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The team ended its official ties with the former manager, but still plan to honor him this season. Date published: 1/9/2007
By TODD JACOBSON
The Washington Nationals and former manager Frank Robinson are parting ways, Robinson said in an interview last night, a move that could signal the end of the Hall of Famer’s long and storied career in baseball. Robinson was fired as the Nationals’ manager in September and managed his final game Oct. 1 after two years in Washington. When he left the city for his home in Los Angeles, he knew his career as a manager was over, but he was hoping he would be offered a substantive front office position within the organization. Robinson said he was told by Nationals general manager Jim Bowden yesterday afternoon that there would be none. “I think I had a lot to offer them and could’ve offered them and I guess they don’t see it that way,” Robinson said. Robinson, 71, said Bowden offered him the chance to come to spring training, “be around the team down there and also maybe go down and do a little work in the minor leagues.” Robinson would not have a salary, he said he was told, but his expenses would be paid. “I’m not interested in that, not at this time,” Robinson said. “Just to show up to spring training and put on the uniform and be around—to be a goodwill-type guy. I’m not ready for that now.” “I still think I have a few years I would like to do it,” Robinson added. “I feel I can do it physically and mentally and energy-wise and I want to still be involved in baseball and I would like to be involved in baseball in some capacity that has some meaning to it.” Bowden and Nationals president Stan Kasten could not be reached for comment last night. Kasten did not comment on Robinson’s status during an afternoon interview yesterday. The decision leaves Robinson in an unfamiliar position with spring training just more than a month away. The Hall of Fame outfielder hit 586 homers during his 21-year playing career and won 1,065 games in 16 years as a big league manager, and he has been involved in professional baseball since 1953. Since 1956, he has been in the big leagues—either as a player, manager or front office executive.
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