Star Sighting

Once in a while, there will be a celeb sighting in our local grocery store in Encino. Actually there are two Ralphs markets, a newly renovated Smart and Final at Balboa and Ventura boulevards, and Gelson's market at Hayvenhurst and Ventura.

Gelson's is the "star" market. Movie and television personalities have frequented the upscale grocery store since it opened in the late 1950s. Alec Baldwin, Kim Bassinger, James Earl Jones, John Goodman, Annette Funicello and Wilt Chamberlain have all been seen pushing shopping carts through the aisles or sampling delicious bakery items at the in-house Viktor Benes.

On Thursday, Frank Robinson, the former big league ballplayer and Hall of Fame member, was seen in the produce section buying apples.

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add Robinson: He is 75 and was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 1982. He is the only player ever to win the MVP award in both the American and National leagues (Baltimore and Cincinnati). He hit 586 home runs and won the Triple Crown during a career that lasted 20 years.

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last add Robinson: Frank also became the first African-American to manage in the big leagues with the Cleveland Indians. He also managed the Giants, the Expos and the Nationals.