Frank Robinson AL MVP Award
First Black manager in MLB history and only player to win MVP in both leagues.
Frank Robinson (August 31, 1935 – February 7, 2019), nicknamed "the Judge", was an American professional baseball outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for five teams over 21 seasons: the Cincinnati Reds (1956–1965), Baltimore Orioles (1966–1971), Los Angeles Dodgers (1972), California Angels (1973–1974), and Cleveland Indians (1974–1976). In 1975, Robinson became the first Black manager in big-league history, as the player-manager of the Indians.
- Year
- 1966
- League
- American League
- Team
- Baltimore Orioles
- Role
- Player
- Accomplishment
- AL Triple Crown Winner
- Number Retired
- 20
- Legacy Status
- Hall of Famer
Lore & Background
The first player to be named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of both the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), Robinson was named the NL MVP after leading the Cincinnati Reds to the pennant in 1961 and was named the AL MVP in 1966 with the Baltimore Orioles after winning the Triple Crown. He helped lead the Orioles to the first two World Series titles in franchise history in 1966 and 1970, and was named the Series MVP in 1966 after leading the Orioles to a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In Their Own Story
The lights hummed over Memorial Stadium on a crisp October evening. Robinson stepped into the batter's box, the weight of the season resting on his shoulders. He adjusted his helmet, eyes fixed on the pitcher. The crowd roared, not just for the hit, but for the leader standing before them. As he rounded first base after driving in the winning run, he paused to nod at the dugout. That moment captured a year where the game belonged to him.
Reader's Guide
Robinson won the AL MVP in 1966 as a player only, not as a player-manager. The Orioles won the pennant that year under manager Hank Bauer, not Robinson. Robinson did not become a player-manager until 1975 with the Cleveland Indians.
Did You Know?
- Robinson is the only player to win MVP in both the National League and American League.
- He won the Triple Crown in 1966 with a .316 batting average, 49 home runs, and 122 RBIs.
- Robinson's 49 home runs in 1966 tied for the most by any AL player between 1961 and 1977.
- He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1982.
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