The 2005 World Series

Brooks Robinson

The hunched shoulders and loping run made Brooks Robinson easy to spot. But it took a hot ground ball within hailing distance of third base to give him perspective. The eyes would flash, the reflexes would kick in and the glove would streak toward a white blur barely discernible to the human eye. Another accurate throw would complete another masterful play by baseball's "human vacuum cleaner."

Robinson's 23-year legacy was built around the scores of potential hits he stole from frustrated Baltimore opponents. And his record-tying 16 Gold Gloves are testimonials to the routine plays he always made and the tumbling, acrobatic gyrations he often pulled off with dramatic flair. Robinson, who made his Orioles debut in 1955 at age 18, was slow afoot and his arm was only average, but his reflexes and dexterity were exceptional and his quick release and throwing accuracy were uncanny.

Robinson will be remembered for his defense, but the righthanded punch and even-keeled leadership he added to the powerful Orioles' lineups of the 1960s and 1970s cannot be overlooked. A disciplined hitter with a team-first attitude, Robinson topped 20 home runs six times and earned an American League MVP with a .317, 118-RBI performance in 1964. He was especially dangerous in the clutch and a gracious demeanor lifted him to icon status among Baltimore fans.

The R&R combination of Brooks and Frank Robinson led the Orioles to four World Series and two championships. Brooks, an 18-time All-Star, put on a defensive clinic and claimed MVP honors in a five-game 1970 World Series, when he stole hit after hit from the disbelieving Reds. "The guy can field a ball with a pair of pliers," Cincinnati star Pete Rose grumbled, expressing the frustration felt by Robinson contemporaries for almost a quarter century.