Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
Friday, March 4, 2005, Washington Post

The Nationals' Treasure

Fans of the Washington Nationals are learning lots of new names this spring training, including Livan Hernandez, the Nationals' star pitcher; Jose Guillen, the team's exciting new slugger; and Brad Wilkerson, the do-everything batter who can play infield or outfield.

One name every Nationals fan should definitely learn is Frank Robinson. He's the team's manager. But what you may not know about the Nationals' 69-year-old skipper is that he was one of the greatest baseball players ever.

How great? Read on.

Robinson broke into the big leagues with the Cincinnati Reds in 1956 when he was just 20. He had a dazzling first season, winning the Rookie of the Year award by batting .290 and smashing 38 home runs.

And Robinson kept getting better. In 1961 he led the Reds to the World Series (they lost to the Yankees in five games). He won the National League's Most Valuable Player award that year by batting .323 with 37 home runs. He scored 117 runs and drove in 124. Robinson even stole 22 bases. He could do it all.

Four years later the Reds traded their star outfielder to the Baltimore Orioles for three pitchers. The Reds thought Robinson was getting too old to play like a superstar. "Robinson is not a young 30 years of age," the Reds' general manager said.

The trade was a big mistake -- for the Reds. Robinson had his greatest season in 1966. He won another MVP award and a Triple Crown by leading the American League with a .316 batting average, 49 home runs and 122 runs batted in. He also helped the Orioles win the World Series that year. During his six years in Baltimore, Robinson led the Orioles to four World Series, winning two.

Always a great slugger, Robinson was fourth on the all-time home run list (with 586) by the end of his career. Only Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays had hit more. And only Barry Bonds has passed him since.

At the end of his playing days, Robinson made history in 1975 by becoming the first African American to manage a major league team. He has managed four teams for a total of 14 seasons. He was named Manager of the Year in 1989 when he led the Orioles to 33 more wins than they had the season before.

Frank Robinson, elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, was a great player and a great leader on the diamond. The question this season is: Can he make the Washington Nationals a winner?

Maybe. He just needs to find someone this spring who can play like a young Frank Robinson.