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| What Did They Say About Him? |
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Brooks with Al Kaline
The Peacock Bird-
After the Orioles’ four game sweep of the Dodgers to win the 1966 World Championship, the ’67 bird strutted his stuff by adding a cape and crown to his plumage.
“Brooks never asked anyone to name a candy bar after him. In Baltimore, people named their children after him.”
Gordon Beard
“Brooks Robinson belongs in a higher league.” Pete Rose
“He’s not at his locker yet, but four guys are over there interviewing his glove.”
Rex Barney at the 70 World Series.
"He was the best defensive player at any position. I used to stand in the outfield like a fan and watch him make play after play. I used to think WOW, I can’t believe this.”
Frank Robinson
“He has exceptional reflexes and even the strongest pull hitters can’t get the ball by him.
Pie Traynor
“If (Robinson) could run, he would be the perfect ball player.”
Johnny Pesky
“I’ve seen all the greatest third basemen over the last fifty years – Homerun Baker, Pie Traynor, Eddie Matthews. I don’t say he (Brooks) is any better than they were, but he compares with them…Don’t hit to that fellow.”
Casey Stengel at the 70 World Series
“He plays third base like he came down from another league.”
Umpire Ed Hurley
“He can throw his glove out there and it will start ten double plays by itself.”
Sparky Anderson
Brooks Robinson trolled the locker room for gloves to trade his teammates for. When he found a good one, he used it until it was ragged.
From the Rucker File
“If he wanted a car that badly, we’d have given him one.”
Johnny Bench
(after Brooks was given a new car for becoming the ’70 WS MVP.)
“He changed everything. He reacted as the ball was coming off the bat, sometimes as it was coming to the bat.”
George Brett
“He didn’t look fast, in fact he was kinda slow, but he was always there. On double plays when he had to come a long way, he had this way of just rolling across the bag and flipping the ball under his arm. He was the best second baseman (Cuban Winter League) I ever seen.” Orlando Pena
“All right, Robinson, you’ve done everything else in this @%$#&* World Series, stop the rain.”
Andy Etchebarren on Game 5 in Baltimore.
“When all other details of the Orioles conquest are faded or gone, Robbie’s contributions will live undimmed.”
Sporting News
“I once thought of giving his some tips but dropped the idea. He’s just the best there is.”
Pie Traynor
“Robinson beat us.”
Sparky Anderson’s summation of the 1970 World Series
“It will be nice to have that vacuum cleaner behind me.”
Pete Richert.
(May be the first ever to refer to Brooks as the “ Vacuum ” on May 29, 1967 after being traded to the Orioles from the Senators. Later, Lee May dubbed the nickname to “Hoover” or the "Human Vacuum Machine".)
“In the future, Brooks Robinson will be the standard every third baseman will be measured by.”
Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times
“They want me to play third like Brooks Robinson, but I think I play it more like Mel Brooks.” Tim Flannery
“We lost the World Series because we made fundamental mistake. We kept hitting the ball to Brooks.”
Sparky Anderson
“The baseball park was no place for his performances. He should have played at Carnegie Hall.”
Atlanta sportswriter, Furman Bisher
“A lot of people will tell you that the modern player can’t compare to the old times. Not even in the same league, they say. Well, maybe they’re right, but I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s ever been a better outfielder than Willie Mays, or a better left handed pitcher than Sandy Koufax, or better third baseman Brooks Robinson, just to name three that are playing today.” Al Bridwell
“How many interviews, how many questions – how many times you approached him and you got only courtesy and decency in return. A true gentleman who never took himself seriously. I always had the idea that he didn’t know he was Brooks Robinson.”
Joe Falls of the Detroit News
“I don’t see why you reporters keep confusing Brooks and me. Can’t you see that we wear different numbers?”
Frank Robinson
“I don’t think in all the years I managed them, I ever spoke more than thirty words to Frank and Brooks Robinson.”
Earl Weaver
“I’m beginning to see Brooks in my sleep. If I dropped a paper plate, he’d pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first.”
Sparky Anderson
“I will become a left-handed hitter to keep the ball away from that guy.” Johnny Bench
“Very nice…..where do they plug Mr. Hoover in?”
Lee May
“You know it’s a crime for anyone to have as much fun as Robby’s having….and making money for it.” Robin Roberts
“That guy can field a ball with a pair of pliers.” Pete Rose
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