Can you think of baseball without Frank Robinson?

There are great players and then there is Frank Robinson. On Sunday, Robinson said goodbye and some of us can not think of baseball without him.

Most great players put up Hall of Fame numbers and then retire or go behind the microphone. Yet, FRobby (as I learned to call him in Baltimore) went beyond that.

As a player, FRobby won the MVP in both leagues. In '66, he won the Triple Crown and led the Orioles to a World Series sweep. Go back to Game 6 of the '71 series and check how veteran FRobby ran the bases to push Baltimore to a victory. He was always the O's heart and soul. Can you think of a more competitive player?

In '75, FRobby became the first black manager. He never won a pennant but was a steady figure as a player and manager. For 50 years, FRobby has been a powerful presence on the baseball diamond! Can you think of anyone with such a track record?

For me, and many others, it will be hard to think of baseball without FRobby.