Baltimore Orioles outfielder Josh Hart found himself with some homework recently.
The 37th pick in the 2013 draft turns out didn’t know who Frank Robinson was. Now, unless you’re a diehard baseball fan or a player, there might be no reason for you to ever know who Robinson was. The Hall of Fame player and former coach played 20 seasons in MLB for the Reds, Dodgers, Angels, Indians and of course, the Baltimore Orioles.
His career stats place him among some of the all-time great sluggers who ever played the game. The 2-time MVP, also served as manager of the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals and again, the Baltimore Orioles. So when current manager Buck Showalter found out that his top prospect didn’t know who one of the franchise and games best ever, he assigned him homework.
“I said, ‘OK, I want tomorrow by this time I want a page on Frank Robinson,’” Showalter explained. “I said, ‘You go home, you research it and you come back tomorrow and have it on my desk.’”
Hart worked diligently on the assignment.
“I knew he was serious,” Hart told MASNsports.com of Showalter. “He’s a serious man. He takes his job as strictly business, and I respect that. Whatever he says, it’s done and that’s a big plus. You’ve got to show him respect all the way.”
He made quick work of the report and received two thumbs up from his coach.
For those who didn’t know who Robinson was and doesn’t have a manager who would assign you homework, check out a 2006 interview Robinson did with Ed Lucas below and get to know a legend.
