Half a century later, Brooks Robinson recalls every part of the play: a bullet off the bat of Reds slugger Lee May that hugged the foul line and seemed a sure hit until — 15 feet past third base — Robinson lunged to his right to backhand the ball. Then, off balance and in foul ground, he whirled, bounced a throw to first base and nipped the runner.
“I didn’t even have time to plant my foot. I can’t ever remember making another play like that,” said Robinson, 83, the Orioles' Hall of Fame third baseman.
It was Game 1 of the 1970 World Series in a week that Robinson would claim as his own.