will."

"We were more like a family here," he said. "We enjoyed the game, we'd joke and we'd kid, and we played the game the way it was supposed to be played. … You play to win, and we won."

If Robinson grew up during those years, he also played a part in maturing the Orioles.

As most teams did, the Orioles in those days would fraternize with opposing players before games. That stopped after Robinson arrived.

"We were over doing that one day, and he said, 'What the hell are you doing? We're here to beat their [behind],'" said Boog Powell, an outfielder-first baseman who played 14 years in Baltimore, then two under Robinson in Cleveland. "That was kind of his way of making a point, and I think he did a pretty good job of it."

Robinson also presided as judge of the Orioles' kangaroo court, in which players were fined a dollar — and an incalculable amount of their pride — for transgressions ranging from their actions off the field to not getting a runner in from third with less than two outs.

"He was all about team, and he made you be all about team," former Orioles outfielder Paul Blair said. "No individuals stood out to him. Even though he and Brooks were the stars, he made sure everybody knew they were an equal part of the team."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/o...0,889775.story

[Pedro Cerrano]

As someone who wasn't born until 1982, this is a great thread to read.

Thank you.

[mrbig1]

My favorite moment was Frank hitting 2 GS vs Washington. He was my hero as a kid. I was 11 when Frank came to the O's. That same year Frank won the triple crown and a WS championship.

[weams]

I have many "Frank" memories. He was the hero of my youth. I attended a game at Memorial Stadium where II remember clearly a walk off against the Yankees with Frank scoring the winning run. He barreled towards home with charge of a standardbearer into battle. Frank knocked the ball out of the Yankee catcher's mitt. My personal favorite Frank story was after It had been over for many years how Frank posed for me to take a photo in Cooperstown. And he smiled.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

[BobbyWoontz]

My favorite moment was Frank hitting 2 GS vs Washington. He was my hero as a kid. I was 11 when Frank came to the O's. That same year Frank won the triple crown and a WS championship.

I watched that game. One Grand Slam before the rain delay, and one after the rain delay.

[canonfaz]

Awesome thread! Thanks for all the info guys. Wasn't born until 81, and I love hearing these stories about the glory days.