On the move again

For the second time in less than 12 months, future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson is traded 51 years ago today.

This time, the onetime Cincinnati and Baltimore right fielder is sent a short distance down I-5 from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the California Angels in a seven-player trade.

Going from the Dodgers to the Angels with Robinson are infielder Billy Grabarkewitz, infielder-outfielder Bobby Valentine, and pitchers Bill Singer and Mike Strahler.

In return, the Angels send pitcher Andy Messersmith and third baseman Ken McMullen to the Dodgers.

Robinson hits 30 homers for the Angels in 1973 before being regifted to Cleveland late in the '74 season. He then becomes the majors’ first Black manager in 1975 with the Indians and is their player-manager for two seasons before settling in as their fulltime manager for 1977.

Robinson, though, lasts only 57 games into the 1977 season before the Indians replace him with Jeff Torborg.

Robinson ends up managing in the majors for 16 seasons, starting with Cleveland before moving on to San Francisco, Baltimore, Montreal — where, coincidentally, he replaces Torborg after the 2001 season — and Washington.

He finally retires after the 2006 season at the age of 71.