The Cleveland Indians on Saturday unveiled a statue of Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson, who was the first black manager in the major leagues. Kabir Bhatia of member station WKSU in Kent reports.
Robinson spent much of his career playing for the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles before coming to Cleveland late in the 1974 season. A few weeks later, he was named player-manager.
At the ceremony on Saturday, Robinson said he spent several off-seasons back then managing in Puerto Rico, with an eye toward someday landing that job with a Major League team. He says his goal was always to make things better for those would play baseball in the future.
“We’re still not where we should be: in the front office, in the dugouts and even now in the players’ roster – we’re losing ground, all the way around.”
Robinson’s friend, contemporary and fellow Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron also attended the ceremony.
“I remember one or two players back then saying, ‘there’s a special way you have to pitch to Frank.’ I said, ‘yea: hold the ball and pray.’”
The new Frank Robinson statue will stand in Heritage Park – near center field -- alongside tributes to other Indians players including Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League.