Robinson, Frank

Robinson, Frank,

1935–2019, American baseball player and manager, b. Beaumont, Tex. Entering major-league baseball as an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds, Robinson was named the National League's rookie of the year in 1956 and most valuable player (MVP) in 1961. Traded to the American League's Baltimore Orioles in 1965, he won the batting triple crown and the MVP award in 1966, becoming the first player ever to be voted MVP in both leagues. After stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1972) and California Angels (1973–74), he played (1974–76) for the Cleveland Indians, where he also became (1975–77) the first African-American manager in major-league history. Robinson subsequently managed the San Francisco Giants (1981–84) and Orioles (1988–91) and was manager of the year in 1982 and 1989. From 1991 to 1994 he was assistant general manager with the Orioles. He became director of baseball operations for the Arizona Fall League and consultant to the commissioner for special projects in major-league baseball's central office in 1997 and vice president for on-field operations in 2000. From 2002 to 2006 he was manager of the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington, D.C., and became the Nationals after 2004.

Robinson, Frank

(1935– ) baseball player/manager; born in Beaumont, Texas. During his career as a player (1956–76), he played outfield, first base, and designated hitter (DH), mostly for the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. He was the first DH to hit a homer and his 586 career home runs place him fourth in the history of the majors. He became the first to win the Most Valuable Player Award once in both leagues. In 1975 he was named manager of the Cleveland Indians, the first African-American to manage in the majors; he went on to manage the San Francisco Giants (1981–84) and the Baltimore Orioles (1988–91).