Frank Robinson was baseball royalty. Two-time MVP. Rookie of the Year. Triple Crown winner. World Series MVP. 14-time All-Star. The game’s first African-American manager.
But Robinson, who died Thursday at age 83, according to multiple reports, was one thing to Reds fans: The principal in the worst trade in modern franchise history.
Robinson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on Dec. 9, 1965, for Jack Baldschun, Milt Pappas and Dick Simpson. General manager Bill DeWitt infamously referred to Robinson as a “not young 30” at the time of the trade.
Robinson had hit .296 with 33 home runs and 113 RBI for the Reds the year before.