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A conversation with Brooks
Blue Crabs part-owner talks about team's first season
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
 Click here to enlarge this photo File photos by GARY SMITH
Part-owner Brooks Robinson sees the Blue Crabs as a permanent fixture to Southern Maryland: "You better believe it's going to last."
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Brooks Robinson returned to Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf last Wednesday to celebrate the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs' 4-2 victory in their first-ever home finale, capping a division-contending inaugural season.
The team's minority owner witnessed the commemorative contest from his suite behind home plate while finding time to mingle with Blue Crabs fans of the near 6,000 in attendance at the ballpark.
Robinson is an investor in Opening Day Partners, which owns the Blue Crabs and three other teams in the Atlantic League.
He is also the president of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, among other involvements in the sport he starred in for 23 years as the Baltimore Orioles iconic third baseman.
Robinson's availability to attend the Blue Crabs' home finale was an uncertainty until the last minute, thus the reason the team made no official announcement of his arrival for the final time the doors were open at the stadium.
Robinson was also there for the spirited opening to the Blue Crabs digs on May 2, which featured another memorable win for the home team.
Thursday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the Blue Crabs took the field in their home finale and the same day the team discovered it was eliminated from playoff contention, the Major League Baseball Hall of Famer took part in a Q-and-A session via a phone interview on all-things Blue Crabs with their first season about 72 hours short of being in the books.
Q How special was the home finale at Regency Furniture Stadium?
I was impressed, I really was. I enjoyed visiting with the fans in the skyboxes. To see the kids and all the families enjoying themselves –– that's what baseball is all about.
There must've been 50 people that thanked me for bringing baseball to Southern Maryland, and it's only going to get better.
QHow would you describe the first year of existence for the Blue Crabs in laying the foundation for seasons to come?
This has been a great year. We had to work out a few kinks earlier in the year, but overall, it's been terrific. I just think next year will do better than this year.
We got a late start this year. [Manager] Butch Hobson and his coaches will be back, and everything is looking promising for the 2009 season.
QWhat has it been like for you as an owner of the club?
I'm just a part-owner, just a small owner. My title is assistant to the president [of Opening Day Partners, Peter Kirk]. I've known Peter for a long time, and I helped break ground on new stadiums in Lancaster, York and Camden. I've had a hand in all three of these.
All the parks [we've constructed in the Atlantic League] have a little different flavor, and when we built the Lancaster ballpark, we had busloads of people from Southern Maryland come and see what it was all about.
I'm just a small piece of the ownership group. I've enjoyed my part of it, just seeing the whole baseball situation in Southern Maryland come together.
Q Do you plan to be more involved with the Blue Crabs in upcoming seasons and be more visible and accessible at games for fan interaction?
I don't see that right now. [My ownership group] owns four teams, so I'm pretty well-saturated.
I do like to come to games, and I plan to visit four or five games per year [at Regency Furniture Stadium].
QHow would you evaluate the Blue Crabs in their first season, and what aspect of the club needs the most improvement?
Butch has been around for so long. There are so many players that want to play for Butch.
The team is up to par with what I expected.
The biggest problem is they haven't hit as well offensively as they expected, so Butch is looking to get a little more offense on the ballclub, more hitting.
He has his eyes on three or four other guys [for the team to sign].
(Note: The Blue Crabs finished the season as the league's best pitching staff with a 4.28 ERA, but was last in hitting with a .267 average.)
QWhat was the highlight of the season for you as an owner?
The highlight was just seeing the fans come out to the ballpark and getting acclimated to where the park is. The area is growing every year, and the price is right.
Q Are there any plans in the works for any upgrades to the stadium entering next season?
Where the park is located is a great spot. Still, there are more plans to broaden the roadways in and out of there for a faster commute. Driving in [last Wednesday to the game], I could see [the need for that].
QDo you foresee the Blue Crabs becoming a permanent fixture in Southern Maryland for many years to come, or is it a year-to-year situation given the economics of the industry and region?
Absolutely, you better believe it's going to last. This is a great brand of baseball –– it's family entertainment that's promotional-savvy.
That's what minor league baseball is all about. Kids 12-and-Under get in free with a [youth athletic league] uniform.
Q Could the Blue Crabs ever become an affiliated minor league team for a Major League franchise like the Orioles?
We thought about it [when constructing the Blue Crabs], but there's just no way you could do it. I'm not going to say it couldn't ever happen, but I don't see it happening.
There are a lot of [Orioles farm] teams that are closer to Baltimore with Bowie and Frederick. We're in the right league doing the right thing. I feel this is the best independent league in the country.
dcogle@somdnews.com
