Top 10 Baltimore Orioles Moments

In chronological order:

Jim Palmer vs. Sandy Koufax (October 6, 1966): On paper, it was a mismatch. The great Koufax against some youngster. The Orioles won the game 6-0 in Los Angeles to take a 2-0 World Series lead. The O’s went on to sweep the Dodgers. The 20-year-old Palmer eventually won 268 games, three Cy Young Awards, two more World Championships, and was elected to the Hall of Fame.

Frank Robinson wins MVP (1966): Robinson was the 1961 NL MVP with Cincinnati. Prior to the 1966 season, the Reds traded him to Baltimore. It was one of the most lopsided trades in history. Robinson won the 1966 AL MVP and the Triple Crown while leading the Orioles to the promised land. Frank Robinson remained in Baltimore through the 1971 season winning another World Series in 1970.

Brooks Robinson’s World Series (1970): Brooks Robinson took over the 1970 World Series batting .429 with 2 homers and 6 RBI in the Orioles five game victory. Despite the dominant hitting performance, Robinson cemented his place in history as the greatest defensive third baseman in history by vacuuming up every ball hit in his direction regardless of the difficulties. He several impossible plays on Reds hitters. Johnny Bench must have been having Brooks Robinson nightmares ever since 1970.

http://brooksrobinsontribute.com/70%20World%20Series.htm

Four 20 game winners (1971): Baltimore is the last team to have four twenty game winners on its staff. Mike Cuellar (20), Pat Dobson (20), Jim Palmer (20), and Dave McNally (21) combined for 81 wins and a .723 winning percentage. The four aces led Baltimore to a third consecutive pennant.

Tito Landrum (October 8, 1983 Game 4 ALCS): Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox battled into the 10th inning of Game 4 of the 1983 ALCS. The O’s led the series 2-1 and needed one victory to clinch the pennant. Storm Davis and Brit Burns dueled to a scoreless tie through six. Tippy Martinez replaced Davis in the 7th for the birds. Burns continued for the Sox and the game remained scoreless through 9. In the 10th, Tito Landrum hit a solo homer to give the Orioles the lead igniting the offense. Baltimore scored two more runs to take the game 3-0.

Rick Dempsey and Eddie Murray end the World Series (October 16, 1983 Game 5 World Series): Eddie Murray hit two homers, drove in three, and Rick Dempsey added a solo shot to end the Wheeze Kids season and clinch Baltimore’s last world championship. Dempsey won the World Series MVP with a .385 average.

2131 (September 6, 1995): Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s unbreakable consecutive games played streak when he played in his 2,131 consecutive game. To commorate the event, Ripken homered in the Oriole victory. After the game became official, Ripken took a victory lap and celebrated with the fans. The streak ended after 2,632 consecutive games.

Eddie Murray’s 500th Homer (September 6, 1996): Steady Eddie Murray got his 3000th hit with the Cleveland Indians. He returned to Baltimore in 1996 and hit home run #500 one year to the day that Cal Ripken broke Gehrig’s consecutive game record. Murray is one of four men with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

Cal Ripken 3000 (April 15, 2000): Cal Ripken ended the 1999 season just short of 3000 hits. In 2000, he quickly achieved the milestone. On April 15, he scored #3000 with three singles making him the 24th man to achieve the mark. The O’s won the game 6-4 over Minnesota.

Orioles: 11 Red Sox: 10 (June 30, 2009): Down 10-1 in the 7th, the O’s win 11-10. Baltimore scored 5 in the 7th off Justin Masterson and then another 5 in the 8th off Hidecki Okajima, Takashi Saito, and Jonathan Papelbon. It is the greatest comeback in team history surpassing 1956’s eight run comeback against the Boston Red Sox.