Frank Robinson 1934-2019

I have covered Frank Robinson a few times on this blog but not nearly enough. While I never got to see him play, I did get to see an historic game in which he was involved.

2005 Topps Update Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-TEAM

The April 2005 game was so historic that Topps honored it with a trading card - It was the first game in the history of the Nationals.

Robinson appears prominently on the card twice. First in the top photo he is at the center to the left of home plate, while the Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel guards the other. The inset photo on the bottom left features Frank Robinson even more prominently. The two images are clearly from different games - note that the smaller picture features the Nats in their Home uniforms at RFK.

The Phillies won the game 8-4 you can read more about the game at the SABR Baseball Game project.

I go into this card more in depth here, but at the time I didn't mention Frank Robinson. 

Tributes
SABR BB Card Blog
1960s Baseball Card Blog 
Fresh Air - Terry Gross Terrific interview (13 mins audio & text) includes Robinson's views on integration/segregation.

Links and Sources
Frank Robinson HOF Index
2005 0404 Nationals inaugural game at Phillies
SABR games project
Baseball-ref

1976 All-Star Game +40: Ron LeFlore

Tonight ESPN Sunday Night Baseball was supposed to be airing from Detroit but the Tigers game with the Yankees had to be postponed due to inclement weather.

Here at Phungo HQ we are up to the challenges of the elements and will continue our 1976 All-Star Game retrospective with a look at Tigers Alum Ron LeFlore

1977 Topps #240 Ron LeFlore All-Star

1976 was probably LeFlore's best season and he was rewarded with his only All-Star nomination. He started Left Field and led off for the AL squad. Unfortunately LeFlore was erased on a double play ground out so he didn't get to show off his speed during the game. His 455 career steals rank 52nd all time and include leading each league once (68 SB AL 1978, 97 SB NL 1980).

LeFlore is an interesting baseball figure. A troubled youth he found himself in prison for armed robbery at the age of 22 in 1970. While in prison he picked up baseball and was discovered by Tigers manager Billy Martin. The story was chronicled in his (auto)-biography "Breakout: From Prison to the Big Leagues" co authored with Tigers writer and Spink Award Nominee Jim Hawkins. The book begat the film "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story" which was starred LeVar Burton as LeFlore and was directed by prolific TV filmmaker William A Graham

1977 Topps
Nice to see LeFlore get honored with the 77T All-Star Flair, plenty of players in the 1970s era made multiple ASGs but never get an All-Star card.

1977 Topps #240 Ron LeFlore All-Star (b-side)

The text covers LeFlore's All-Star game appearance and also mentions a 30 Game Hit streak he had in 1976. The streak lasted from the Tigers fourth game on April 17th through May 27th. Yankees Pitchers Ed Figueroa and Tippy Martinez shut down LeFlore on May 28th, 1976.

Also I would like to point out the demographics note LeFlore was both born and lived in Detroit. Definitely despite a troubled past (and present) a Tigers favorite.

Finally the Cartoon. Love this one as it covers Frank Robinson winning MVP awards in both leagues. This was discussed in our posting on Robinson's 1967T #100 card, which mentions the fact in the text and has it's own -toon mentioning his 1966 AL MVP award.

Voices in the Crowd
This card was covered by the Baseball 1977

Sources and Links
Baseball 1977
1976 All-Star Game Index
Robert Niemi: History in the Media: Film and Television
Jim Hawkins - Toronto Sun (2013 0226)

BBWAA
Baseball-ref

HoF 80th Birthday Frank Robinson

August 31st marks the 80th birthday for Frank Robinson.

1967 Topps #100 Frank Robinson

This is the first Topps Card to feature Robinson wearing an Orioles Cap. He was issued an O's card in 1966 but it was in the classic Topps 1960s era Hatless style of traded players and it is quite clear that the future Hall of Famer is wearing Reds colors.

On December 9th 1965 the Reds traded the 1956 Rookie of the Year and 1961 NL MVP to the Orioles for a Young Milt Pappas and a couple of other prospects.

The ensuing season the 30 Year Old Frank Robinson went on to win the AL Triple Crown, The AL MVP Award and a World Series Ring (including Series MVP honors)

1967 Topps
The photo from the 1967T card above likely captures Robinson sometime during that epic 1966 season.

Topps awarded Robinson the First Hero Card in the 1967 set (#100) - he also appears on a Special #1 card in the set. It was the 2nd time that Frank Robinson drew a Hero Number, he was on card #400 in 1963.

Flip

1967 Topps #100 Frank Robinson (b-side)

The back of Frank Robinson's 1967T card covers a lot of the info we have above, Triple Crown -Toon, World Series MVP -Toon and Rookie of the Year text. Had to bum out Reds fans of the era to see Cincinnati listed there 10 times followed by the MVP year with a different squad. 

1966 Triple Crown WAR and MVP
The Triple Crown resulted in a unanimous AL MVP award for Robinson. Had SABRmetrics been available at the time I doubt that there would have been the debate that occurred when Miguel Cabrera pulled off the trifecta in 2012 but was pushed by Mike Trout. In addition to leading Junior Circuit Hitters in HR, RBI and Batting Average Robinson also led the group in oWAR.

It should however be noted that Pitcher Earl Wilson led all AL Players in WAR for the 1966 season, he finished 14th in the MVP voting. In an Award Voting Quirk Wilson did not receive a single Cy Young award vote that season. At the time there was only one CY award shared by the two leagues - and voters cast the first place vote only. Wilson had the misfortune of having his great season while Sandy Koufax was having a better season. 1966 was the last time that MLB handed out only one Cy Young award.

Frank Robinson HoF Index
1959 Topps #435 (HoF Profile & price guide including 1957 rc)
1961 Topps #25 (Reds Heavy Artillery w/ Vada Pinson and Gus Bell)
1999 Hillshire Farms Home Run Heroes (autograph)
2005 Topps Update Nationals Inaugural Game #NI-TEAM (Memorial) 
2010 Topps CYMTO Insert (1957 rc reprint)

1988 Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross, 13 minutes discusses issues with segregation & baseball.

Sources and Links
Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball-ref

Hall of Fame Profile - Frank Robinson

While at the National earlier this month, I heard a couple of the signings had been moved or cancelled for health reasons.  This sort of news is always a bummer - I suppose we always think of our sports idols as being invicible super heroes.  Unfortunately time is a cruel reality - it moves on for everyone regardless of their stature in any field. 

Frank Robinson's Hall of Fame credentials really don't need debated - 2 World Series Rings (1966 1970 both with the Orioles), 2 MVPs, Rookie of the Year,  14 All-Star teams, 586 Home Runs, 2943 hits, 1800+ in both Runs and RBIs.  Robinson Homered 10 times in 149 Postseason plate appearances. 

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982 on his first ballot.  Hank Aaron was inducted the same year.            

2010 Topps CMT-6 Frank Robinson

2006 Topps ROTW-8 Frank Robinson

For The Collector 

According to the handy rescource at Old Cardboard there are several early regional issues of Frank Robinson cards that are considered Rookies.  For collectors on a budget, like myself, the most likely Rookie Card one would find is his 1957 Topps #35 Card.  The lowest recent auction finished at $24.45 with 5 separate sales concluding under $30.  A PSA-8 graded card went for $697.44. 

Neither of the cards above are the real 1957 Topps RC of Frank Rboinson - both are recent reprint/homages to the original 1957 rookie card.  Both of these re-issues can be found in dime boxes.  .

1959 Topps #435 Frank Robinson

I picked up the 1959 Topps card abover for $8.61 July of 2009.  At least a half dozen recent auctions for the 1959 Topps Frank Robinson have concluded under $8 - a fair condition card went as low as $4. 

On the other end of the spectrum a PSA-8 (NM-MT) came in at $206.50

Sources and Links
Phungo Frank Robinson HoF Index
ebay
Baseball-ref

Updates
2015 0830 Sources and Links added

The Original 1961 Topps - The Inserts

There are many inserts in 1961 Topps. Today we will take a look at some of these "subsets".

1961 Topps #50 1960 AL Strikeout Leaders
1961 Topps #25 Reds Heavy Artillery (Vada Pinson, Gus Bell, Frank Robinson)

In 1961 Topps produced it's first League Leader Cards. Like this card featuring Jim Bunning and Early Wynn, several of the 1961 Leader cards feature Hall of Famers. If you would like to pick up vintage cards of Hall of Famers and your on a budget, you may want to look into league leader cards.

Multi-Player card returned again in 1961, This Reds Card with HOF Frank Robinson was among them. I don't believe the Phils have a multi-player card in the 61 set.


1961 Topps #310 World Series Game 5: Face Saves the Day
1961 Topps #361 5th Series Checklist

The World Series cards which debuted in 1960 return for 1961. One of these World Series Cards features Bill Mazeroski's historic Homer that defeated the Yankees in the 1960 Series.

1961 is the debut of checklist cards in the Topps Set. I like the cool pictures on the top of these checklists. I am pretty sure that these are photos rather than painting and may be the first time in action pictures were featured on a Topps card other than World Series games.

For a previous look back the Phungo 1961 Topps feature on Phillies Cards click here.

Links
Phungo HoF index Frank Robinson

2010 Topps - The Inserts

I got plenty of inserts in the five retail packs, In addition to the cards below there were Five Toppstown and a Topps Attax card.

The Retros
2010 Topps Inserts George Sisler, Josh Beckett, Steve Carlton, Frank Robinson

Of course I was happy with the Carlton card, even if it is Cardinals rather than a Phils and you cannot go wrong with good old Frank Robinson. My only issue with the Mom cards is that the Carlton card seems so fake compared to the 1970 cards of my youth. The first pack I opened also had the Soriano Mom card.

The New York Inserts



2010 Topps Legendary Lineage LL-3 Babe Ruth Alex Rodriquez







2010 Topps Tales of the Game #TOG11 1969 Mets

As I had stated in an earlier post, I like the ToG inserts and may build the set, even if I have to start with a stinkin Mets card.

my final insert was a Million Card Giveaway redemption which will get its own post.

Links
Phungo HoF index Frank Robinson

Phungo Reader Salute, STS Results, and Pat Burrell

Today's reader salute goes out to fellow Phils Phan PTBNL who had a big 3 run inning in the Spot the Sig! contest Sunday. PTBNL was at a cosiderable advantage, he had just posted a Frank Robinson auto at Auto-matic for the People - so not only was he familiar with the auto it was likely fresh in his mind. I already had the STS! auto mapped out, and considered withdrawing the Robinson, but decided to leave it in the contest.

PTBNL has been an active participant in Spot the Sig!, often getting his guess in early on Sunday Nights. He was also gracious enough to come up w/ some suggestions for places to go when my girlfriend and I took a recent mini-vacation in Virginia. Thanks PTBNL and Phungo Salutes you!

My favorite PTBNL entry at Auto-Matic for the People was for a Pat Burrell Auto. The post is definitely worth a read, it is both heartfelt and interesting.

In honor of PTBNL's Burrell fandom I post one of my favorite Burrell cards:

2004 Fleer Authentix #50 Pat Burrell
Phillies Ticket Stub April 12th 2004

As I noted in my blog bat around post several weeks ago, I like cards that commemorate games that I have attended. The date noted on this card is opening day of the 2004 season. Unfortunately the Phils lost the game, but I still enjoy the look of the 2004 fleer Authentix cards. There is a bit of shiny chominess (didn't come through in the scan) which helps the card look a little sharper.

Pat's days in Philadelphia are likely over, I hope that he goes somewhere he can continue a productive career. He's had his ups and downs in Philadelphia, but he is a World Champion an nobody can take that away from him.

Back to this weeks autos. The Frank Robinson card is part of a Hillshire Farms series produced in 1999. I first became aware of them via a Dayf post also on Auto-matic for the people. And he is correct, I believe you can likely pick up each of the Hillshire farms autos for under 10 bucks on ebay, possibly even 5 including shipping.

1999 Hillshire Farms Home Run Heroes Frank Robinson

As for Dallas Green, he came and spoke at the Chester County Historical Society a few years back. I only remember two things Dallas said that night, one was that he completed a masters degree at University of Delaware and the second was he said "Wayne Gomes is not a closer". He was right.

PTBNL as I mentioned earliar had a big inning and I am going to have to sort all this out.
First up he got the single for getting the Frank Robinson auto so Utley Drives in Victorino. This is followed by Ryan Howard getting a big triple, must of been one of those towering pop ups that bounced off of the top of the wall (driving in Utley)- And then Howard comes home has the cutoff man throws wildly to 3rd base as PTBNL gets the Red and Green Bonus. 3 runs for PTBNL.

There was one other bonus to hand out as Night Owl found the 1974 John Ellis card. The Night Owl crew is doing a good job of working on manufacturing a run, coming through on their third bonus question. Night Owl was also inspired to create an amusing post on the cartoons of 1974 topps. Definitely check it out. With the bonus, the busy Matt Kemp has stolen 3rd.

Here is the rest of the John Ellis card:

1974 Topps #128 Johne Ellis (Reverse)

I do have a couple of questions for this weeks winners. 1) PTBNL, you sounded defeated but went back in there and figured out the Dallas Green auto, how'd you come up with it? searching ebay or going through old cards for facsimile autos? and Night Owl, did you know that cartoon was from 1974 topps?. Every time topps has the cartoons they are different but I don't know if I could pick out one year from another based on just the toon portion of the card.

I hope everybody enjoyed this weeks seasonal Spot the Sig! and it helped to get everyone into the holiday spirit. Next week will probably be a lot more basic.

Here are the current STS! standings

PTBNL - repsresentin those Fightin Phillies - 4 Runs - bases empty
Stats on the Back - Mets - 1 Run in - Man on 3rd
Cardboard Junkie - Braves - 1 Run in - Man on First
Cardboard Addiction - Bosox - Man on First
Night Owl - Dodgers - Man on 3rd
A Cardboard Problem - Yankees - on Deck

For further information regarding the Phungo Spot the Sig! contest click here and join the party - you just may find yourself with a stack of cards come spring training!

Stop back Sunday night for the next edition of Spot the Sig! 

Links
Phungo HoF index Frank Robinson