Profession: Baseball Outfielder and Manager
Biography: Frank Robinson was a Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder who enjoyed a 20-year playing career with most notably the Cincinnati Reds (1956-65) and Baltimore Orioles (1966-71).
He had the rare distinction of winning both the NL (Reds 1961) and AL (Orioles 1966) MVP awards. In a stellar 1966 season Robinson was also World Series MVP in the winning Orioles team and also claimed a rare Triple Crown (.316 BA, 49 HR, 122 RBI).
He also won the World Series with the Orioles in 1970 and between 1956 and 1974 was a MLB All-Star on 14 occasions.
After his playing career ended Robinson turned coaching and management. He was AL Manager of the Year with the Orioles in 1989 and also had lengthy stints with Cleveland, SF and Montreal/Washington.
His playing No. 20 has been retired by the Cleveland, Cincinnati and Baltimore clubs.
Born: August 31, 1935
Birthplace: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Virgo
Died: February 7, 2019 (aged 83)
Cause of Death: Bone cancer
Historical Events
- 1956-04-28 Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson hits his 1st of 586 HRs
- 1956-09-11 Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson ties rookie record with his 38th HR
- 1956-12-01 Frank Robinson (NL) & Luis Aparicio (AL) voted Rookie of the Year
- 1959-08-22 Cincinnati Reds future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson hits 3 consecutive HRs (6 RBIs) in 11-4 win over St. Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field
- 1961-11-22 Frank Robinson, Cincinnati Reds outfielder, selected as NL MVP
- 1965-12-09 Frank Robinson is traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Baltimore Orioles
- 1966-05-08 Only HR ever hit out of Baltimore's Memorial Park, by Oriole outfielder Frank Robinson
- 1966-10-09 Baseball World Series: Baltimore Orioles claim first championship in franchise history; edge LA Dodgers, 1-0 at Memorial Stadium for 4-0 sweep; MVP: Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson
- 1966-11-08 Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles outfielder, selected as AL MVP,first player to win MVP in both leagues
- 1970-06-26 Frank Robinson hits 2 grand slams as Baltimore Orioles beat Washington Senators 12-2
- 1971-07-13 42nd MLB All Star Game, Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI: AL beats NL, 6-4; MVP: Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles, OF
- 1971-09-13 Frank Robinson hits his 500th HR
- 1971-12-02 Frank Robinson is traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1972-11-28 LA Dodgers trade Frank Robinson to California Angels
- 1973-09-19 Frank Robinson, Angels OF, homers in record 32nd major league ballpark - Arlington Stadium (Arlington, Texas), against the Rangers
- 1974-10-03 39-year old Frank Robinson becomes MLB’s first African-American manager when he signs as player-manager for Cleveland Indians; agrees to 1-year contract estimated at $180,000
- 1975-04-08 Frank Robinson debuts as 1st African American baseball manager (Cleveland Indians beat New York Yankees, 5-3)
- 1976-09-18 MLB Cleveland Indians player-manager Frank Robinson's last game as a player
- 1977-06-19 MLB Cleveland Indians fire manager Frank Robinson and replace him with Jeff Torborg
- 1982-01-13 Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
- 1982-08-01 Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Travis Jackson and Happy Chandler inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame
- 1988-04-12 Frank Robinson replaces Cal Ripkin as manager of Baltimore Orioles
Biographies and Sources
- Frank Robinson - Baseball Almanac
Dale Murphy
Denny McLain
Jim Bunning
Rod Carew
Tim Keefe
Tony Lazzeri