I think it's an excellent question. Maybe not if Frank had come along 5 years earlier. But production is the great equalizer and if someone played the way Frank did and put up the numbers he did, I think he would have been a team leader even if the rest of the guys were full fledged members of the KKK. That's not to say he was Mr. Popularity since it's documented that he and Pinson pretty much hung out by themselves until Pete came along and he was invited to hang with them since Pete himself wasn't too popular with the vets at first.
This is one player I won't complain about having for 10 years.
HeatherC1212 (10-17-2013)
Since I raised the leadership issue I should probably add that Frank's leadership skills were more recognized after he went to Baltimore. With the Reds, in ten seasons Frank played on one pennant winner and no World Series winners. In six seasons with the Orioles Frank played on four pennant winners and two World Series winners. Was Robinson a better leader in Baltimore or was he just on better teams there?
"Hey...Dad. Wanna Have A Catch?" Kevin Costner in "Field Of Dreams."
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