The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the American League's eight charter teams in 1901,the franchise spent its first year as a major league club in Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Brewers before moving to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Browns in 1902. After 52 years in St. Louis,the franchise was purchased in 1953 by a syndicate of Baltimore business and civic interests,led by attorney and civic activist Clarence Miles and Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. The team's current owner is David Rubenstein. The Orioles' home ballpark is Oriole Park at Camden Yards,which opened in 1992 in downtown Baltimore. The oriole is the official state bird of Maryland;the name has been used by several baseball clubs in the city,including another AL charter member franchise which folded after the 1902 season and was replaced the next year by the New York Highlanders,later the Yankees. Nicknames for the team include the "O's" and the "Birds".
Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr.,nicknamed "the Iron Man",is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire 21-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). One of his position's most productive offensive players,Ripken compiled 3,184 hits,431 home runs,and 1,695 runs batted in during his career,and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP),in 1983 and 1991.
Shortstop,abbreviated SS,is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base,which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically,the position was assigned to defensive specialists who were typically poor at batting and were often placed at the bottom of the batting order. Today,shortstops are often able to hit well and many are placed at the top of the lineup. In the numbering system used by scorers to record defensive plays,the shortstop is assigned the number 6.
Mark Henry Belanger,nicknamed "the Blade," was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from 1965 through 1982,most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won six American League East division titles,five American League pennants,and two World Series championships between 1966 and 1979.
Felix Anthony "Tippy" Martinez is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1974 and 1988,primarily as a relief pitcher. The majority of his career (1976–1986) was spent as a member of the Baltimore Orioles,where he was a member of 1983 World Series championship team.
In baseball,a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or catcher,throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base.
Calvin Edwin Ripken Sr. was an American baseball player,scout,coach and manager. who spent 36 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played in the Orioles' farm system beginning in 1957,and later served as coach and manager of the parent club,on which his sons Cal Jr. and Billy played.
William Oliver Ripken,nicknamed "Billy the Kid",is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1987–1998 for the Baltimore Orioles,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians (1995),and Detroit Tigers (1998). During his career,he batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. He currently serves as a radio host for XM Satellite Radio and a studio analyst for MLB Network.
Shawn Kealoha Boskie,is an American former professional baseball pitcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1990 to 1998. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round,10th overall,in the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft.
Stuart Leonard Miller,nicknamed The Butterfly Man,was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1952–56),Philadelphia Phillies (1956),New York/San Francisco Giants (1957–62),Baltimore Orioles (1963–67) and Atlanta Braves (1968). He batted and threw right-handed. In a 16-season career,Miller posted a 105–103 record with a 3.24 earned run average,1164 strikeouts,and 154 saves in 704 games pitched.
Richard Fremont Dauer is an American former infielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent his entire 10-year MLB playing career with the Baltimore Orioles,winning the 1983 World Series. He was primarily a second baseman,and also played third base. Following his career as a player,he spent 19 seasons as an MLB coach for numerous teams,winning the World Series in 2017 as the first base coach for the Houston Astros. Played San Bernardino Spirit baseball coach in the 1988 motion picture Stealing Home which starred Mark Harmon and Jodie Foster.
The 1995 Major League Baseball season was the first season to be played under the expanded postseason format,as the League Division Series (LDS) was played in both the American and National leagues for the first time,since the 1981 strike-split season. However,due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike which carried into the 1995 season,a shortened 144-game schedule commenced on April 25,when the Florida Marlins played host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 2001 Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing fourth in the American League East with a record of 63 wins and 98 losses. It would also be the final season for Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
The 1983 Baltimore Orioles won the Major League Baseball World Series after finishing first in the American League East with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses,The Orioles won the championship by beating the Philadelphia Philles,4–1,in the 1983 World Series. The season was the Orioles' first in nearly 15 years without manager Earl Weaver,who retired after the Orioles missed the playoffs in the final game of the 1982 season. The Orioles replaced the future Hall of Famer Weaver with Joe Altobelli. The World Series victory was the Orioles' first championship since 1970 and their most recent to date.
The 1982 Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. The Orioles finished second in the American League East to the eventual AL Champions Milwaukee Brewers. They finished with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. For the second consecutive season,the Orioles recorded the most grand slams in MLB,hitting eight in 1982. This was long time Oriole manager and future Hall of Famer Earl Weaver's last season managing the Orioles until he returned to manage them from 1985 to 1986.
The 1983 Major League Baseball season ended with the Baltimore Orioles defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth game of the World Series. Rick Dempsey was named MVP of the Series. The All-Star Game was held on July 6 at Comiskey Park;the American League won by a score of 13–3,with California Angels outfielder Fred Lynn being named MVP.
Floyd Kinnard "Sugar Bear" Rayford is a retired professional baseball player who played for seven seasons in the Major leagues. He primarily played third base and catcher during his career,but was a utility man who played four different positions during his Major League career. He served as batting coach for two seasons with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League until his firing on September 9,2011. He was known as "Sugar Bear" and a fan favorite for his roly-poly physique.
Robert Averill Bonner is an American former professional baseball player and currently a Baptist missionary.
