Indians unveil statue of Frank Robinson
The Cleveland Indians and Frank Robinson made history four decades ago. They celebrated again on Saturday.
The Indians unveiled a statue of Robinson prior to their game against Kansas City. Robinson became the first African American manager in the major leagues with the team.
“It’s such a great day here,” he said in a speech during the ceremony. “I didn’t think I would see this day. I never thought I would be here to see something like this.”
Hank Aaron, baseball’s home run king from 1974 to 2007, attended the ceremony. Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Jackie Robinson, was also in attendance. Jackie Robinson became the majors’ first African American player in 1947.
Frank Robinson’s statue will stand in Heritage Park, located beyond the center-field stands at Progressive Field. It will be alongside statues of Bob Feller, Jim Thome and Larry Doby. Doby became the first African American player in the American League in 1947.
The Indians hired Robinson following the 1974 season and he made his debut on April 8, 1975. Still active as a player, he hit a home run in his first at-bat.
The statue shows Robinson holding the lineup card with the Indians’ batting order from that game against the New York Yankees. He was the designated hitter and batted second.
Robinson joined the Indians as a player late in the 1974 season and agreed to take the job as player/manager on Oct. 3. He retired as a player in 1976 and managed Cleveland through the 1977 season.
He also managed the Giants from 1981 to ’84 and later the Baltimore Orioles and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals franchise.
Robinson had 2,943 hits and 586 home runs in his Hall of Fame career. He also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels. Back from cancer surgery: Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon is scheduled to begin a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment Sunday, less than three weeks after testicular cancer surgery.
Taillon is slated to start for Double-A Altoona in an Eastern League game at Erie. He had surgery May 8, five days after a loss at Cincinnati in which he allowed six runs in five innings. Cuban signings: Cuban outfielder-first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr. agreed to a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 17-yearold from Holguin, Cuba, played for his national team at the 2014 Under-15 World Championship and then left the country for France, where his father played professionally.
The Chicago White Sox agreed to a $26 million minor league contract with Cuban outfielder Luis Robert, 19. He is projected as a center fielder, with speed, a compact swing and power. Briefly: Corey Kluber, sidelined most of the month with a strained lower back, is expected to rejoin the Indians’ rotation on Thursday against Oakland . ... The Tigers placed Ian Kinsler (strained left hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled outfielder JaCoby Jones from Triple-A Toledo . ... The Padres placed Manuel Margot (strained right calf ) on the 10-day DL and recalled outfielder Franchy Cordero from Triple-A El Paso.