masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDALLAS – Back in October, when he was overcome with emotion at the unveiling of a nine-foot bronze statue of himself on a plaza between Russell Street and Washington Boulevard that now bears his name, Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson told reporters that he planned to sneak back and take a look at his likeness when all the hubbub died down.

Fat chance, right? Like Robinson could quietly walk around the slab of concrete outside Pickles Pub and not be noticed? He’s a Baltimore deity,…DALLAS – Back in October, when he was overcome with emotion at the unveiling of a nine-foot bronze statue of himself on a plaza between Russell Street and Washington Boulevard that now bears his name, Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson told reporters that he planned to sneak back and take a look at his likeness when all the hubbub died down.

Fat chance, right? Like Robinson could quietly walk around the slab of concrete outside Pickles Pub and not be noticed? He’s a Baltimore deity, after all, as recognizable to O’s fans as the cartoon bird he once wore.

Well, during a session with reporters after the Golden Era Committee announced former Chicago Cub Ron Santo as the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Robinson was asked whether he’d visited the statue yet.

Turns out he has. Twice.

“I’ve been down there a couple of times,” Robinson said. “Just kind of put my hat down and walked down there with my son, (who) was in from Detroit and my brother – he stayed over the Monday afterwards. We went down. He stayed right there at the (Hampton Inn) nearby. Got a good look at it. It’s great.”

So, was he recognized?

“One person was walking around and he kind of recognized me after a while,” Robinson said with a smile. “I said, ‘You want to take a picture?’ So he took a picture.”