Sports

Frank Robinson, baseball's first black manager and Hall of Famer, dies at 83

Elisha Fieldstadt
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Frank Robinson in June 1966
Bettmann | Getty Images

Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who was the first black manager in Major League Baseball and the first player to be named MVP in both leagues, died Thursday, league officials said. He was 83.

Robinson started playing in the National League for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956 at the age of 20. He went on to also play for the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels and Cleveland Indians.

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In 1966, Robinson won the Triple Crown and World Series MVP honors playing with the Baltimore Orioles. He was an All-Star 12 times over, and won the All-Star Game MVP Award in 1971.

In 1975, when he was named player-manager of the Indians, Robinson became the first black player to be named manager in the MLB.

He went on to manage the Giants, Orioles, Expos and Nationals.

During his time managing the Orioles, he was named American League Manager of the Year in 1989.

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