I remember when Becket featured this card when I was a kid and they describe the image as looking like Brooks Robinson was in the desert!
The 1971 Brooks Robinson Card #331 is a baseball card featuring Brooks Robinson, a former Major League Baseball player who played his entire career for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977. The card is known for its iconic image of Robinson making a diving catch, with the caption "B. Robinson Commits Robbery!" printed on it.
In the top of the first inning of the game, Cincinnati's Lee May hit a line drive down the third-base line that appeared headed for the left-field corner. However, Brooks Robinson, playing third base for the Orioles, made a diving catch to his left, snaring the ball just before it hit the dirt.
Robinson's catch was an incredible display of athleticism and reflexes, and it immediately became one of the most memorable plays in World Series history. The play helped set the tone for the game, as the Orioles went on to win 9-3 and take a 3-2 lead in the series.
The image on the "Committing Robbery" card captures the moment when Robinson is fully extended in mid-air, his glove hand reaching out to snag the ball just before it hits the ground. The caption "Committing Robbery" refers to Robinson's reputation as a defensive wizard who could make seemingly impossible plays, robbing hitters of base hits and changing the course of games.
Robinson's play in Game 5 of the 1970 World Series is just one example of the many spectacular defensive plays he made throughout his career, and it helped cement his legacy as one of the greatest third basemen of all time.
