Great point – I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about Mark Belanger (that era’s epitome of the “great glove/no bat” infielder), and those O’s teams. The AL East was just loaded in those years – it was the Bronx Zoo Yankees, and strong Red Sox teams, and then the Harvey’s Wallbangers Brewers, all up against those Baltimore teams.
That final game of the '82 season, the Orioles were hosting the Brewers; I remember listening to that game on a portable radio, with a couple of friends, while we were out at a football field, playing around. We were all so excited that the Brewers won that game, and the division.
.228 career batting average. He’d fit right in these days. He as a seriously good fielder. That was my team growing up in Maryland. Spoiled by great players (4 20 game winners on one team!) I had no idea he died so young. (54).
The Dodgers won the 1981 series and the 2020 series which were (the only?) two weird format years. I went to Game 4 in 1981. I clearly remember Reggie Jackson’s error.
Try being an Expos fan. At least the Orioles won divisions and even went to the World Series twice and winning one. From 1979 to 1994, the Expos had the second best record in the majors during that period next to the Yankees:
1979, finished 2 games back of Pirates family, played ridiculous amount of doubleheaders in September
1980, finished one game back of Phillies (blame Dick Williams).
1981, finished first in second half, half game ahead of Cardinals. Only time they made playoffs.
1984 18 games back of Cubs, 78 wins.
1986, 29.5 back of Mets, still 78 wins.
1987, third place, 91 wins but 4 games back of Cardinals
1991, their worst year in this period, just third year below .500 with 71 wins, 26.5 out
1992, second place but 9 games out
1993, just 3 games out
and of course, 1994, best record in majors when the strike wipes out the season
Not many teams can say they had this much success, 12 of 15 years above .500, one of best record as I said, 6 of those within 5 games of or leading the division and yet have virtually nothing to show for it.
Thank God for modern-day playoff expansion. Hell, the Expos/Nationals franchise benefited from that in 2019-- the year the Nats won the World Series, they were a Wild Card team.
Belanger was an AWESOME fielder. Earl Weaver’s teams put a lot of emphasis on defense, and Belanger was by far the best they had.
If you look at the Orioles’ defensive efficiency rate, it was the best in the AL every year or close to it. Their defense made their pitching look better than it actually was.
Definitely. Looking at, say, their 1975 team (which finished at 90-70), three-quarters of their infield (Belanger, 3B Brooks Robinson, and 2B Bobby Grich) won Gold Gloves that year, as did CF Paul Blair. Pitcher Jim Palmer didn’t win a Gold Glove that year, but he did win it the following four seasons.
The White Sox have announced that manager Tony La Russa won’t be returning to manage the team this season, on the advice of his doctors.
Personally, I suspect that the Sox have reached an agreement with La Russa to let him leave the team gracefully after this season, and not just because of his health.
Don Mattingly announced today that he won’t be returning as manager of the Marlins in 2023. He’s served as their manager for seven seasons, but has only had one winning season in that span (and that was in COVID-shortened 2020).