Brooks Robinson was a Hall-of-Fame baseball player, but an even BETTER person. Brooks is by far the most friendly and down-to-earth athlete I ever met.
Mr. Robinson was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and lived next door to a school for the deaf. He learned compassion and empathy very early in his life from seeing and interacting with many of the students who attended there. Mr. Robinson never forgot his roots
I was at St. Paul's Catholic School in Ellicott City during this series. The nun wheeled the big TV into our classroom and we all cheered. We got to watch O's games and Apollo launches in 4th grade.
I’ll never forget that Game 5- I was in the right field bleachers with my dad. Pete Rose was in right and threw his warmup ball to us in one of the late innings. Plus back in those days we were allowed to run onto the field afterwards to celebrate. Those days of baseball are only memories now.
12 year old me watching my first World Series. A kid from NYC I didn't become a Yankee fan like my dad and older brother. Just liked the cartoon bird. Had no idea how big a deal this was then. Remember seeing some cartoon on the back of the NY Daily News of Earl Weaver with a monkey wrench getting ready to take the Big Red Machine apart. I really loved this team growing up as a kid. Big Boog Powell was my favorite Oriole.
The most amazing thing about Brooksie besides his fielding elegance is his down-to-earth friendliness. When he signed my photo at an Arlington shopping center--proceeds went to cancer society or something--it was as if he was my neighbor chatting with me over the backyard fence. I was the one who eventually ran out of time and had to end the conversation! When he was sick in the hospital a few years back he was genuinely amazed that he got emails of encouragement from his fans. Why wouldn't someone with his legacy who has lived in Balto. since he signed with the club in the 50's receive get well greetings? But with Brooksie it was as if it never crossed his mind that his fans would still think of him and his health.
Brooks is the Jesus of Baltimore. I have several personal anecdotes to tell, but some other time. Suffice it to say, that I've been telling people for years now that when Brooks Robinson ascends to the Higher League that the Reds said he was from, the city will turn out in a mourning and grief that I've only seen it show for MLK, Jr. Serious. That's how good a man he is and how widely he is revered in my hometown.
That's a great story. I never met him in person, but I had always heard Brooks was a great guy. I grew up not far from the stadium and it seemed like baseball playoff and world series time was the only real quality time my dad and i spent together. He even let me drink beer with him. I was 12! Lol
As this and a few other videos on RU-vid successfully illustrate, Major League Baseball in the 1960's was the Golden Age of Baseball. And that's for many reasons. I specialize in the aesthetics of the 60s era, so I'll cover that here: (Disclaimer: Even though this video is from the 70's, because this was in 1970, just one year after, many of the attributes I'm about to illustrate still apply) Every team played in great ballparks, whether they were in older, classic ballparks (Phillies' Shibe Park, Reds' Crosley Field, Pirates' Forbes Field, Tigers' namesake Stadium, White Sox' Comiskey Park, Yankee's original namesake Stadium, etc) or in more modern parks (Dodgers' namesake Stadium, Giants' Candlestick Park, Astros' namesake Dome, Angels' Anaheim Stadium, A's Oakland Coliseum, Twins' Metropolitan Stadium, Orioles' Memorial Stadium, etc), they were all great, with the exception of the Cardinals and Senators, who I think were aesthetically better in Busch Stadium I (Sportsmans Park) and Griffith Park, respectively. The dugouts and clubhouses were designed and built to serve the very purpose of a simple area for the players to be in, not virtual apartments like today. The overall look of green seats and steel, simple grandstand construction, and on special occasions, red white and blue bunting, made for a timeless atmosphere that anyone can appreciate. The players also dressed very well. As a comment on a Uni Watch post says, the jersey and pants are trim but not tight. Button down jerseys with short sleeves and true vests reign supreme. The stirrup socks were at the most ideal proportion of stirrup to sanitary sock, allowing for plenty of white (Or yellow in the A's case) while still giving enough space for colorful and creative stripes. It was pre-double knit so every jersey was soft flannel but you still had an injection of powder blue roads. The cap is not quite the exaggerated high peak but isn’t formless either, with green underbrims for reduced glare (The grass is green too) and leather sweatbands with white reeding. No matter what style a team happened to wear, it was almost guaranteed to look like baseball. Teams with classic designs (Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals, etc) and those who experimented with their looks (A's, Pilots, White Sox, Expos, Padres, etc) all looked very elegant, particularly because button-front jerseys and belted pants were still in vogue, giving off a classic, formal vibe, going with the notion of baseball being a gentleman's game. The umpires also looked their best, many times being outfitted in dark navy suits, caps, and black ties and dress shoes, with either white shirts, adding to the aforementioned formal and official vibe. The players not only dressed well, but the equipment they used, consisting of Hillerich and Bradsby made Louisville Slugger or Adirondack natural-colored ash wood bats; Rawlings, Wilson, or Spalding tan leather fielding gloves and mitts; the aforementioned black (Or white in the A's case) leather spikes; simple-construction batting helmets with one earflap, which just seems to scream baseball to me; and catcher's equipment with simple patterns on the chest protector, shin guards (Both of which preferably in team colors), and the steel bars of the mask, were also simple compared to today, but elegant. And that's just the aesthetics of that era-not to mention the caliber of players during that time. But I'll let others cover that. I hope my Heaven is 1960's MLB when my time comes.
The fans paid closer attention to the game. A few fans could be seen keeping score of the game. With the "shift'" in vogue I have no idea how to keep score.
I agree 60 B-ball was supreme. Did you get into playing Stratomatic? I never got hooked. Thanks for the post, I'm sure enjoying watching this 70s World Series Reds And orioles . Americans were spoiled the players we had in the 60s example, Roberto Clemente.
@davidherringgo I got the game and some cards for Christmas last year. I have some games on my channel but they may be unlisted so if you'd like to see them, just let me know and I'll make them public again.
6:30 - Sports Illustrated used this for their subscription advertising. As I recall the text said something like: "The runner missed the plate, the catcher missed the tag, and the umpire missed it all, but you won't miss a thing with a subscription to Sports Illustrated."
Lee May hit 354 HR in his MLB career. He passed away on 7.29.2017... nearly 4 months after his grandson Jacob May made his MLB debut on 4.4.2017, for the Chicago White Sox. RIP
And his brother Carlos May would’ve been really good, but he lost the end of his thumb in a mortar accident. It was a totally different time. Can you imagine these players today missing time for military service? They’re whining over not getting paid enough to play in empty stadiums during a pandemic.
@@armorybrunotjr.3204 Elrod was the nicest player I ever met. I'd go see the O's every time they played in Oakland as a kid. Late 70's through the 80's it seemed and felt I was the only O's fan in the entire park. I'd always make a bee-line to the O's bullpen where I'd always get a chance to talk to Elrod. He'd always give me a ball and was just a great guy to chat with. Always full of energy. I miss him ....
Amazing defensive play by Robinson. I think this video was the first time I ever seen him play and now I know why many say he was the best defensive third baseman ever.
Nice to see day games in the World Series. This is the first one played on synthetic turf (thankfully, a thing of the past now) and it's also the last World Series played entirely in the daytime.
I was I believe the happiest 12 year old kid in America.when my boyhood team the Baltimore Orioles won another World Series. Though I never got to go to a game in person at that age, my heros were Frank, Brooks,Boog, Jim, and Earl. But I loved them all. The city newspaper featured a poster of a different Oriole each week. I had the all on the wall.its the greatest feeling in the world when your team wins it all. And you remember the players your entire life....
I was 11yrs old and this game was baltimore's only game. I had five brothers and we all were junior orioles, and on bat day and ball day we came home with bats and balls for our own team. those were the days. im 64 now and remember it like it was yesterday. I grew up on penhurst ave in nortywest baltimore and graduated from forest park in 78.
Two pretty good teams going at it here. Two hall of fame managers....Sparky and Earl. Five hall of fame players....Frank and Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer for the O's and Johnny Bench and Tony Perez for the Reds. I think both teams won 100+ games that year. Two dominant teams of their generation. Great matchup.
Earl Weaver won ONE world series. That was it. He lost World Series in 1969, '71 and '79 and lost to the A's in the playoffs in 1973 and 74. He was not a good postseason manager. Six division titles and one world series is nothing to get excited about.
@@michaelwainscott2633 Weaver posted a 26 - 20 playoff record to go with his .583 regular season win percentage. If he hadn't retired after a 94 win 1982 season, he probably would have won another World Series in 83 when the Orioles won the series. The Orioles had the best record in baseball from late 60's through the early 80's when Weaver managed the team. Certainly a hall of fame worthy manager.
Being a Phillies fan, I would argue Mike Schmidt to be the best Thirdbaseman ever and our record from 1976 to 1983 was pretty similar to Earl Weaver’s success. We thought that was a hell of a run. Only one title, but a great time to be a fan.
I watched these games on tv with my dad and uncle. These were the best players and teams in major league baseball. I remember this series as well as the ones a few years prior and for several years later. Thanks for letting me relive those memories!
Boog Powell looks like your 50 year old uncle who can eat 100 hot dogs. He was 28 in this series. Also was league MVP. Also makes a damn good pit beef sandwich.
I traveled from Calif. to Baltimore the 1st year Camden Park opened. Just had to take it in ....... spent 7 days there and saw 7 games. Boog was running his stand then and I had some terrific conversations with him each and every day. Pure class act.
I had not yet discovered MLB in 1969. In 1970 i was figuring it out when they won the World Series. By 1971 I was fully engaged and had photos from Sports Illustrated of the players on my room walls. It was a battle with the Pirates. Roberto Clemente I remember. Another 8 years and it was the 1979 World Series and a guy named Willie Stargell. They got us again. Could swear we had that one put away. Didn't have to wait long for 1983 and guy by the name of Cal Ripken and another called Eddie Murray. Decades have passed since the glory days but they were sure fun.
I watch that play over and over again and I'm amazed by it every time. I've probably watched it hundreds of times now. The gasp from the crowd when the umpire made the out call was classic. They couldn't believe what they just saw.
@@davidneary01 I guess you are right- my take on the video is interesting. While I appreciate the fine play and the eloquent Jim Palmer pitching, as an umpire I am focused on Ken Burkhardt. He’s absolutely wrong when he says he made the best call he could. While unprecedented, the right thing to do was make no call, and get the umpire crew together and come up with a call as a crew. Even better Burkhardt should of been positioned first base line extended in foul territory, away from players; or he could of positioned himself at the point of the plate if he wasn’t sure where the ball was going to come down. Point of the plate and back in foul territory. As an umpire you watch the ball and glance at runners; your head on a swivel. Plate umpire had to glance at R-3 to see if he is advancing. Umpire placed himself in the worst possible position. Hope you are well and happy. Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training today.
Thanks to Curt Flood! He was the catalyst that led to free agency in baseball...including Andy Messerschmitt and Dave McNally as the first full, free agents in baseball.
Yeah, the good old days when players couldn't move or have their salaries increased based on what they were worth, only what the owners wanted to pay them.
Brooks is a natural left hander, so he wore the fielding glove in his strongest hand. Yes, he batted and threw righthanded but that's it, everything else, including writing and even playing Tennis, he does or did lefty.
Thank you for the post! The first time I ever ate Chef Boy Ar Dee Beef-A-Roni was during Game 1, and I have loved it fr 49 years (I had it for dinner tonight).
Haha, during this shelter-at-home time, I've stocked up on Chef Boy-ar-dee, first for practicality and nostalgia, and then as a challenge to upgrade it with everything from additional fresh-boiled pasta to sauteed Big meatballs and Big Beefaroni. Cupboard also filled with Campbell, Progresso, and Goya....
@Wgb8210. Myself also. I grew up watching and listening to the Ol' Wyoming Cowboy, Curt Gowdy, along with Pee Wee Reese, on the "Game of the Week" on Saturdays. I became a huge fan of the AFL, in part because of Curt Gowdy doing play-by-play on the spotlight AFL games. Curt also did the Rose Bowl year after year when NBC had the contract to air the game. He had a clear, distinctive voice, yet he was not immune to on-air gaffes, or the occasional malaprop either. Still feel privileged to have heard him call so many games. Curt was WAY more enjoyable to listen to than Joe Buck or Jim Nantz of today.
@@jgowin66 Curt Gowdy was very good friends with ABC's Roone Arledge. When Monday night football began on ABC in 1970 Mr. Arledge wanted Curt Gowdy to do the play-by-play but NBC wouldn't let Mr. Gowdy out of his contract so it never happened.
@@bufnyfan1 That would have been interesting to see Curt Gowdy on the first MNF broadcast. Gowdy did eventually get paired with Dandy Don, when Meredith came over to NBC a few years later. They had a memorable call together during the Dolphins/Raiders playoff game, known forever as "The Sea of Hands" game.
Despite all his sucess, Boog Powell had some terrible footwork when swinging at the plate. Freeze the screen at 4:00 as he hits his home run. He takes an enormous stride, his front foot goes toward first base, and his rear foot is not planted. Probably shows how powerful of a guy he was that he could hit one out the opposite way without getting the benefit of his hips into the swing.
I've always noticed stuff like this too, as it kind of irks me, despite me not even having a scintilla of the talent these guys have. That being said, I remember someone on MLB network doing a hitting breakdown segment where someone talked about this (think it was Jim Thome). Apparently it was something that a number of hitters used to intentionally do. They would slide their back foot while swinging- Not sure what the reasoning was, could be anything from timing, to hip placement, or adjustment to pitch location. It stuck out to me because it seemed like the opposite of what I was taught. Almost like a coach telling me to always make sure that I am at least 6 deep before entering the batters box.
The first out of the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 5 - that "Houdini at the hot sack" catch by Baltimore's Brooke Robinson - I can imagine how fast that bat exit speed was from Cincinnati's Johnny Bench. Likely it was 115-120 mph! What a diving catch, keeping the Reds from a possible 9th-inning 2-base hit!
Dude, thank you so much for sharing content like this for the whole world to see. I cant believe I can just click a button and be in a whole new world. Same could be said about a lot of stuff on here, but this is special. Well Done!
I just watched the 1983 Orioles win the WS then,a nd now this 1970's win. I didn't know that happened. Both series I was expecting the Phillies and the Reds to win, lol. Now it changed for the Orioles and my perception.
I was lucky enough to be at game 5 sitting close to field on 3rd base side watching Brooks do his magic. Two great teams going at it. Baseball at its best
Just had to "Tube" in and watch my baseball idol, Brooks Robinson, in the World Series that he completely dominated. Sadly, today - 9/26/23 - he passed away at 86. When I met him at a Balto. car wash in the summer of '83, I pulled up in my '55 Buick Super with 3 on the tree, and told Brooksie that this car was brand new when he started playing in the big leagues. He got a kick outta that. Didn't ask for his autograph. Chatting with this personable and self-effacing guy was so much more meaningful to me than a scribbled name. R.I.P., Mr. Robinson, the light-skinned one of the famed Oriole "Robby Brothers"...
One situation that they didn't feature. In game 5 Brooks Robinson was given a standing ovation by the crowd for striking out in his final at bat. Incredible.
I would tell people Brooks Robinson was my uncle. No we only share the last name but I still call him UNCLE BROOKSIE what a show he put on in this series a one man show of the highest order
I never liked the Orioles but the blown call in game 1 didn't cost the Reds the series...It cost them game one...overall the Reds didn't have the pitching to stop the Orioles..plus Brooks Robinson had a career series with his bat and glove..
I remember watching this series between two powerhouses back in 1970. I was just 13 yrs old. My pick to win it all were the Big Red Machine. But I forgot that pitching is still the name of the game... which Cincinnati simply didn't possess. And of course, the Orioles had Brooks Robinson... "The Vacuum Cleaner".
I remember sneaking a small radio to jr high when this was played.Til 71 there were no night games in World Series.talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse.Too bad the orioles can't fire their owner
If the Reds had been playing at Crosley Field, if only just for this series, if not the whole season, then the aesthetics of this WS would've been absolutely spot-on.
the umpire actually blocked Carbo off the plate, and why he was there I have no fucking idea. That umpire was completely out of position, he never should have been in the field of play most definitely not in the base path.
Burkhart made many mistakes on the play, but his biggest was simply not asking for help. No other umpire may have seen it anyway, but he didn't even ask. And in a World Series!
These are so well done. Just the right length. Baseball really had it right back then- perfect balance between offense and defense. You still had big home run hitters like Powell and Robinson and Bench, but defense was also a key factor, as was base stealing and speed, and of course, pitching. They lowered the mound in '68 or '69, and got it just right. The only bad part about baseball of this era was the introduction of the astroturf stadium, which was a blight on the game for the next 30-40 years.
What a team the Orioles were. Palmer, Cuellar and McNally were outstanding starters. And how about Dave McNally hitting a grand slam?! He was probably closest to Babe Ruth as the best power hitter as a pitcher
That's the only time a pitcher has hit a grand slam in the World Series. As things stand now, it won't happen again as both leagues have the DH. Pardon me, but I don't like the DH. I love seeing pitchers get the chance to hit.
She was kind to Eddie Yost in '69 and Alex Grammas in '70, but I dont know why she swept dirt on Frank Oceak's feet in '71! Got a little brazen and obnoxious as time went on? Got a little "booty-ful" with Emmett Ashford, too!
rredhawk: I was a huge Orioles fan back then. But I have to admit that to this day, it was the worst call by an umpire ever in an MLB game. The umpire was blocking the plate and he clearly never saw the play. The call was worse than Reggie Jackson moving into a thrown ball in 1978, worse than Deckinger in the 1985 series, and worse than the Hebek/Gant play in 1991.
@@hehhehhuhhuh7014 first base line extended provides a good 👀 at the ball in regard to the foul line. Hope you are well and happy, and enjoy spring training
@@rayray4192 True. And the ball actually came down towards the first base line. So yeah, I like your idea much better. The ump certainly would have gotten a better look if he were on the first base line. I hope you are doing well too!
Someone tell me how many future hall of famers in this series. My guess is 10 which would be crazy but it might be more than that. Palmer, Robinson and Robinson, Bench, Concepsion, Morgan, Weaver, Anderson and that's just off the top of my head!
Only 5 players: The Robinsons and Palmer from the Orioles, and Bench and Perez from the Reds were HOFers along with both managers. Morgan was still an Astro then.
Was there any better glove ever at any position as Brooks Robinson was? Maybe Vizquel or The Wizard at short? Willie Mays or Griffey Jr. in center maybe?
@@robertaxel Ryne Sandberg at second base. Most consecutive games without an error at the time in 1990... with 123. He is in the top 10 in all-time fielding pct. at 2B with a .9894 pct. He held the record for fewest errors in a season at 2B with 4 in 157 games in 1991. Sandberg won a gold glove at 2B every season from 1983-1991.
On the controversial home plate call when the ump fell. The video clearly shows the ump's back was to the tag. But he did make the right call, probably having deduced the call from the runner's distance from the plate when he did look back. Stopped watching baseball for a long time due to bad calls but that wasn't one of them. I just watched to learn from Brooks Robinson playing third.
The picture clearly proves: 1. The ball was in the wrong hand. 2. The runner misses the plate. 3. The umpire had his back turned towards the play, so he obviously fudged the call. (I was a huge Orioles fan & glad they won, but this bad call surely helped them out!)
Groovy! These highlights make me want to don some red and blue plaid sans a belt slacks, grow some muttonchops, break out some orange barstools and hop into my brown AMC Gremlin for good times!
It's all been about advertising. Night games allow sponsors to reach more viewers. I WS day games. The nuns at St. Plus X, in Towson, would roll in the TV for us to watch. Go Orioles, Go.
The 1970 World Series marked the last all-daytime fall classic in the majors. The fourth game between the Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971 marked the first nighttime World Series game.
I was middle school age during this series. I had a very understanding teacher. She allowed me to listen to the game in class using an ear bud with my transistor radio. After each half inning I would go up to the blackboard and update the chalk scoreboard I had drawn there. Most of the kids were impatiently waiting for my updates.
yeah, as an ump for 23 years. for both plays at home they were outta position. you never stand in the line a runner is going to use to go home and plays at home are better seen when you are standing in the infield. you must be thinking to be an umpire. you just can't let the game come to you!
@Michelle Sanders. That was Ken Burkhart. He was a pretty good umpire, however, he was awful on this play. Both Burkhart and catcher Hendricks seemed to forget about Carbo who was running hard from third on contact. Burkhart TOTALLY blocked Carbo's path to home plate to check if Cline's ball was fair/foul. Hendricks was waiting for the ball to come down, and preparing to throw to first before Palmer screams to alert him about Carbo. Thus, the tag with the empty mitt. Sparky was right when he shouted at Burkhart, "THERE'S NO WAY POSSIBLE HE EVER TAGGED HIM".
That missed call in the 1st game against Cincinnati would have been challenged in today's game and definitely overturned. Why couldn't Baltimore catcher Hendricks have shown good sportsmanship and said "No I didn't tag him with the ball but my glove and the ball was not in my glove"
