Brooks Robinson, the legendary third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 86. The Orioles organization and Robinson’s family jointly announced his passing on Tuesday, though the cause of death was not disclosed.
Robinson, fondly known as “Mr. Oriole,” has been a significant figure in the Orioles family since 1955. His contributions to the team, the community, and the sport of baseball have left an indelible mark. The Orioles honored Robinson’s memory with a moment of silence at Camden Yards before Tuesday night’s game against the Nationals.
Born on May 18, 1937, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Robinson dedicated his entire 23-year career to the Orioles. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive third basemen in the history of baseball, earning the nickname “Human Vacuum Cleaner” for his exceptional fielding skills.
Robinson’s illustrious career includes winning 16 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1960 and setting a major league record for the most games played at third base, totaling 2,870. He was named the American League MVP in 1964 after hitting .317 with 28 home runs and a league-leading 118 RBIs.
His career highlight arguably came during the 1970 World Series, where his outstanding defensive plays and .429 batting average with two home runs led the Orioles to victory over the formidable Cincinnati Reds in just five games.
Robinson’s career stats include 268 home runs, 1,357 runs batted in, and a .267 batting average in 2,896 career games. From 1960 to 1975, he played in at least 152 games in 14 seasons and in 144 games in the other two years.
Robinson’s dedication to the sport was evident in his own words, “To me, baseball was a passion to the point of obsession.” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred praised Robinson as a model of excellence, durability, loyalty, and winning baseball for the Orioles.
After his playing career, Robinson continued to contribute to the sport by working with the MLB Players Alumni Association. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983 and served as an Orioles TV broadcaster from 1978-1993. A statue in his honor was unveiled at Camden Yards in 2012.