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Baltimore Orioles history: Counting down Brooks Robinson’s 10 greatest games

By Bill Felber

BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1975: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1975 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1975: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1975 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Orioles, Brooks Robinson
Unknown Date; Boston, MA, USA; FILE PHOTO: Brooks Robinson (left) Frank Robinson (right) Baltimore Orioles portrait at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © Malcolm Emmons /

10. April 10, 1970, Orioles 3, Detroit Tigers 2. A back-and-forth pitching duel between Tiger starter Mickey Lolich and three Baltimore pitchers entered extra innings deadlocked at 2-2. Lolich made the mistake of walking Frank Robinson to start the bottom of the 10th. A groundout and fly ball later, Brooks came up with Frank in scoring position. Brooks’ line single into right-center was deep enough to score frank with the winning run. Win Probability Added: +0.478.

9. June 13, 1963, Orioles 5, New York Yankees 4. Facing Whitey Ford at Yankee Stadium, Robinson was hitless in his first two at-bats. But when Joe Gaines and Jim Gentile both singled with one out in the sixth and Robinson came up a third time, Ford was replaced by Bill Kunkel. Wrong move; Robinson lined a single to left, scoring Al Smith, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

One inning later, his team trailing by a run with the bases full and Kunkel still on the mound, Robinson lined a single that scored Gaines and Luis Aparicio, giving Baltimore just enough margin to hold on for the victory. Win Probability Added: +0.485.

8. July 9, 1975, California Angels 3, Orioles 2. At age 38, Robinson remained a fixture at third base as the Orioles met Frank Tanana and the Angels in Anaheim. California led 1-0 when the eighth inning opened with two quick outs. But Don Baylor walked and Paul Blair reached second as Tanana’s third strike sailed wild. Given a chance, Robinson cashed in the opportunity with a line single that scored both baserunners and put Baltimore ahead 2-1.

This lead, however, would not hold up. In the bottom of the eighth Dave Collins tripled home the tying and winning runs, and Tanana with help from Don Kirkwood closed out the victory. Win Probability Added: +0.491.

7. August 25, 1962, Orioles 4, New York Yankees 3. After the Yanks scored three runs in the top of the first at Memorial Stadium, Robinson’s second-inning home run got Baltimore on the board. In the sixth, his double scored Jackie Brandt and pulled the Orioles within a run.

Two innings later, Robinson came to bat with Brandt at third, having doubled and advanced on an infield out. His infield hit handcuffing Tom Tresh scored the tying run. He did not have a hand in the winning run, which scored on a walkoff Russ Snyder hit. Win Probability Added: +0.523.

6. July 17, 1969, Orioles 3, Cleveland Indians 2. The Orioles were coasting to the AL East division title when they faced Steve Hargan, but they trailed 2-0 entering the seventh. Brooks opened that inning with a single, advanced on Elrod Hendricks’ base hit and a sacrifice, and came home on an infield grounder.

One inning later, facing reliever Stan Williams with Boog Powell on base, Robinson turned the game around with a home run over the left-center field fence. Win Probability Added: 0.552.

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