Outdistancing three Hall of Famers, (four, if you count Ichiro) Frank Robinson has been voted to the All-Time Yankee Opponent Team in RF.
Over his career, in 132 games against the Yankees, Robby batted .295 with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs. (Overall career BA: .294.) But he was more than just a hitter. Baltimore's acquisition of Robinson transformed the 1966 Orioles into world champions - he won the Triple Crown that year - launching a run of powerhouse teams that would last for nearly a decade. The O's never duplicated that success. They have wandered the desert, ever since.
Dammit, he shoulda been a Yankee. In the winter of 1965, the O's acquired Robinson in one of the most lopsided trades in history. They dealt Milt Pappas and a pack of chewing gum to the Reds, a traditionally racist franchise in a traditionally racist city that wanted no part of a proud black star. If the Yankees didn't have their heads up their butts, they surely could have topped Baltimore's offer, and the late 1960s - now remembered for Hoss Clarke and Steve Whitaker - could have been rewritten. Milt Fucking Pappas: In 1966, with Cincy, he went 12-11 with an ERA of 4.29. What a steal. Where were the Yankees?
Robinson is also remembered as the only man to ever hit a home run out of Cleveland's Memorial Stadium. Later, they put up a flag to signify the spot where the ball left the park. The flag simply said, "HERE."
And HERE is the vote total:
Congrats to Robby, one of the all-time greats.
It's even worse, Duque. According to Golenbock—not always the most reliable source—we DID have him, all but signed, sealed, and delivered.
ReplyDeleteAfter the 1964 season, the Yankees supposedly reached a deal with Cincinnati: Robinson for Jim Bouton.
The Yanks thought about it again—then said no.
One can't blame them all that much. Mantle was still just 32, coming off another great season. Maris was only 29, and had had a fine year, and then they had plugged that youngster, Tom Tresh, into the outfield. He would hit 26 HRs and win a Gold Glove there the next season.
Meanwhile, Bouton was only 25, and had won 39 games over the past two years. Robinson was considered a "problem" player. That was all too often the rap on black ballplayers. But still: trade first-rate starting pitching for another outfielder? Why?
Today, of course, we'd look at how Bouton already had 83 starts and over 650 innings to his name in the majors. Judging by his ERA and his strikeout totals, he was already starting to lose a little something off his fastball. But hey, he'd just gone 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in the Series. What was not to like?
Of course, Opening Day, 1965, playing in the cold and snow in Minnesota, Bouton AND Ellie Howard tear up their shoulders, and are never the same players again.
As a great man once said...
One fucking vote? I am so depressed, I might have to sell my house and move to a country that will appreciate me.
ReplyDeleteWE GOT THIS ONE RIGHT.
ReplyDeleteROBINSON WAS SCARY AS HELL AT THE PLATE.
What? No, Buhner got 10 votes.
ReplyDelete
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