Being A Man

Frank Robinson, who will be 72 years old later this summer, broke down during a press conference last night. Tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably, because the manager of the Washington Nats unintentionally embarrassed one of his players.

Matt LeCroy has been forced to play catcher due to injuries. He has struggled. Last night, he allowed the Astros to steal seven bases and committed two throwing errors, though the Nats' earned their third straight win. Robinson had no choice but to take LeCroy out of the game during the Top of the 7th. This broke an unwritten rule: a manager does not take a position player out of the game while on defense, unless there's an injury or it is part of a double switch. LeCroy was taken out due to ineffectiveness.

Robinson blamed himself for putting LeCroy in that situation. He showed himself to be a man, expressing compassion for his embarrassed player and regret in not recognizing the situation sooner. Though Robinson has never managed a champion, he always makes his players better.

He is one of the very few players who should be in the Hall of Fame thrice. Once for his legendary career as a player, another for his lengthy tenure as manager in the Major Leagues, and a third for what he has meant to the game on the whole. Frank Robinson was the first black man to manage in both the American League and the National League and he never backed down from anyone, even as a player during the 1950s and 1960s, no matter what. Last night he showed his toughness in another way; he showed his true emotions.