Babe Ruth

  
 

Jimmie Foxx,

  
 

Mel Ott

  
 

Ted Williams

  
 

Willie Mays,

  
 

Mickey Mantle

  
 

Eddie Mathews

  
 

Hank Aaron

  
 

Ernie Banks

  
 

Harmon Killebrew

  
 

Frank Robinson

  
 

Willie McCovey

  
 

Reggie Jackson

  
 

Mike Schmidt

  
 

Eddie Murray

  
 

Mark McGwire

  
 

Barry Bonds

  
 

Sammy Sosa

  
 

Rafael Palmeiro

  
 

Ken Griffey Jr.

  

 

 

 

 

Orioles

 

Frank Robinson

 
 

Frank Robinson was born on August 31, 1935. He initiated his Major League career on April 17, 1956 with Cincinnati Reds as a left-fielder. He played for 21 seasons on 5 different teams viz. Cincinnati Reds (1956 - 1965), Baltimore Orioles (1966 - 1971), Los Angeles Dodgers (1972), California Angels (1973 - 1974) and Cleveland Indians (1974 - 1976). Currently he is serving as the manager of the Washington Nationals, the relocated Montreal Expos in their new home city of Washington, D.C.

 
 

In 1956, Robinson crowded the plate, challenged the pitchers, slid hard, tied Wally Berger's rookie record of 38 homers, made the NL All-Star team and led the league with 122 runs. The same season Reds in unanimity hit NL-record 221 homers. In his 10 years of career with the Reds he became one of the most acknowledged players. Among the star players of 1957, he was the only outfielder who was not rusticated by Commissioner Ford Frick after the details of a ballot-stuffing campaign were revealed by Cincinnati management. Chronic arm trouble did not allow Robinson to play effectively in 1958. But he gave a try at first and third bases and won a Gold Glove in left field. In 1959, he played as a full-time first-base, but did not play first of that year's two All-Star Games. In the second game he returned came back with three straight hits, including a homer, in the second game. He became a part of the most memorable scuffle recorded in the history of baseball, which was also the first brawl between black and white stars when he slid into Braves third baseman. For this act he was strongly jeered. Even though he was suffering from severe arm pain, he won his first of three straight NL slugging titles with .595 in 1960.

 

 

Frank Robinson
 

He earned Most Valuable Player honor twice, in 1961 with the Reds and again in 1966 with the Orioles and became the first player to win MVP awards in both leagues. In 1961 Robinson led the Reds to win their first flag and his first MVP hitting .323 with 37 HR, 124 RBI, and 117 runs. He earned his third straight slugging title in 1962. He also led the league with 51 doubles and 134 runs and hit .342 with 39 HR and 136 RBI. In 1963, his rapidity fetched him a career-high 26 steals. He was traded off to the Baltimore Orioles following the 1965 season with outfield prospect Dick Simpson for pitchers Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun. He was a member of two teams that won the World Series, the 1966 and 1970 Baltimore Orioles. In 1966 he became the MVP of the series and hit for the Triple Crown, leading the American League with a .316 batting average, 49 home runs and 122 runs batted in. The same season he was also honored the Hickok Belt (awarded to the top professional athlete of the year). In June 1970, Robinson hit grand slams in consecutive innings.

 
 

In 1971 he was traded off to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a six-man deal. The next season in a seven-man deal he moved on to join the Anaheim Angels. He always anticipated becoming the first black manager in the major leagues. The Indians appointed him playing manager for 1975. Undoubtedly his ability to manage was questioned by Perry brothers of Cleveland Indians. Shortly afterward, he traded both Perrys. Despite he assisted the Yankees to improve their performance but was promptly fired when they started slowly in 1977. For the rest of the season he coached the Angeles, coached for the Orioles and managed at Rochester through 1980. From 1981 through 1985 he administered the Giants and played in 1981 and 1982 playoffs. In 1986, he coached Baltimore Orioles. In 1989, he helped the Orioles to fetch the first place at the All-Star break. His eventual career totals include a .294 average, 586 home runs, 1812 runs batted in, and 2808 games played. He became the Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 1982. His jersey # was 20 with all the teams except the Dodgers where he was given #36. He developed a status of a forceful outfielder and hard-charging base runner and ranks fourth on the all-time home run list with 586, trailing only Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays.