Revealing secrets about your boyhood hero is never easy. Especially when those secrets pertain to their financial troubles. It was 1976, only my first full year as an Orioles beat reporter, when I discovered that Brooks Robinson, the legendary baseball player, was in financial distress. How do you approach a man you’ve idolized and ask, “Are you broke? And why?” What surprised me the most was Robinson’s concern for me, a rookie journalist who would have to spread this bad news to his fans. Robinson wanted to protect me from getting hurt. Admitting fault, he revealed that he hadn’t been tough enough in managing his sporting goods store in Baltimore. He had extended credit to many good people, like youth teams, for too long.
After the story broke, Robinson received an overwhelming amount of mail. Most of the letters contained small cash donations, from $5 to $10, sent by Orioles fans. To everyone’s surprise, Robinson returned every single dollar, likely bearing the cost of the postage himself.
Unlike other professional athletes, Robinson did not turn to his team for financial aid or shift blame. Despite earning less than $1 million throughout his 23-year career, before taxes, he never complained about the missed opportunity of free agency. Even as the American League MVP in his 10th season, with a mere salary of $35,000, Robinson never asked for a loan. In 1977, during a crucial pennant race, he retired midseason to make way for a teammate on the 97-win team when every dollar mattered.
Earl Weaver, Robinson’s longtime manager, shared an interesting perspective with me. He said, “Every player I’ve ever managed blamed me at the end, not himself. They all ripped me and said they weren’t washed up. All except Brooks. He never said one word, and he had more influence in Baltimore than all of them. He never did anything except with class. He made the end easier for everybody.”
Driven by his love for Brooks and an incredulousness that such a beloved figure could face financial struggles, Baltimore lawyer Ron Shapiro decided to become a sports agent. Robinson became his first client. Shapiro’s son Mark recalled, “Brooks wanted to give my dad his 15th Gold Glove, and my dad refused to accept it. Brooks left a Rawlings Gold Glove on our doorstep, ringing the doorbell and running away.”
During the almost 50 years of knowing Robinson, one common theme emerges: No one ever spoke ill of him. Even after Robinson’s passing, his Hall of Fame buddy Jim Palmer, following an emotional moment on-air, shared how he used to tease Robinson for “signing every ball,” claiming they already had his autograph. Palmer also acknowledged that many young players sought a veteran to emulate, and both he and Cal Ripken Jr. chose Brooks. While the current generation looks up to Ripken, they unknowingly internalize the admirable qualities of Robinson as well.
If there is indeed an Oriole Way, which dates back to the early 1960s and continues today with the Baltimore team having the best record in the American League, it encompasses more than just playing skills. The Oriole Way is about humility, giving back to the community, and treating others with respect.
Robinson’s presence alone inspired those around him to demonstrate similar virtues. Even Earl Weaver, who had shunned me for an entire World Series, changed his attitude towards me after I wrote that piece about Robinson. Weaver thanked me and, from then on, my journalistic tendencies were softened by the radiant presence of Brooks.
But let’s not forget about his fielding prowess.
As a young child, attending Senators games since 1955 when Robinson was a rookie, I had enjoyed watching all the greats such as Mantle and Sievers. However, as the years passed, my focus shifted. Whenever Baltimore came to D.C. and the Orioles were in the field, my eyes were fixed solely on Brooks. Every pitch, every movement. I didn’t want to miss a single unbelievable play he made, which seemed to occur every other game. Robinson astounded audiences, performing “the best play you have ever seen” dozens of times each season.
Thankfully, videotape technology arrived just in time for the 1970 World Series, preserving his exceptional plays in color and slow-motion. This silent observer settled arguments among critics who doubted Robinson’s abilities, as the replays showcased his incredible athleticism.
Frame by frame, witness Robinson’s exceptional fielding, like his backhand lunge in robbing Lee May of a double over the bag, followed by a throw from ten feet inside foul territory, and then as he stumbles across the foul line, head at knee level, seemingly about to perform a somersault, he miraculously regains balance with a jab-step, leaps, spins, and throws to first base as his foot touches down.
Announcer Curt Gowdy once exclaimed, “This guy’s in another world,” after witnessing Robinson’s gravity-defying catch of a Johnny Bench line drive, barely two feet inside foul territory.
In the 1970 season, Robinson truly was from another realm. And now, with the arrival of Nolan Arenado, a ten-time Gold Glover, Robinson has a fellow extraterrestrial presence on Planet Third Base.
Baseball-Reference.com’s introduction of a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) stat for defense may seem eccentric, considering the changing playing conditions across different eras. However, it provides valuable insight. According to the site, the top defenders, based on WAR, by position are Ozzie Smith (shortstop), Robinson, Iván Rodríguez (catcher), Andruw Jones (center field), and Bill Mazeroski (second base). Surprisingly, Robinson placed third overall, despite the metric heavily favoring shortstops. His margin of superiority over the runner-up (Adrián Beltré) at his position is double the margin of any other player in their respective spots.
For over a century, defense arguments in baseball, where style often blurs objective evaluation, have been futile. Yet, let’s keep it simple—no position player possesses as many Gold Gloves as Robinson. With 2,848 hits and 1,357 RBI to his name, he leaves a significant impact on the field, even though his name isn’t always the first to come up in baseball conversations. However, before anyone talks about Robinson’s remarkable achievements, they invariably emphasize that he embodied everything good about the game.
In a world where true north is often hard to find, we must cherish those few guiding lights that set an accurate course. Brooks Robinson serves as one such compass for character. Every time we think of him, we should remember that his legacy points us directly towards true north.
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