WASHINGTON -  In a move rumored to happen for more than a month, Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden announced Saturday that Manager Frank Robinson will not return in 2007. The Orioles legend worked in the front office of Major League Baseball until 2002, when Bud Selig asked him to take over the league run Montreal Expos franchise. His influence helped bring baseball back to Washington D.C. and lure fans to RFK. But come Sunday his tenure with the Nationals will end.

"It’s been a good ride for me. It’s been 51 years," a saddened Frank Robinson admits. "The old saying is ‘When you take a manager’s job and stay around long enough, you are going to get fired.’ It’s been a great run for me, I sincerely mean that."

"This is by far the most difficult [firing] because of what he means to baseball. Not just in Washington, Baltimore, or Cincinnati, but for all of baseball," General Manager Jim Bowden says. "Frank represents playing baseball the way it’s supposed to be played. And he’s always managed that way."

Washington was Robinson’s third managerial stint since the 1970s. He became the first African-American manager in October 1974 when he took over the Cleveland Indians. Later Robinson managed San Francisco and Baltimore for four seasons apiece. His longest five year stint may be his last.

"Unless Barbara [wife] changed the locks on the door, I can go home," Robinson joked when asked if he could go home and step away from baseball. "I don’t know [if he could live without baseball]. The longest I’ve gone without this game is three or four months. But, time will have to do it anyway."

The veteran turned 71 years old at the end of August and completes sixteen seasons as a Major League skipper. Reportedly Robinson learned of his fate in close door meetings with Jim Bowden and Stan Kasten on Thursday, entering a meeting with the press that afternoon in street clothes and a tearful face and suggesting his fate to reporters.

"I feel like this is --- as far as I’m concerned --- period in my heart and head. As far as managing, this is it," says Robinson.

The Nationals skipper ends his time as the 46th on the all time list for managerial wins and reached 1000 wins back this April, despite having a sub .500 career record.

The team was informed of the decision in a meeting on Saturday afternoon. Players listened quietly, some with blank looks, and then applauded Frank after he finished his address.

"Now that we have Frank leaving it’s a little bit tough," says Jose Vidro, who came to Washington with Robinson from Montreal. "I’m pretty sure it’s not just tough for me and [Brian] Schneider because we’ve been here longer. It’s tough for everybody."

Washington will finish 2006 in last place for the third consecutive season, though the team competed for first place for half of last season. At 50-31, the Nationals stood on top in the National League East, collapsing in the second half to end 81-81. Robinson had no such luck this season, despite the fortunes brought by Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Zimmerman.

"Just play hard," lists Alfonso Soriano as the biggest lesson he learned from Frank Robinson. "I remember in the second game of the season, I had a pop up to first base and I did not to the base hard and he took me out of the game. I think that’s the most important thing I learned from him: to play hard everyday."

Soriano says the departure of Frank Robinson will not impact his thoughts on resigning with Washington. The All-Star outfielder became the first Major Leaguer to have 40 homers, steals and doubles in a single season. He’ll be the top hitting free agent in the market this off season. Ryan Zimmerman is definitely staying put, the rookie third baseman who knocked in 100 runs in 2006.

"The biggest thing is he let me do what I can do, make my mistakes and learn from them. He’s let me succeed and fail at the same time and he’s been consistent with me. I’ve never really had to worry about if I’ve not done well for a couple days sitting me down," says Zimmerman. "This being my first year, not knowing what to expect, it’s nice to have that confidence, especially from a guy like him who’s done so much for the game. It gives you confidence that he has so much confidence in you."

From Brian Lawrence to Ryan Patterson to Nick Johnson late, Frank Robinson has had to deal with a lot of injuries in 2006, those that have derailed the team. But with more than 30,000 fans at RFK on Saturday night, who chanted Robinson’s name towards the end, he knows the area has been good to him.

"The beautiful thing is when we lose an ugly game or are in a bad streak, I go out and am still warmly received," says Robinson. "They’ll say ‘Hey you guys are great’, I’ll say ‘Hey we lost last night’ and they say ‘No we don’t care. We’re just happy to have you guys here’."

"We are going to have a tribute to Frank on Sunday," announced Bowden. "We hope all his fans in Washington, Virginia and Maryland will come and see Frank as we pay tribute to him in his final game as manager of the Nationals."

The team will invite him back to RFK in 2007 for a "Frank Robinson Night", to honor their departing leader and his contributions to the game.

Bowden and Robinson will meet during the off season to discuss a possible position within the organization for him.

"I am going to miss him a whole lot," says closer Chad Cordero, who has saved 75 games in the last two seasons. "He gave me my first chance to come up here and pitch. He had all the confidence in me to be the closer. I can’t thank him enough for that, so it’s going to be a tough thing when he’s not here next year."

It’ll be those Chad Cordero and Ryan Zimmerman who started their careers under Robinson and those like Alfonso Soriano with vivid lessons learned that carry the torch of Frank Robinson’s legacy in Washington DC.