February 13, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 28 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E174-E175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRANK ROBINSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CEDRIC L. RICHMOND

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2019

  Mr. RICHMOND. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
Mr. Frank Robinson, a trailblazing figure who was a Major League 
Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famer, the first black manager in Major League 
Baseball, and had an amazing career that spanned 21 seasons. Mr. 
Robinson passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the age of 83.
  Starting out in an era when Mays, Aaron, Mickey Mantle and Ted 
Williams were the big hitters, Mr. Robinson more than held his own more 
than 2 1 seasons. He finished with 1,812 RBis, hit .294, played in the 
World Series five times and homered in each of them. Additionally, he 
had a .389 on-base average boosted by 1,420 walks against 1,532 
strikeouts. Extremely alert on the bases, he had 204 steals.
  Mr. Robinson was born August 21, 1935 in Beaumont, Texas. He was the 
youngest of Ms. Ruth Shaw's 10 children. His parents separated when he 
was an infant, and he accompanied his mother to Northern California 
when he was 4. Mr. Robinson attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, 
California. At 14 years old, he began playing for local coaching legend 
George Powles, and won an American Legion national championship.
  In the days before the Major League Draft, Robinson was signed by the 
Cincinnati Reds out of McClymonds in 1953 for a $3,500 bonus and made 
his Major League debut three years later. He won the NL Rookie of the 
Year Award and made his first All-Star appearance that season.
  During 10 seasons with the Reds, Robinson averaged 32 home runs and 
was a six-time All-Star. He won the 1961 NL Most Valuable Player Award 
and finished fourth in NL MVP Award voting in 1962 and 1964.
  In December 1965, Robinson was the centerpiece in what would 
ultimately be one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history, 
going to the Baltimore Orioles for pitchers Milt Pappas and Jack 
Baldschun and outfielder Dick Simpson. Robinson became an instant hit 
with the Orioles in 1966 as the unanimous AL MVP and a Triple Crown 
winner.
  On May 8, he became the only player ever to hit a home run completely 
out of Baltimore's home park, Memorial Stadium. The drive came against 
Cleveland ace Luis Tiant and the spot where the ball sailed over the 
left-field wall was marked by a flag that read ``HERE'' that remained 
in place until the Orioles left for Camden Yards in 1991.
  Mr. Robinson batted .316 with 49 home runs and 122 RBIs during his 
first season in Baltimore. He then homered in the first inning of the 
1966 World Series opener at Dodger Stadium and capped off the four-game 
sweep of Los Angeles with another homer off Don Drysdale in a 1-0 win 
in Game 4.

[[Page E175]]

  Mr. Robinson hit two home runs against the Reds in teaming with 
future Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson to win another crown 
for the Orioles in 1970.
  Mr. Robinson was an All-Star in five of his six seasons with 
Baltimore, reaching the World Series four times and batting .300 with 
179 home runs. He was traded to the Dodgers before the 1972 season and 
played for the California Angels in 1973 and was dealt to Cleveland 
late in the 1974 season.
  Mr. Robinson hit 586 home runs and was a 14-time All-Star and the 
only player to win Most Valuable Player Awards in both leagues--1961 
for the Reds in the National League and 1966 for the Orioles in the 
American League.
  Mr. Robinson managerial debut came 28 years after Jackie Robinson 
broke the MLB color barrier as a player. He became Major League 
Baseball's first African American manager on April 8, 1975, as the 
manager of the Cleveland Indians. Mr. Robinson, still an active player, 
celebrated the occasion with a home run in the Indians' 5-3 victory 
over the New York Yankees.
  Mr. Robinson also managed the San Francisco Giants, the Orioles and 
the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals over the course of his career.
  Mr. Robinson served as manager of the Orioles from 1988-91. In 1989, 
he was named the American League Manager of the Year for guiding the 
Orioles to an 87-75 record, 33 more victories than the previous season.
  Three teams--the Reds, Orioles and Indians--have retired Robinson's 
No. 20. All three teams honored Robinson with statues. And he was 
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush 
in 2005.
  Aside from being one of the great home run hitters, Mr. Robinson was 
innovator in his involvement of the development of the youth aspect of 
the game. In 2012, he was hired by MLB as the vice president of player 
development. He managed to emphasize important aspects such as the 
Urban Youth Academy and the Future Game, as well as the Civil Rights 
Game. He was given the special position to become Honorary President of 
the American League.
  Mr. Robinson was not hesitant to give appreciation to the Negro 
League players who came before him. His youth academy emphasized 
expressing to future generations the importance of the game outreach to 
urban areas to keep the youth in the game.
  Mr. Robinson was a trailblazer and had a huge influence on Major 
League Baseball. His legacy will forever be a part of Major League 
Baseball and his dedication to community embodies the spirit of 
America. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Mr. Robinson, but 
surely, we can try to match his sense of service. We cannot match his 
courage, but we can strive to match his devotion.
  Mr. Robinson's survivors include his wife Barbara, and daughter 
Nichelle.
  Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Frank Robinson.

                          ____________________