Page "Frank Robinson" Paragraph 7

Prior to the 1966 season, Reds owner Bill DeWitt sent Robinson to Baltimore in exchange for pitcher Milt Pappas, pitcher Jack Baldschun and outfielder Dick Simpson.

The trade is now considered among the most lopsided deals in baseball history, especially as Robinson was only 30 years old and appeared to have many productive years ahead of him.

DeWitt attempted to downplay this fact and defend the deal to skeptical Reds fans by famously referring to Robinson as " an old 30.

" It forever tarnished Dewitt's legacy, and outrage over the deal made it difficult for Pappas to adjust to pitching in Cincinnati ( he was traded out of town after only three seasons ).

There were also rumors that Robinson did not get along well with teammate Vada Pinson.

In Robinson's first year in Baltimore, he won the Triple Crown, leading the American League with a. 316 batting average ( the lowest ever by a Triple crown winner ), 49 home runs ( the most ever by a right-handed Triple crown winner ) and 122 runs batted in.

He also remains the only minority in MLB history to win the Triple crown for hitting.

On May 8, 1966, Robinson became the only player ever to hit a home run completely out of Memorial Stadium.

Until the Orioles ' move to Camden Yards in 1991, a flag labeled " HERE " was flown at the spot where the ball left the stadium.