Robinson to Manage Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles fired Cal Ripken Sr. as manager today and replaced him with Frank Robinson, who becomes baseball’s first black manager in four years.

The Orioles, 0-6 under Ripken, are off to their worst start in 33 years following a dismal 67-95 record last season. Robinson, who had been an assistant to Orioles owner Edward Bennett Williams, was the first black to manage in the majors when he became field boss of the Cleveland Indians in 1974. He managed the Indians until 1977 and also was manager at San Francisco from 1981 to ’84.