Back to the Cincinnati Reds Newsfeed

Frank Robinson, legend and pioneer, dies

Frank Robinson, a Hall of Famer, two-time MVP and MLB's first African-American manager, passes away at the age of 83

Tags:
  • MLB Network
  • Social Shareable (internal)
  • 2019
  • Embed Button (internal)
  • No Pre-roll on this clip
  • Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson, a trailblazing figure who was Major League Baseball's first African-American manager and one of its greatest players during a career that spanned 21 seasons, died Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was 83.

Known as much for his leadership, toughness and raging competitive fire as his sheer greatness as a player -- that is, crowding home plate so much that he dared pitchers to throw inside -- Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 89.