"I never had five games in a row like I had

in that particular World Series."

Here is a summation of the 1970 World Series which Brooks used as his stage to showcase his skills for the world to see.  Click on the Oriole logo to view some of the greatest displays of fielding ever that Brooks used to help the O's dismantle The Big Red Machine.

Game 1 welcomed the World Series debut of the newly christened Riverfront Stadium, which had replaced Crosley Field as the Reds' home in late June. The artificial surface and "soup bowl- surroundings" were the first of their kind to host a Fall Classic. Home-field advantage appeared to be in effect as Lee Mays came out swinging with a two run homer that gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead, but the Orioles came back with their own two run blast by Powell that was followed with home runs by Ellie Hendricks and Brooks Robinson.  Brooks  also provided a "replay worthy" moment in the Reds' sixth after making a spectacular backhanded catch and spinning to throw out Dave May who had fired a bouncing cannonball between the fielder and the bag.

Game 1 highlights.

Cincinnati entered Game 2 just as they had the opener, with an early 3-0 lead. Unfortunately Baltimore also mimicked their previous days performance with a fourth inning homer by Hendricks. In the fifth inning, Brooks came to bat with runners on first and third with two outs. Brooks hit a single into right field to drive in a run.  That tied the game 4-4 until Henricks doubled to score Paul Blair and Brooks from first base putting the O's ahead 6-4.  The Orioles ended up winning 6-5 that put the visitors up two games to none.

Johnny Bench review.

Game 3 was a highlight film for Brooks Robinson who was playing superb defense against anything the Reds sent his way. After Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan both started with consecutive hits, Robinson made a sensational, leaping grab of Tony Perez's hopper, stepped on third and fired to first for a perfect double play. Dave McNally closed the inning by inducing Johnny Bench to fly out as Robinson traded his "golden glove" for a wooden bat. Stepping up to the plate, "Hoover"  nailed a first-inning double that scored Don Buford and Frank Robinson. Back on the field in the second, Robinson snagged a slow Tommy Helms' grounder to throw out the sprinting second baseman and in the sixth; he made a diving glove-handed catch of another Bench liner.

Brooks had quite a day at the plate in the fourth game of the Series.  He went 4-for-4 with three singles and a homerun.  He scored two runs himself and drove in two others.  Fortunately, for Cincinnati, Lee May hit a three run homer in the eighth and the Reds won 6-5.

Game 5, off Johnny Bench.

In Game 5, the Reds again took an early 3-0 lead in the first, but then the Birds bats went to work.  Brooks finished the Series going 9-for-21, .429 and was given a standing ovation on his last at-bat.  In the ninth, Brooks gave one more glamorous moment by snaring a Johnny Bench line-drive.  He then threw out Pat Corrales to end the game and was named the Series Most Valuable Player.  In the end, it was Baltimore who prevailed with a second 9-3 decision that erased all memories of the '69 Series, and returned the championship crown to the American League's clubhouse. Despite the loss, the Reds were far from finished and would return to the Fall Classic (in two short years) "bigger" and better than ever.

People's opinion on Brooks, see if you notice who the 4th fan is.

Official 1970 World Series Program

(Baltimore version)

FAST FACTS

Brooks Robinson won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award because he hit .429, broke the record for total bases with seventeen, tied the record for most hits in one game with four, and tied teammate Paul Blair for most hits in a five-game Series with nine. Not to mention that Total Baseball described his fielding with, "other-worldly defense at third (which) gave Reds right-handed hitters nightmares through the Series."

Did you know that Game 1, played on October 10, 1970 in Riverfront Stadium, was the first World Series game played on artificial grass?

Prior to Game 1 a reporter asked Brooks "The Hoover" Robinson if he thought he would be able to play defense on the artificial grass. Robinson coolly replied, "I'm a Major League third baseman. If you want to go play in a parking lot, I'm supposed to stop the ball."

Portions of text were taken from, with permission, Michael Aubrecht writing for Baseball Almanac.

Stat tables courtesy of Baseball Almanac.

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