Hall of Fame outfielder and managerial legend Frank Robinson died:
Frank Robinson, the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball and the only player to win MVP in both leagues, has died at age 83, MLB said Thursday.
An outfielder and first baseman, Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 in his first year of eligibility.
A fearsome hitter, Robinson ranks 10th on the career home run list with 586. He won the Triple Crown with the Orioles in 1966 and became the first black manager in MLB history in 1975 with the Cleveland Indians.ESPN.com
He also served as MLB’s executive vice president of baseball development, with his focus on increasing African-American participation in the sport. He later served as a senior adviser to commissioner Rob Manfred.
My thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans.
Robinson was a complete ballplayer, with a high BA, OBP, and slugging percentage. He led the league in runs scored (three times) more than he did in RBI (once, the year he won the triple crown). He hit over 500 double and homers, and added 72 triples.
Robinson did not have a peak period. He was consistently good from his rookie year of 156 through his age 34 season in 1970, posting WARs of over five in 11 of those seasons. He produced a 3.3 WAR in his last full season, playing with the Angels in 1974 and finishing with the Indians, where he would break the color barrier among managers.
I walked past Robinson at a hotel in 1999. He was an imposing figure. Even 20 years ago, at age 63, he was in great shape, and my first thought was that if I were a player, I would not mess with him. He was not only tall, but solid, and carried himself in a way that conveyed dignity and toughness. It was clear in that brief moment why he was so respected in the game.
from baseballmusings.com http://bit.ly/2UMw3V6
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