Roy Firestone's Brooks' tributes

[Roy Firestone]

He was the greatest human being I ever knew in sports.

And he was my very close friend for 53 years.

Brooks Robinson just died.

I'm devastated.

Baseball lost, not just the greatest defensive third baseman of all time...it lost one of the greatest men in the game. A man who served the game not just with his stellar play...but in the way he carried himself.

I'm going to share many stories about my friend who I first met when I was 15 years old, as the batboy for the Orioles in Miami.

But first, I'd like to include a clip, of me in perhaps the greatest single honor I ever had in my public life...Brooks asked ME to dedicate his statue at Oriole Park. This clip, remains very, very special to me.

It was a public moment in stating my love and admiration for my childhood hero.

This moment happened almost exactly 11 years ago....to the day.

I'm terribly sad right now...but I got to say, in public what I felt about the greatest human being I ever met in sports...and probably anywhere else in life...too.

https://youtu.be/Pz9iiXNRado

[Roy Firestone]

He was the greatest human being I ever knew in sports.

And he was my very close friend for 53 years.

Brooks Robinson just died.

I'm devastated.

Baseball lost, not just the greatest defensive third baseman of all time...it lost one of the greatest men in the game. A man who served the game not just with his stellar play...but in the way he carried himself.

I'm going to share many stories about my friend who I first met when I was 15 years old, as the batboy for the Orioles in Miami.

But first, I'd like to include a clip, of me in perhaps the greatest single honor I ever had in my public life...Brooks asked ME to dedicate his statue at Oriole Park. This clip, remains very, very special to me.

It was a public moment in stating my love and admiration for my childhood hero.

This moment happened almost exactly 11 years ago....to the day.

I'm terribly sad right now...but I got to say, in public what I felt about the greatest human being I ever met in sports...and probably anywhere else in life...too.

https://youtu.be/Pz9iiXNRado

[TonySoprano]

After his family and teammates, you were the first one to come to mind when I heard the news.  I expect Jim Palmer is broken up.  Boog also, he'll be at the Yard this weekend.  Very sorry.

When you made that speech I was standing less than 10 yards away along with my son, and Mike Williams and his dad.

Edited September 26, 2023 by TonySoprano

[86this]

So sorry for your loss and that of the Orioles family.  I never got to see him play personally except for film archives of his play at 3rd base and at the plate.

[TonySoprano]

 

[Roy Firestone]

21 minutes ago, Roy Firestone said:

He was the greatest human being I ever knew in sports.

And he was my very close friend for 53 years.

Brooks Robinson just died.

I'm devastated.

Baseball lost, not just the greatest defensive third baseman of all time...it lost one of the greatest men in the game. A man who served the game not just with his stellar play...but in the way he carried himself.

I'm going to share many stories about my friend who I first met when I was 15 years old, as the batboy for the Orioles in Miami.

But first, I'd like to include a clip, of me in perhaps the greatest single honor I ever had in my public life...Brooks asked ME to dedicate his statue at Oriole Park. This clip, remains very, very special to me.

It was a public moment in stating my love and admiration for my childhood hero.

This moment happened almost exactly 11 years ago....to the day.

I'm terribly sad right now...but I got to say, in public what I felt about the greatest human being I ever met in sports...and probably anywhere else in life...too.

https://youtu.be/Pz9iiXNRado

 

[Roy Firestone]

 

The Oriole legend was the finest person I’ve ever met in sports, and among the very finest outside of it.

He’s been my friend for more than 53 years, since I was a kid bat boy for the Orioles in Miami.

I’m going to repost my observations, stories, and essays about my favorite man in sports.

Here is my essay when he stayed with me at my home..

 

I had some houseguests, dear friends who stayed with me one weekend , and I wanted to give them my undivided attention.

It was a lot more than having some old college buddies over, but it was a very, very, special reunion for me, and one I will never forget a long as I live.

I was batboy in spring training for the Orioles when I was a kid, and I made some very close friends during that time.

This weekend...TWO of them stayed with me.

For 72 hours..time stood still.

Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer were my house guests this weekend.

They came to town for Frank Robinson's celebration of life ceremony at Dodger Stadium.

Brook's eldest son, Brooks David also joined us...it was a kind of adult slumber party with two of baseball's greatest players, Hall of Famers both.

I wouldn't dream of them staying at a hotel, and wouldn't think of allowing them to rent a car or use any kind of service.

So I picked them up at the airport, and for the weekend, any wish from them, was not just my command..it was my extreme pleasure.

My honor.

Jim Palmer and I have been friends for 50 years too.

We maintain a very playful, and funny relationship, and I cherish it.

But Brooks is something, someone else.

To me, he is royalty, only he doesn't think of himself that way.

He’s 86 years old May 18.

He's had some health issues in recent years, and his gait is slower, but his mind and spirit is still sharp.

When Brooks and his son Brooks David came into my house, a house decorated in Orioles memorabilia..I didn't want to embarrass him by making it look like it was a shrine to him, but I also have to be who I am.

I didn't take many things down.

Instead of feeling embarrassed, Brooks seemed to look at my collection with wonder and joy.

He loved my Beatles room and my collection of rock and roll memorabilia and juke boxes.

To watch Brooks and his son sit and enjoy my train set(Brooks has one too) was a thrill too...but mostly all the guys were just content to reminisce and trade stories.

Brooks Robinson is perhaps the most beloved person I have ever known in my life...and not because he works at it...but precisely because he DOESNT.

He doesn't "dish".

Doesn't do "snark", and would never ever tell stories out of school.

Perhaps most of all, thats why people love him.

As great a player as he was, with 16 Gold Gloves, he never ever pulls any kind of rank..never ever feels entitled to anything.

Class isn't something you "work at".

You have it, and your manner dictates it...class people never talk abut themselves...never use their name as a third person.

In all the years I've known Brooks Robinson, it never occurred to him that he was BROOKS ROBINSON.

Palmer is more funny, and acerbic and a story teller, and we laughed for hours recounting war stories and inside jokes, but Brooks let Palmer do the "entertaining".

I could say so many things about this weekend, but some thoughts are matters of the heart...mine..so I'll keep most to myself.

But at one point at dinner, I will share one intimacy.

It was time to toast my friends, and toasting Palmer was easy and funny...but then I turned to Brooks and said this:

"I want you to know, and you do, how much I love you, and cherish you, and you must know, you are my hero, and always will be".

I then started to cry.

Brooks looked at me and said"I love you too Roy, and always will".

Then Brooks David looked at me and said something that made me feel like a million bucks.

"Roy, I love YOU, because you love my dad."

The weekend was so joyous and warm and wonderful, and Palmer kept it light with hysterical banter.

But the love was everywhere.

We all attended Franks memorial on Sunday, and Brooks was asked to speak about Frank:

'Frank was about winning, and when when we won with him, we won something more than baseball games...we won as people..just knowing him was a win..I'm a better man from having known him", he said.

Then we went back to my house.

Brooks slept in MY bedroom.

I slept in my guest room.

The King gets the best room, the best bed.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

That Sunday, I dropped Brooks and Brooks David off at the airport.

Palmer drove back to his home in his brand new car.

When I returned from the airport just now.. I was left alone in my house, and took a deep breath.

My childhood heroes were my house guests this weekend, and every moment, every second, was cherished by me, and it won't ever be forgotten.

I was introduced to becoming a sportscaster directly because of Brooks.

He was my first interview when I was just 14.

But far more than that, he was an inspiration.

He was a man of character and generosity, and grace, and he specialized in human decency.

I have never met a more decent and beloved person in all my life.

How I carry myself in life came from my parents, and Brooks.

I only hope I served them well.

The house is quiet now.

The week will be busy for me, but this past weekend my home was alive with memories, laughter, and a ton of love.

As I dropped the Robinson's off a the curb.. we hugged tightly, and Brooks walked away to the counter.

My eyes got misty again as they disappeared.

You never know about life.

You never know how much time you have left with people you dearly love.

Nothing is guaranteed for anyone.

So I was so deeply satisfied and grateful that our time this weekend was so very well spent, and the words were spoken, not kept away or protected.

My God, how wonderful a life I've had. So many joys, so many experiences.

This weekend ranked right near the top.

To borrow Brooks' line about Frank..."Im a better man for having known them".

[ExileAngelos]

If there is an Oriole player more beloved than even Cal Ripken himself in Baltimore and Oriole fans, it's Brooks Robinson.  What an icon to the game of baseball. 

[Pat Kelly]

Devastating.   Thanks for sharing Roy. 

[Aristotelian]

Terrible news. Sorry Roy for your loss. Brooks played before my time but I met him when I was nine years old when he was broadcasting. He was generous enough to sign a ball for me. One of those early experiences that helped me fall in love with the game and become a lifelong O's fan. Thanks, Brooks.

[Aristotelian]

Terrible news. Sorry Roy for your loss. Brooks played before my time but I met him when I was nine years old when he was broadcasting. He was generous enough to sign a ball for me. One of those early experiences that helped me fall in love with the game and become a lifelong O's fan. Thanks, Brooks.

[Roy Firestone]

it isn't just MY loss...its baseball's...and humanity...

[Jagwar]

1 hour ago, Roy Firestone said:

He was the greatest human being I ever knew in sports.

And he was my very close friend for 53 years.

Brooks Robinson just died.

I'm devastated.

Baseball lost, not just the greatest defensive third baseman of all time...it lost one of the greatest men in the game. A man who served the game not just with his stellar play...but in the way he carried himself.

I'm going to share many stories about my friend who I first met when I was 15 years old, as the batboy for the Orioles in Miami.

But first, I'd like to include a clip, of me in perhaps the greatest single honor I ever had in my public life...Brooks asked ME to dedicate his statue at Oriole Park. This clip, remains very, very special to me.

It was a public moment in stating my love and admiration for my childhood hero.

This moment happened almost exactly 11 years ago....to the day.

I'm terribly sad right now...but I got to say, in public what I felt about the greatest human being I ever met in sports...and probably anywhere else in life...too.

https://youtu.be/Pz9iiXNRado

Amazing video @Roy Firestone. Thank you for sharing. 

[Number5]

Heartbreaking news.  RIP, Brooks.  You were the best.

[Gurgi]

Some terrific words to help remember Brooks by.   I am very happy Roy got to get to know his heroes and his heroes did not disappoint.