Hope you enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. I'll be on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the Brooks Robinson Golf Tournament. The proceeds benefit the Arkansas Hall of Fame and Garvin Botanical Gardens. After the Tournament, many of my former Arkansas teammates are meeting at Pinnacle Mountain for a fish fry on Saturday. Saturday night I'm flying to Los Angeles to appear at the 23rd West Coast Sports Expo at Hollywood Park on Sunday, June 5. Monday, I'm playing in the John Hamilton Golf Tournament in Laguna Beach to raise funds for the Newport Beach Sports Museum. For more information on appearances, you can always check my website at www.brooksrobinson.com, So, life stays busy.

INTERLEAGUE PLAY

As I grow older, I seem to be more conservative about a lot of things but I'm here to tell you that I like Interleague Play. They first started talking about it in the '60s when I was playing but it didn't happen. Baseball is slower than any other sport when it comes to making any major decision. I really think it has been a positive move. It's great for the fans of Baltimore to see stars from the other league. Baltimore-Philadelphia has become a good rivalry and I think Baltimore-DC will become a good rivalry, too.

SIGNS

Dan posted a comment in my last blog entry and asked, "How often did the Orioles change their signs and who was the best sign-stealer?"

Sign stealing does go on. It's a real art. The guys who have been around the longest, especially coaches, are the best at stealing signs. Our coach, Billy Hunter was the best sign stealer I ever met. Certainly the O's changed signs when we played against a team that now had one of our former teammates playing for them. Plus, we'd change if we were suspicious that another team had our signs. We watched the trends -- like a pitch out if we had the steal sign on.

METS

JV made a comment that complemented me on my defensive performance when we played the Mets. JV, my defensive play was the only thing that was memorable from playing the Mets. I only had one hit in the 5 game series. Thank goodness I was better in the field than I was at the plate!

BROOKS

I received quite a few comments from people named Brooks. I am always astounded by the number of people I run into named Brooks. I've tried to keep track of all the people I've met over the last 40 years named Brooks and the box is getting full. I look forward to meeting people named Brooks. It's always been an honor.

ABERDEEN

Kenny from Aberdeen, Maryland posted a comment reminding me of an appearance 30 years ago. That was my first Subway Store appearance -- probably before Jerod was even born! I was in Aberdeen last month at the Ollie's Bargain Outlet an appearance. I do several appearances each year for the folks at Ollies. Aberdeen always has great fans. I've been to Ripken Stadium a few times and the fans are fabulous. They really know baseball.

Well, after my first blogging, it was great to hear from so many of you, even my fellow blogger, Tommy Lasorda, one of my all time favorites. I enjoyed reading your postings and remembered quite of few of the stories that you told. I’ll certainly try to answer a few of your questions. If you get a chance, don’t forget to check out my website and the MLB Alumni site, too.

THIRD BASE

Mark asked for my opinion on who is better with the glove at third base: Scott Rolen or Eric Chavez? That’s a tough question. I’ve always said the best is whoever you want it to be. I’m of the opinion that if you watched Chavez for 162 games or Rolen for 162 games, you’re going to say, "Hey, this guy’s the best.” I don’t really get a chance to see either Eric or Scott play that much but I have talked to Tony La Russa about Scott and I’ve talked to Jim Fregosi who managed him in Philadelphia, and they both say he’s as good as there is at third base. And of course, Eric has won several Gold Gloves for Oakland and he has been one of the best. They are both terrific third basemen. 

In my day, I always considered Clete Boyer and Graig Nettles to be the best I played against. There was always that conversation about who was the best. I always tell people you don’t get better than Clete and Graig. It just comes down to who you watch -- that’s the only way to separate them. I played with Luis Aparicio and Mark Belanger -- how do you get any better than those two guys? You just watched them day in and day out make all the plays.

I get questions all the time about Mike Schmidt, especially the past few days while I was in Lancaster, Pa. Lancaster is a pro-Phillie town but if you go across the Susquehanna River to York, PA you’ll be in pro-Oriole territory. So, there was always that controversy. When Mike retired a few years after I did, I had a Philadelphia reporter who asked me who was the best -- me or Mike? I told him the best was “whoever you wanted it to be." He didn’t like the answer. He kept calling back. Finally, after the third call, I told him the greatest was Pie Traynor, Eddie Mathews was second, I was third and Mike was fourth. He didn’t like that answer -- but I said it kind of tongue-in-cheek.

MY GREAT FRIEND, CHUCK THOMPSON

Octscotts asked me to share my thoughts on the passing of Chuck Thompson. Chuck was one of my all-time favorite people. He came to Baltimore about the same time I did -- in the '50s. We’ve been great friends since. He was one of the all-time great announcers. He’s in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I had the chance to work with Chuck for many years broadcasting for the Orioles. Chuck always had the right words for the right moments. I can remember one specific moment when I listened to Chuck and just sat there and shook my head knowing I was listening to the greatest. That moment came in 1979. Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash and we were the next team to come to New York to play the Yankees. I was announcing the game with Chuck. Chuck put together a little eulogy -- no notes -- nothing. I just sat there in amazement. It was beautiful. Chuck was a close personal friend. The last few years were tough for Chuck and my thoughts are always with him.

MY NAMESAKES

Imthedaddypapa (that’s right -- I don’t make up these names) posted that he named his oldest son Brooks -- that’s quite an honor. I run into a lot of people who have been named after me -- and a few pets, too. Last night, I ran into a good friend and long time great sportswriter, Bob Maisel, of the Baltimore Sun and he said he needed an autograph for someone who named their son Brooks. There are a few professional athletes that have my name. University of Wisconsin grad, Brooks Bollinger, is now playing football for the New York Jets. There’s also a fellow from the University of Texas named Brooks Kieschnick who was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Cubs and who played in the majors for a few different teams. I’ve met Brooks Kieschnick several times but haven’t had the chance to meet Brooks Bollinger but I follow his career.

BUSY WEEK

It’s been a busy week. It seems like I have quite a few busy weeks -- but I enjoy it. On Wednesday night, I was in Lancaster, PA for the opening of the new Clipper Magazine Stadium and the home opener of the Lancaster Barnstormers. It was a perfect evening for baseball. Almost 7500 people were part of the sold-out crowd. I’m part of a group called Keystone Baseball. We put together this ballpark. I helped turn the first spade of dirt when they broke ground over a year ago and to see this stadium come to fruition was very exciting. Lancaster is in the Independent League. They are currently in first place in the South Division of the Atlantic League. You can check them out at their official site.

A lot of players who played in the major leagues and those who still believe they can make it to the big leagues play in the Independent League. Ricky Henderson, one of the all-time greats, is playing in the Golden Baseball League, an independent league in California, with hopes of returning to the major leagues. Ruben Sierra and Jose Lima are just 2 of many players that have returned to the big leagues from the Independent League. It’s a terrific league with terrific players. I was impressed with the play. Joe Klein, former general manager of several big league teams, is the Commissioner. We’re trying to do the same thing in York, PA, where I played my first professional ballgame in 1955 and also in Waldorf, located in Southern Maryland.

On Thursday night, I was at the Gala to open the new Sports Legends Museum in Baltimore. It’s right at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Camden Station is one of the oldest train stations in the United States. It’s been made it into a Sports Legends Museum. It covers all the sports in Maryland. The O’s and Colts are the most prominent. I have a lot of things there. If you’re down this way to see and O’s game, I suggest you go there. It was about 10 years in the making and they’ve done a marvelous job.

It's hard to believe that it has been 50 years since the Orioles drafted me.

I'll never forget graduating from Little Rock Central High School and then taking my first plane ride to Baltimore on graduation night. This was a dream come true. I never wanted to do anything but become a professional baseball player. As a youngster, I tagged along behind my Dad, who was a semi-pro player. He really encouraged me to play. He never pushed me but I just loved the game. In fact, I did not play high school football because I did not want to risk getting hurt. I ran track just to keep in shape for baseball.

I had some big decisions to make because I had several offers to play college basketball -- one from the University of Arkansas. I decided to go ahead and play professional baseball, and this season marks my 50th anniversary of when it all began.

I really thought my life was going to slow down after baseball and the 1977 season. But I can tell you that these last 27 years have been just as exciting. I've been having a ball. I'm involved in many projects. The Baltimore-Washington group of ex-players started the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association about 27 years ago. I happen to be President of this group and I get involved in many of their activities. We do 35 golf tournaments around the country each year. We've raised more than $6 million for different charities in each city. We also do 25 baseball clinics around the country and children attend free. They get a T-shirt and the opportunity to listen to former Major League players about baseball and life.

I do many speaking engagements and appearances all over the country working with a number of speakers' bureaus and promoters. You can always check my website to see where I'll be next.

I still try to keep involved in baseball. I'm the Special Assistant to the President of the Lancaster Barnstormers. The Barnstormers are a brand new team with the Atlantic League. They open their home season on May 11 in the brand new Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa. I'll be there for the festivities. I've been involved in everything from press conferences to interviewing managers and coaches. It's exciting to be involved. Last year, Sparky Lyle  was the Manager of the Year for this League -- so you can see what kind of League we have!!! The Barnstormers are currently in first place and will be an exciting team to watch.

Welcome to my blog. I am not a computer guru by any stretch of the imagination. My kids embarrassed me into getting a fax machine and cell phone last year. They tell me I have to get in the 21st Century. Okay -- I'm in! People always ask me if I have a website and I can never remember the web address. But I do have one, and it's www.brooksrobinson.com. Now how hard is that! I love talking baseball and look forward to sharing my thoughts and stories with you on my official MLBlog. I've always enjoyed the many fans and their thoughts and stories and I'm at a point in my life when I run into so many people that have so many stories. As the saying goes: If you have questions -- after 50 years -- I've got answers.