Orioles Celebrate (Sweep Twins In Three!)

Frank Robinson (August 31, 1935 - February 7, 2019) was a threat in every aspect of the game, stealing bases, blasting home runs and robbing batters of potential hits with stellar defensive plays. Easily capturing the 1956 Rookie of the Year Award after hitting .290 with 122 runs and a rookie-record 38 home runs, the Reds star never looked back. Playing primarily for the Cincinnati Reds (1956-1965) and the Baltimore Orioles (1966-1971), Robinson established himself as one of the game’s fiercest competitors. Robinson was twice the recipient of the league Most Valuable Player Award winning the 1961 National League title with the Reds and the 1966 American League honor with the Orioles. In the 1966 campaign, Robinson also captured the AL Triple Crown with 49 home runs, 122 RBI and a .316 batting average. Franks Robinson was a 14-time All-Star selection, two-time World Series champion (1966, 1970) and won a Gold Glove in 1958. In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first African-American manager in major league baseball when he led the Cleveland Indians. Robinson retired with 2,943 hits, 586 home runs, 1,812 RBI, 204 stolen bases and a career .294 batting average. Frank Robinson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Paul L. D. Blair (February 1, 1944 - December 26, 2013) earned a reputation as the clutch hitting centerfielder with a superb glove of the Baltimore Orioles who blasted a 430-ft. homer in Game 3 of the 1966 World Series in a 1-0 game, but also stealing an eighth inning HR from LA’s Jim Lefebvre in Game 4 to preserve the World Series victory. Despite originally signing with the New York Mets in 1961, the Baltimore Orioles drafted Blair in the 1962 first-year draft and he became the Orioles everyday centerfielder in 1965. Paul Blair ranked among the best defensive centerfielders of his era and won eight American League Gold Gloves from 1967 to 1975. Paul was named to two AL All-Star teams and was considered for four AL Most Valuable Player awards during that span. Playing alongside Hall of Famers Frank and Brooks Robinson, with Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally on the mound, the Baltimore Orioles marched to four World Series and won the title in 1966 and 1970. Paul played 17 years in the Majors foe the Orioles (1964-1976), the New York Yankees (1977-1979, 1980) and the Cincinnati Reds (1979). He won two more World Series championships with the 1977 and 1978 Yankees. Paul Blair finished his career with a .988 fielding percentage, 4,343 putouts, 111 assists, 26 double plays and 54 errors in 4,508 chances. He batted .250 with 1,513 hits including 282 doubles and 134 home runs, scored 776 runs, stole 171 bases and drove in 620 RBI.

David Allen Johnson (January 30, 1943- ) had a 13-year career as a second baseman with the Baltimore Orioles (1965-1972), Atlanta Braves (1973-1975), Philadelphia Phillies (1977-1978) and Chicago Cubs (1978). He was a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time All-Star and won four American League pennants and two World Series championships with the Orioles. He played two seasons in Japan between his stints with the Braves and Phillies.

Davey Johnson was a successful manager in his post-playing days. He was the 1997 AL Manager of the Year with the Baltimore Orioles and won the same award in the National League in 2012 with the Washington Nationals. He won a World Series title with the 1986 New York Mets and his teams played in League Championship Series from 1995-1997.