Fastball

Baseball World Reacts to the Passing of Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson

Tributes poured in from around the baseball world on Tuesday night after it was learned that Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson had died at the age of 86.

Brady Farkas

Baseball World Reacts to the Passing of Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson
Baseball World Reacts to the Passing of Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson /
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Tributes poured in from around the baseball world on Tuesday night after it was learned that Hall of Famer and Baltimore Orioles' legend Brooks Robinson had died at the age of 86.

From former Orioles OF Adam Jones:

Was awoken to many texts about the passing of the great Brooks Robinson. Never have I met a human like Mr. Brooks. Represented #Birdland until his final day. Rest Easy Sir. You will be missed greatly by the entire baseball family. You did It the right way.

From Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins:

Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the legendary Brooks Robinson. Mr. GoldGlove at 3rd base, a huge advocate for the players association, and great man & friend. My thoughts go out to the Robinson family, his fans, and the Oriole organization.

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From Hall of Famer Wade Boggs:

Words can’t express how I feel right now. A sad day for our Hall of Fame family with passing of Brooks Robinson. One of the most kindest and sincere individual I have ever met. Brooks you will be dearly missed my friend RIP 

From Hall of Famer and former Oriole Cal Ripken Jr.:

"Today is an incredibly sad day for Baltimore and baseball fans everywhere. Brooks was Mr. Oriole. He was beloved and rightfully so. His historic career on the field pales to the impact he's made on so many of us. The memories we all share of Brooks will live on. My thoughts are with Connie and the Robinson family. We lost a great man but were so fortunate to have had him in our lives."

From former MLB MVP Fred Lynn:

Farewell to one of the greats of the game and one of the great gentlemen of the game. ⁦ @Orioles The baseball world will miss Brooks Robinson. Our thoughts are with his family.

From MLB Insider Jayson Stark of 'The Athletic:'

This is the saddest news of a magical Baltimore baseball summer. Brooks Robinson was a legend and a Baltimore baseball icon. 

But more than that, he was a beautiful person with a warm smile for everyone he met and a love of baseball that shined brightly every day of his life.

Scott Van Pelt of "SportsCenter:"

Long Brooks Robinson story I believe I told on radio: When the Orioles played in Memorial Stadium, the PA announcer was named Rex Barney. When a fan made a great catch of a foul ball, he'd say, "Give that fan a contract." 

At a game with my dad and Brooks fouls off a pitch. Dad makes a leaping catch, everyone cheers, Rex does his thing. I'm over the moon. I got a Brooks Robinson foul ball. Can't believe it. 

Next day at school, I tell everyone. Obviously. After school we have to play catch with this ball. Obviously. I figure I can throw a major league curve ball with it. I can't. I throw it low, my friend can't catch it. Now is when I mention we lived at the top of a hill. Ball rolls down the street and into a sewer. 

The Brooks ball is gone. I never told my dad when he was alive. I always look up to the sky at this point and say, "Sorry 'bout that, Pop." 

I tell this story decades later at a charity event in Baltimore. Turns out a man at our table did some work with Brooks. 

A week later a box arrives at my house with this and a note: 

Hope this makes up for the one that got away, Brooks. 

Indeed it did, Brooks. What a man.

Robinson was a .267 career hitter with 2,848 hits, 268 home runs and 1,357 RBI. He won 16 Gold Gloves at third base.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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