1. Baltimore Orioles History: A Chronicle of Excellence and
Collapse
By T Agee
The Baltimore Orioles started their tenure in Baltimore in 1954. Before this, they were the St. Louis Browns (and
briefly before that they were the original Milwaukee Brewers).
Although the team lost a hundred games that year, they made a move that would eventually help them to become
one of the best teams in the sport -- they hired Paul Richards as manager/general manager. Richards helped to instill
sound baseball fundamentals in the organization from top to bottom. These fundamentals would soon take root and
produce championship caliber teams for decades into the future.
But these championships would not come right away. It took another three years for the team to reach the.500 mark.
Soon, however, the team was filled with high-caliber young players. It would only take a little experience for the team
to come together.
A key component in the team coming together was the hiring of Lee MacPhail. MacPhail helped to shore up the
organization's scouting staff -- another move that would serve the Orioles well in decades to come.
Although Richards was a key element in getting the team off the ground, he left the Orioles in 1961 before they saw
major success. He took a job as general manager for the Colt 45s in Houston.
In 1964, future Orioles great, third baseman Brooks Robinson, had a stellar season. Always a defensive master,
Robinson showed up strong on the offensive side and won the MVP, and the Orioles competed for the coveted
American League pennant in a three-way race with the White Sox and the Yankees. Although they didn't win the
pennant that year, the team could be said to have finally arrived. They were serious contenders and a force to be
reckoned with.
In the winter of 1965 the Orioles traded for superstar Frank Robinson. That move was the final piece of the puzzle for
the Orioles. Robinson won the MVP award in 1966, and the Orioles took the World Series -- sweeping the Los
Angeles Dodgers in four straight games.

2. Three years later, in 1969, the Orioles would be back in the World Series (this time against the New York Mets).
Although they lost this series, it would make the beginning of the three straight years that the team went to the World
Series. They would win the series again in 1970, but then fall victim to the Oakland A's in 1971.
In the '71 year, four Orioles pitchers managed to win twenty game each (Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally,
and Pat Dobson). This feat had never been done before and has never been repeated since.
Although the Orioles would miss the playoffs the following year, they would be back in postseason the next two years
('73 & '74).
Although the team would be filled with familiar names to baseball fans, the O's didn't manage to return to the playoffs
again until 1979, a year that garnered the Cy Young Award for pitcher Mike Flanagan. The team also returned to the
World Series that year; however, they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Throughout the most glorious years up this point, the Orioles skipper was the famed Earl Weaver. Weaver, known for
his color ways and devotion to statistics, was an innovator. After the 1982 season, however, Weaver stepped down
and was replaced by Joe Altobelli. Altobelli and a young kid named Cal Ripken, Jr. helped lead the Orioles to another
World Series championship the following year. Ripken also won the MVP in that year.
The next five years or so would be tough ones for the Orioles. They would see losing records and record-setting
losing streaks (0-21 to start the 1988 season).
In 1992, there was an atmosphere of renewal as the team moved from its old home in Memorial Stadium on 33rd
Street to the brand new Oriole's Park at Camden Yards. However it would take another few years before the Orioles
would see the playoffs again in 1996 and 1997.
In 1998, the team's misfortune returned, and they went from a playoff club to a losing season. Although filled with
hope at various times since, the Orioles have not seen a winning record since the 1997 season.
Today, the Orioles have a renewed sense of optimism and a young club of promising players. As they struggle to get
back .500 baseball, and eventually another World Series, Orioles fans everywhere hope the future will be as bright as
the past.
To see more about the Baltimore Orioles visit Orioles News for daily updates on the team.
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