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1966 Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles Signed Game Worn Jersey - MVP, Triple Crown & World Championship Season!
What collector wouldn't crave a signed, game worn jersey from the 1961 National League MVP, or from a Hall of Famer who bashed 586 home runs, or from the first African American manager in baseball history? What person in the hobby wouldn't desire a game worn, signed shirt from the 1956 National League Rookie of the Year? Wouldn't a game worn, signed jersey from a 1958 Gold Glove National League outfielder, or from the 1989 AL Manager of the Year be a great item? What if you could possess a game worn, signed jersey from an incredible man who amazingly accomplished each of the aforementioned feats? And now comes the really incredible, tantalizing part. What if the one person who achieved all of the foregoing also had one of the best seasons in Major League history in 1966 for the Baltimore Orioles and in that one year helped the Orioles to the World's Championship as the World Series MVP, and was the American League MVP while winning the Triple Crown? Even better, what if the jersey, save for the name on the back which has been expertly restored, were all original? Yes, the opportunity is present to possess this Frank Robinson game worn, signed Baltimore Orioles jersey from his off the charts 1966 season. But first, a little background. Frank Robinson broke into the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds in 1956. After the 1965 season, the Reds' general manager, Bill DeWitt, felt that Cincinnati needed pitching, so he traded Robinson from Cincinnati to Baltimore in exchange for a very good starting pitcher, Milt Pappas, and two other players. In winning the AL 1966 Triple Crown, Robinson lead the league in: Home Runs (49), RBIs (122), Batting Average (.316), Runs (122), OBP (.410), Slugging (.637), and OPS (1.047). In explaining the trade at that time, DeWitt famously said, "Robinson is not a young 30." In 1966-68, Pappas slipped to being only an average pitcher with Cincinnati, going 30-29 with a 4.04 ERA in parts of three seasons, and the other two players obtained by the Reds, Jack Baldshun and Dick Simpson, were ineffective. In contrast, Robinson, most likely highly motivated by DeWitt's remark, had one the greatest years of any player in the history of the game in '66. In the World Series that year, Robinson earned his World Series MVP Award by taking the adage of "Good pitching beats good hitting," and standing the saying on its head by blasting a home run against Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax and another dinger off Hall of Famer Don Drysdale, in the Orioles' four game sweep. The gray Baltimore Orioles road jersey has "Baltimore" scripted across the chest in orange lettering with black trim. The front outer tail has a blue, red and white manufacturer's tag with the sides of the tag showing some loss of thread and with loose threads still apparent. The shirt has seven silver colored buttons down the front. Under the manufacturer's tag is another tag, giving washing instructions. Next to this is a tag reading "SET 1 1966." In the collar is a tag reading "66 20 44," showing, respectively, the year, Robinson's uniform number, and the jersey size. Across the top back of the jersey is the expertly restored "F. ROBINSON," in orange block letters with black trim. Under Robinson's name is the number "20," also in orange with black trim. There are two small stains in the lower part of the back. This jersey is signed in ink by Frank Robinson in the neck. The jersey shows fine use, and yet is also in fine condition. In rating this shirt on a 1 to 10 scale, we would give it a 9/10 - with the only deduction being for the restored name on the back. The wonderful game worn signed shirt is a great remembrance for Robinson: A Hall of Fame player who broke the "Color Line" as Major League Baseball's first African American manager, and a player who in 1966 had a season for the ages.
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