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Baltimore Orioles: Brooks Robinson and the Triple Play

ByKristen Bentley|
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1975: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1975 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1975: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1975 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 16: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles batting against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1971 World Series on October 16, 1971 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 16: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles batting against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1971 World Series on October 16, 1971 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)

Triple Play #3

His third triple play was on August 18, 1965, this time was against the Red Sox in a night game at Memorial Stadium. He batted fourth behind Powell. The triple play was in the bottom of the first – a bit of a dubious way to get a game started. In this one, Paul Blair was on second after a single and Powell was on first after an RBI single that scored Norm Sieburn who had a lead-off walk.

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The Red Sox quickly ended the inning on Robinson in an bit of defensive work that ended with a 5-4-4-3-5 triple play, with Robinson slipping on a base for an out and Blair being tagged out at third.

Despite the odd first inning, the Orioles won that game 3-2.

Triple Play #4

His fourth and final triple play was on Aug. 6, 1967 against the White Sox in the second game of a double-header at Memorial Stadium. Again, he batted fourth, but this time he was behind Frank Robinson. This triple play happened in the bottom of the fifth. Powell was on second after a walk, and Frank Robinson was on first after being hit by a pitch. With no outs, Robinson hit the ball to third for a quick force out, a throw to second, and throw to first. The definition of bang-bang.

The Orioles won that game 4-0 against the White Sox that day.

Robinson almost blanked his offensive gaffs by being involved in three defensive triple plays of his own throughout his illustrious career in Baltimore.

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