Remembering Brooks Robinson

This distinctive signature will be familiar to many baseball fans and Marylanders. It belongs to the man who has been known as “Mr. Oriole,” “Mr. Hoover,” and “The Human Vacuum Cleaner,” a man who is almost synonymous with Baltimore baseball…. legendary third baseman, Brooks Robinson.

These two biographies, both inscribed by the Baltimore icon himself, were donated to Miller Library by John Danz.  They are part of our Maryland Collection on the second floor.

Robinson's awards and accolades over the years are almost too numerous to mention.  He spent his entire 23-year career (1955-1977) with the Baltimore Orioles, helping them to two World Series championships. He was the recipient of sixteen consecutive Gold Glove awards and was named League MVP, All-Star MVP, and World Series MVP, all while earning the awe and admiration of his teammates and countless fans.  He was known not only as an amazing third baseman but also as a gentleman and a down-to-earth, kind person. Born and raised in Arkansas, he never completely lost his southern accent, which endeared him to the unpretentious Baltimore crowd.  According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame website, sportswriter Gordon Beard once wrote of Robinson, “Brooks never asked anyone to name a candy bar after him.  In Baltimore, people named their children after him.”

Brooks Robinson passed away in Baltimore just two weeks ago at the age of 86.  That same day, September 26, his beloved Orioles won the first of a two-game series against the Washington Nationals; later that week, the Orioles advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.