Nats Officially Part Ways With Robinson

Trailblazing Career Is Likely at an End

In 1975, when the Cleveland Indians needed a replacement for Ken Aspromonte as manager, owner Ted Bonda took what was, at the time, a bold step. He named Frank Robinson to the position, the first African American to manage a major league club.

Yesterday afternoon, as he formally was removed from a manager's job for the last time in his storied career, Robinson reflected on that status, one that always will be by his name: first black manager.

"And," Robinson said, making light of the situation, "the first one to be fired four times."

The official announcement that Robinson -- a 71-year-old Hall of Famer -- would not be asked back as manager of the Washington Nationals finally came yesterday, and the occasion was marked by remembrances not only of his role in bringing baseball back to the nation's capital, but with nods to his significance in the history of the game. When the Nationals took the field against the New York Mets in their penultimate game of the season, Robinson's counterpart in the visitors' dugout was another African American, Willie Randolph.

"I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Frank," Randolph said.

Yet Robinson's absence will leave the club's most prominent faces -- owners Theodore N. Lerner and his son, Mark; President Stan Kasten; and General Manager Jim Bowden -- all white in a city that is majority black, at a time when baseball is desperately trying to spark interest among young urban African Americans.

Robinson has strong views on the importance of black participation in baseball, ones he occasionally expresses. Yet as much as Robinson has served as the face of the franchise since it came to the District last year -- he certainly was its most notable name -- the team didn't promote him as an icon. He admitted that he didn't get out in the city much, traveling between the ballpark and his apartment on Connecticut Avenue NW. His participation in civic affairs largely was low-key, mostly centered around Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Roman Catholic School on Capitol Hill, where he spoke occasionally and participated in various activities.

Nationals officials did not go into detail about what qualities they will pursue when the search for Robinson's replacement officially begins tomorrow. But Bowden said the club is well aware of the issue.

"There'll be diversity in this entire organization from top to bottom," Bowden said. "It doesn't matter if it's scouting, player development, managers, coaches, players. This organization is all about diversity."

The ousting of Robinson as manager after five seasons -- three in Montreal, the last two in Washington -- was, Bowden and Kasten admitted, an awkward situation, largely because of Robinson's standing in the game. He ranks sixth on the career home run list, is the only man to win the most valuable player award in the American and National leagues, and has held nearly every position in baseball -- all-star player, coach, manager, front office member, Major League Baseball executive.

Robinson was told of the decision on Thursday, in part because he had requested advance notice so that he could, as he said, "say goodbye." The Nationals are planning to pay tribute to Robinson before, during and after today's season finale at RFK Stadium, and they will host a "Frank Robinson Day" next season. Though Robinson and Bowden have discussed the possibility that Robinson would take another job within the organization, no decision has been made. Robinson has been adamant that he would want a job only if it had real, decision-making power.

For two days, Robinson had danced around the questions about his future, his eyes watering from time to time. Yesterday, sitting next to Bowden at a news conference in a small room in the bowels of RFK, he tried to sound content.