One of the games all-time greats, Robinson was wrapping up his monster career as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians by the the mid-70’s rolled around.
He not only was leaving behind a Hall of Fame career as a player, but historically made an imprint by becoming the first African-American manager in Major League history.
It’s a shame Topps didn’t think he should get a card in the 1976 set as a player since he played well enough during 1975, and he would STILL play in some games during the 1976 season.
But as we have seen quite a few time with Topps, this was a common practice with veteran’s at the tail-end of their careers.
Anyway, the Rookie of the Year in the National League for 1956, the MVP in 1961 as well as with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, becoming the first player to win MVP in both leagues, and a Triple Crown winner for the World Champ Baltimore Orioles that very same year, 12-time all-star securely planted himself in the upper echelon of baseball legends over the course of his awesome 21-year career.
