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Don't forget Mr. Robinson As Bonds rises, let's remember this Hall of Fame sluggerPosted: Monday June 03, 2002 11:50 AM
By John Donovan, CNNSI.com ATLANTA -- The incomparable Barry Bonds continues to hop Hall of Famers on his trip up the list titled "Most Home Runs, Career." Frank Robinson, the only player to win the MVP award in both leagues, has fallen to fifth. It's not something Robinson enjoys, necessarily, giving up the No. 4 spot. But getting passed by Bonds, a young man he has watched since Bonds came into the league back in 1986, is not so bad. "I've seen a guy who's been very consistent over the years, had some tremendous years, then he had that lull in between and everybody kind of wrote him off, talking about the guys today, like A-Rod and McGwire and Junior," says Robinson, now the manager of the Montreal Expos. "They forgot about Barry until last year." Ah, but many fans have forgotten about Robinson for a lot longer than that. When it comes to fans' memories, three years seems to be the limit. "If it goes that far," he chuckles. To truly appreciate Robinson's career, which began three decades before Bonds', all you have to do is look at the numbers: The home runs (586), the hits (2,943), the RBIs (1,812), the runs (1,829), the doubles (528). He was the MVP in the National League in 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and, in 1966, the MVP in the American League with the Baltimore Orioles. He won the World Series MVP that season, too, in a Triple Crown year in which he hit .316, smacked 49 homers and drove in 122 runs.
Robinson was the Rookie of the Year in 1956, the All-Star Game MVP in '71 and, after he played 21 seasons, he ended up managing. He was the majors' first black manager, with the Cleveland Indians in 1975, and later became AL Manager of the Year in '89 with the Orioles. He was one of baseball's top administrators until he took over the Expos this season at Major League Baseball's behest. Remember? This guy has had a heck of a career. And it's still going. "It's very flattering, really, to hear some things that people are saying about me now that wasn't said even when I was playing," says Robinson. "It's nice to hear. It's nice to be remembered." Robinson compares Bonds, now, to home run king Hank Aaron, who hit 245 of his record 755 homers after he turned 35. And Robinson predicts that Bonds is far from finished. "I think he has a lot more years to go. No reason he can't go another four or five years at the top," says Robinson. "He is much more a mature hitter now. Much more patient. He doesn't let these little games within a game get inside of his head. "Like them not pitching to him, hitting him, throwing up under his chin, hitting him in the small of his back. Walking him three or four times a ballgame. He takes his walks and stays in his zone. Three or four years ago, that would have been different." Earlier this season, Robinson said he didn't really want to give up fourth place on the all-time home run list because he had held it for so long (more than 25 years since his retirement, after the 1976 season). But he realizes the records are out there, and somebody's liable to come along and break them. The good thing is, at least someone's noticing. "Oh yeah. You know what I'm saying? Any publicity is good publicity, even if it's bad publicity, 'cause it brings attention to you," he says, laughing. "Nothing wrong with that."
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