Growing up in the segregated south, Frank Robinson was a kid that excelled at baseball but had to overcome numerous obstacles just to be able to play the game at a even level. Despite the inequality that surrounded him, Frank Robinson went on to become one of the greatest players of the game, and was actually the first African American awarded Most Valuable Player in either the National or American league.
Frank Robinson was known for his hard work and dedication to the game and even after injuries prevented him from playing the game anymore, he stuck around and remained in baseball. After working as a coach for the Cleveland Indians, Robinson eventually rose to the highest position in baseball, manager! In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first African American to be a manager for a Major League team.
Although Robinson faced criticism in the beginning and faced a number of obstacles throughout his career, he decided to not back down and he kept pushing on, refusing to let anyone stand in his way. The obstacles that he had to face, showed that it wasn’t easy being the first African American manager in Major League Baseball, but it was a testament to Frank’s hard work and dedication as well.
Frank Robinson was more than just a manager, he was an inspiration to many and he paved the way for others to come after him. Throughout his career as a player-manager he was always challenging himself and also leading his team to victory, with the likes of Dusty Baker, Buck Showalter and Dave Roberts coming after in his footsteps as managers of the MLB Shop.
Frank Robinson is an underrated hero of the game–not because of his skin color, rather because he was the first to face the challenge of overcoming a hundred year old barrier, and he did it with a smile on his face and a relentless dedication to the game. I’m sure most black players from back then had Frank Robinson in the back of their minds when they were slugging away on the field, giving them some inspiration to keep going.
Robinson was a strong force in the game even as a manager. He guided the Indians to their first winning season in five years and also lead the Baltimore Orioles to a World Series championship in 1966. Throughout his career, Robinson managed five teams in the Major Leagues, a feat that many thought was impossible for an African American.
It’s all too easy to take the accomplishments of people like Frank Robinson for granted but his trailblazing effort in defying prejudice and pushing through adversity is a testament to his strength as an individual as well as his commitment to the game. He might not have been the most successful manager in Major League Baseball, but he was certainly one of the bravest and most determined, inspiring African American players to stay true to the game and to not let anything stand in their way.
Frank Robinson’s legacy as the first African American manager in Major League Baseball continues to this day, and every time I think of him I’m reminded of what he went through and the courage and tenacity he had to break down a hundred year old barrier in the big leagues.
The struggles that he endured were difficult and people often fail to realize how big of a person he was and how much he truly changed the game. He always kept his cool, and he showed people that you can be successful no matter what is the dh rule in mlb the odds are–a great message, not only in baseball but in life, too.
I’ve often wondered what Frank Robinson would think of the game today, with black players, managers and owners of teams. Would he be proud, or would he want more done? One thing is for sure, he would be greatly appreciated for being the first African American manager in the Major Leagues, a major moment in baseball history.