Frank Robinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Robinson
Robinson in 1961
Outfielder / Manager
Born: (1935-08-31)August 31, 1935 Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Died: February 7, 2019(2019-02-07) (aged 83) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 17, 1956, for the Cincinnati Redlegs
Last appearance
September 18, 1976, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average	.294
Hits	2,943
Home runs	586
Runs batted in	1,812
Managerial record	1,065–1,176
Winning %	.475
Teams
As player Cincinnati Redlegs / Reds (1956–1965) Baltimore Orioles (1966–1971) Los Angeles Dodgers (1972) California Angels (1973–1974) Cleveland Indians (1974–1976) As manager Cleveland Indians (1975–1977) San Francisco Giants (1981–1984) Baltimore Orioles (1988–1991) Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals (2002–2006) As coach California Angels (1977) Baltimore Orioles (1978–1980) Milwaukee Brewers (1984) Baltimore Orioles (1985–1987)
Career highlights and awards
14× All-Star (1956, 1957, 1959, 1959², 1961, 1961², 1962², 1965–1967, 1969–1971, 1974) 2× World Series champion (1966, 1970) NL MVP (1961) AL MVP (1966) World Series MVP (1966) Triple Crown (1966) NL Rookie of the Year (1956) Gold Glove Award (1958) AL Manager of the Year (1989) Cincinnati Reds No. 20 retired Baltimore Orioles No. 20 retired Cleveland Guardians No. 20 retired Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame Washington Nationals Ring of Honor
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1982
Vote	89.2% (first ballot)

Frank Robinson (born August 31, 1935 – died February 7, 2019) was a famous American professional baseball player and manager. He played for five different teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1956 to 1976.

Frank Robinson was the only player ever to be named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in both the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). He won the NL MVP in 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds. He then won the AL MVP in 1966 with the Baltimore Orioles, also winning the Triple Crown that year. His 49 home runs in 1966 were a record for the Orioles for 30 years.

He helped the Orioles win their first two World Series titles in 1966 and 1970. He was named the Series MVP in 1966. In 1975, Robinson made history by becoming the first Black manager in MLB. He was a player-manager for the Cleveland Indians.

Robinson was a 14-time All-Star. He had a batting average of .300 nine times and hit 30 home runs 11 times. When he retired, his 586 career home runs ranked fourth in MLB history. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year of eligibility.

After playing, Robinson managed the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals. Later in his life, he worked in various leadership roles for Major League Baseball.

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Frank Robinson was born in Beaumont, Texas. He was the youngest of ten children. His parents divorced when he was a baby. His mother moved the family to Oakland, California.

He went to McClymonds High School in Oakland. There, he played basketball with future NBA star Bill Russell. He also played baseball with future MLB players Vada Pinson and Curt Flood. He played American Legion Baseball too.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in the Minor Leagues

In 1953, a scout for the Cincinnati Reds signed Robinson. He started his professional career with the Ogden Reds. He had a great first year, batting .348 with 83 runs batted in (RBI) in 72 games. He then moved up to higher minor league teams like the Tulsa Oilers and the Columbia Reds.

Cincinnati Reds: A Rising Star (1956–1965)

Robinson with the Reds in 1961

Frank Robinson made his major league debut in 1956. In his first year with the Reds, he hit 38 home runs. This tied the record for most home runs by a rookie at that time. He was named Rookie of the Year.

In 1961, the Reds won the National League pennant. Robinson also won his first MVP award that year. The Reds played in the 1961 World Series but lost to the New York Yankees. In 1962, Robinson had an amazing season. He hit .342 with 39 home runs, 51 doubles, and 136 RBIs.

Baltimore Orioles: Triple Crown and World Series Wins (1966–1971)

Before the 1966 season, the Reds traded Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles. This trade turned out to be a huge success for the Orioles. In his first year in Baltimore, Robinson won the Triple Crown. This means he led the American League in batting average (.316), home runs (49), and RBIs (122).

On May 8, 1966, Robinson hit a home run that went completely out of Memorial Stadium. It was a massive hit, measured at 541 feet! A flag was flown at that spot until the Orioles moved to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992.

The Orioles won the 1966 World Series. Robinson was named the World Series MVP. He hit two home runs in the series, helping the Orioles sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 1969, Robinson started a fun tradition in the Orioles' clubhouse called "kangaroo court." After every win, he would act as a judge. He would give out small fines for minor mistakes and funny "awards" to players who made silly errors. This helped the team feel closer and play better together.

On June 26, 1970, Robinson hit two grand slams in a row in one game! The Orioles won three American League pennants in a row from 1969 to 1971. Baltimore then won the 1970 World Series against the Reds.

Final Years as a Player (1972–1976)

Robinson was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1972. He played 103 games for them. He then moved to the California Angels in 1973. With the Angels, he became their first designated hitter.

Robinson, circa 1974

In 1974, the Angels traded Robinson to the Cleveland Indians. Three weeks later, the Indians made him their manager. They also asked him to keep playing. This made him the first ever player-manager who was also Black. In his very first at-bat as a player-manager for Cleveland in 1975, he hit a home run!

He retired from playing after the 1976 season. Over his 21-year career, he had a batting average of .294. He hit 586 home runs and had 1,812 runs batted in. His 586 home runs were the fourth most in history at the time he retired.

Managerial Career

Leading Teams from the Dugout

Frank Robinson had a strong desire to become the first Black manager in Major League Baseball. He was named player-manager for the Indians on October 2, 1974. This was a historic moment for baseball.

Robinson managed the San Francisco Giants from 1981 to 1984. In 1985, he joined the Orioles' front office. He became the manager of the Orioles in 1988. In 1989, he won the American League Manager of the Year Award. He led the Orioles to a much better record that year.

Robinson as manager of the San Francisco Giants in 1983

Robinson managed the Orioles until 1991. He then managed the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals from 2002 to 2006. In 2002 and 2003, the Expos had winning records under his leadership.

On April 20, 2006, Robinson earned his 1000th win as a manager. This made him the 53rd manager to reach this milestone.

On May 25, 2006, during a game, Robinson made a tough decision. He took his catcher, Matt LeCroy, out of the game in the middle of an inning. This is usually not done in baseball. LeCroy had allowed many stolen bases and made errors. Robinson felt so bad about it that he cried during interviews after the game.

On September 30, 2006, the Nationals decided not to renew Robinson's contract. He managed his final game on October 1, 2006. His record as a manager was 1,065 wins and 1,176 losses.

Managerial Record Overview

Honors and Achievements

Frank Robinson's number 20 was retired by the Baltimore Orioles in 1972.

Frank Robinson's number 20 was retired by the Cincinnati Reds in 1998.

Frank Robinson's number 20 was retired by the Cleveland Indians in 2017.

Frank Robinson received many honors during and after his career.

• He won two MVP awards (1961 and 1966).
• He also won the World Series Most Valuable Player award in 1966.
• In 1966, he was given the Hickok Belt as the best professional athlete of the year in any sport.

In 1982, Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was added to the Washington Nationals Ring of Honor. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2016.

His uniform number 20 has been retired by three teams: the Reds, Orioles, and Indians. He is one of only two MLB players to have his number retired by three different teams.

In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Robinson 22nd on their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He was also a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Three teams have honored Robinson with statues:

• In 2003, the Reds put up a bronze statue of Robinson at Great American Ball Park.
• In 2012, the Orioles unveiled a bronze statue of him at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
• In 2017, the Indians unveiled a bronze statue of Robinson at Progressive Field.

Special Awards

Robinson being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President George W. Bush gave Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the United States.

In 2007, Robinson received the first Jackie Robinson Society Community Recognition Award.

Baseball Records Held

Frank Robinson set several records during his career:

• In his rookie season, he tied the record for home runs by a rookie (38).
• He still holds the record for most home runs hit on opening day (8). This includes a home run in his first at-bat as a player-manager.
• Robinson won the American League Triple Crown in 1966. He was the first player in baseball history to win MVP awards in both the National League and American League.

Front Office and Media Work

Robinson in January 2014

After his managing career, Robinson worked for Major League Baseball (MLB). He was the vice president of on-field operations from 1999 to 2002. In this role, he helped with player rules, uniforms, and stadium issues.

In 2007, Robinson returned to the MLB front office as a special advisor. He later became executive vice president of baseball development. In 2015, he was named senior advisor to the Commissioner of Baseball. He also became the honorary president of the American League.

Personal Life

While playing for the Reds, Frank Robinson studied at Xavier University. When he played for the Orioles, he became involved in the civil rights movement. He spoke out about racial issues and joined the NAACP.

Robinson met his wife, Barbara Ann Cole, in 1961. They got married that year and had two children.

Frank Robinson passed away on February 7, 2019, in Los Angeles. He was 83 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Frank Robinson para niños