Robinson, 76, not one to give up easily

Brooks Robinson has spent the past several years recovering from several grim injuries and illnesses, but in the middle of last week, he said confidently in a phone interview, “I’m coming around, I’m getting better. I’m on the way.”

He has never been an athlete who rested on the bench. From 1960-1974, for example, his averaged nearly 157 games per season. He has been a Hall of Famer since 1983.

“It seems like I’m always looking to find some way to do something better,” he said, laughing.

His best year was 1964, when he batted .317 with 28 home runs and led the American League with 118 RBI. He was voted the AL MVP.

During spring training in Florida in 1983, you could often see Robinson and the late George Kell together, both en route to Cooperstown, two Arkansas third basemen who could both field and hit.

“They had Kell, Al Kaline and me make some speeches in that new North Little Rock ballpark,” Robinson said. “That was great.”

Robinson graduated from LittleRock Central High School in May 1955, and promptly signed with the Baltimore Orioles organization.

“The Orioles weren’t really strong at that time, but the organization kept building, kept getting better,” Robinson said. “It took some time.”

Robinson, gifted with ambidextrous tendencies, was asked if he had ever been a switch-hitter.

“No,” Robinson said. “I bat right and throw right. Everything else, I pretty much do with my left hand - eating lunch, shaving, whatever.”

At 76, Robinson has seven children and 10 grandchildren.

“Brooks Robinson grew up in Little Rock as a second base star in American Legion baseball,” said Bill Valentine, longtime general manager of the Arkansas Travelers, now retired. “He was about five years younger than me, and I don’t recall I ever saw him play third base as an amateur.

“He signed with the Baltimore Orioles when he graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1955. I had started umpiring in the low minors in 1951.

“In 1956, Brooks and I both got promoted to the Double-A Texas League. In fact, when I first saw him play third base for the San Antonio Missions, I knew I’d never seen a third baseman who could field with him, even at the age of 19 or so.”

“Brooks and I did a lot of joking,” Valentine said. “Brooks went over to the grandstand to try and catch a foul ball one day, and I went over to make sure a fan didn’t interfere. The ball landed in the second row of the box seats. I asked Brooks if the foul ball struck the lady. He said, ‘No, Bill, you finally got one right; she passed out from shock.’ “

Hopefully, Robinson can make an appearance in the next two or three weeks.

Sports, Pages 20 on 05/21/2013

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