Cincinnati Reds: Frank Robinson, a Player, a Manager, and a Legend
By Manny Gómez
On Tuesday, it was reported that Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds is in “failing health”. In honor of Mr. Robinson, today we remember his accomplishments in MLB.
Frank Robinson was only 20 years old when he made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds (then known as the Redlegs) in 1956. That season, Robinson would go on to win the Rookie of the Year award after hitting 38 HR, the most of any rookie since 1930, tying Wally Berger‘s record.
Robinson never looked back from there.
In his 10 seasons with the Reds, Robinson collected 324 HR, which is actually more than Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Manny Ramirez hit in their first 10 big leagues. In the same time span, he would win an MVP award in 1960 after hitting .303 with a .389 OBP and .554 SLG.
After his 10th season with the Cincinnati Reds, Frank Robinson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in what, according to History, is “widely regarded as one of the worst (trades) in major league baseball history.”
For Robinson, this was an opportunity to prove his greatness, which he did by winning the MVP award in his first season in Baltimore. That season, Robinson would not only win the Triple Crown Award by leading MLB in BA (.316), HR (49), and RBI (122), he’d take the MVP award too while also winning his first World Series ring.
Four years later, in 1970, his career would come full circle when, just as his performance was starting to decline, he helped the Orioles to win the World Series against the team that traded him, the Cincinnati Reds.
Frank Robinson would go on to play six more seasons, but he would never be the same.