Brooks Robinson 1983 Hall of Fame Induction Speech

Thank You Commissioner Kuehne honored guests ladies and gentlemen as I stand here before you I realize I must be the luckiest man in the world I keep asking myself how could any one man have been so fortunate and for five minutes or so I'd like to share with you what I think is the answer to that question playing in the major leagues and being recognized at the Hall of Fame is more than any one human being could ask for and yet I realized how many other blessings I can count in my life all of which have contributed to me standing here before you today I thank God for giving me the talent and the help to reach the top of this profession then I think back on the devotion to my welfare by my mother who was here today the friendship the friendship of my brother Gary who was also here and on the dedication and teaching of my father whom I regret is no longer with us but who would have loved this event more than anyone else my parents loved me through my childhood and guided me as I grew to become a young ball player with high goals for himself then I think about my coaches my teammates Scouts managers who discovered me who encouraged me who directed me and who even stuck with me on occasions when others might have given up my American Legion coach George Haney and my first major league manager Paul Richards they believed in Brooks Robinson when others were still suspicious of his talents they among others made my coming into baseball as well as sticking with it all the better and then I count another blessing one that players in today's game may never appreciate because of baseball's changing structure that is Baltimore that is fall tomorrow and playing in that great city for my entire major-league career I share this day today with my adopted hometown because the people of that town have supported Brooks Robinson not only on the good days but also on the bad days my career has been all the more meaningful because of the Oriole fans and friends many of whom have made this trip to join me here today I'd like to thank William Donald Schaefer the greatest mayor that a city could have and say Baltimore thank you very much I love you all then there is the Baltimore Oriole organization which over the past twenty nine years from top to bottom has proven itself to be the best I might add that this day is extra special for me because I am being inducted with my fellow Arkansas and George kill George shared with me my first opening day is Nouriel back in 1957 I played third base and George played first base against the Washington Senators in old Griffith Stadium in Washington DC he is a man whom I admired both on and off the field and then there is what I consider the greatest blessing of them all perhaps you will understand this when you recognize that although this is a great day at the Hall of Fame for me my happiest moment here in Cooperstown occurred during my first visit to play in the Hall of Fame game exactly 22 years ago on July the 24th nineteen sixty one I was playing third base and during the fifth inning of that game the public address announcer interrupted play to announce that my first son had just been born in Detroit Michigan well as I count my blessings there is none greater than my family my wife Connie who has been by my side my wife Connie who has been by my side throughout my major league career and our four children Brooks David Christopher Michael and Diana they have supported their father and although they appreciate it and sometimes enjoyed the glory of this game they also suffered the sacrifice of a father who was seldom home I have been blessed with their understanding and this induction today is as much theirs is mine I wish I could have been with them more and Connie I want to proclaim here today that no man could have come so far in this game for so long without the greatest blessing of them all a dedicated supportive and loving wife you have celebrated the happy moment with me but more than that you have been a tower of strength that allowed me to overcome adversity and it take advantage of baseball opportunity I was there on the field and I am here today because I had the ultimate the best baseball wife thank you for everything darling before I close I want to thank the Baseball Writers of America that has been so kind to me during my playing days and bringing me here today to thank the Commissioner on behalf of baseball and the Hall of Fame for this induction and to thank all of those who might have not mentioned for their guidance for their friendship and for their support over the years so you can see this is just not brooks robinson's induction into the Hall of Fame it is a day on which men as fortunate as I am count their blessings of which I have had so many throughout my career I was committed to the goodness of this game in fact I feel my love for the game of baseball overrode everything else I show what I shall do what I can to continue to make this great game of baseball and this world finer and better this is a day for my giving thanks and this is a life from which I want to give back thank you you

Channel: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Views: 12,438

Rating: 4.9452057 out of 5

Keywords: Hall of Fame, Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, Baseball, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, American League, National Baseball Hall Of Fame And Museum, Brooks Robinson

Id: R1qMIs2BuoI

Length: 9min 13sec (553 seconds)

Published: Wed Sep 17 2014