Tim Fuerhardt: MLB 1991-Detroit Tigers @ Baltimore Orioles: Orioles Last Game at Memorial Stadium

Source:The New Democrat

The story of this Tigers-Orioles game, even though it is a very small part of the Orioles 1991 season with this being their last game at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, but this game pretty much summarized their season. You would think that the Orioles management would’ve put more into trying to make sure that they had a competitive team in 91, considering this was their last season at Memorial. And they tried to do that with the Glen Davis trade, but they were horrible in 91. Very little pitching, at least consistent pitching either starters or in the bullpen. And not a lot of offense in their lineup to go with Cal Ripken.

The Orioles lost this game I believe 8-1 to the Tigers, who had a pretty good lineup that year. But the real story of this game was that it was the end of a great era not just for Orioles baseball with all the success the Oriole had at Memorial, but the end of a great era for Major League Baseball as well. Just too bad that the Orioles, especially for their fans, that after winning their last MLB World Series in 1983, they five of their last eight seasons at Memorial, were losing seasons. Including losing 108 in 88 and two 95 lost seasons in 87 and 91. But the Orioles of the 60s, 70s and 80s were one of the best franchises in MLB and all of that home success came at Memorial.

ABC Sports: MLB-1985-MNB-Detroit Tigers @ Baltimore Orioles: Highlights

Source:ABC Sports- Detroit Tigers vs the Orioles, in 1985.

Source:The New Democrat

Interesting matchup between two non-contending AL East teams in 1985. The Detroit Tigers finished in third place, but fifteen games out of first. And the Orioles finished fourth sixteen games out of first. But the AL East was deep in 1985, with four teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Tigers and Orioles all having winning seasons. And the Boston Red Sox were a 500 club that year. So it wasn’t like the Tigers and Orioles had bad years in 85, it was just that the Blue Jays and Yankees were both very good. And had their been a wildcard back then, both the Jays and Yanks would’ve made the AL Playoffs.

The Orioles were in transition in 85 especially as it relates to their pitching with Jim Palmer retiring after the 84 season. They were still good enough to be a winning team, but no longer a serious contender for the AL East. Their pitching wasn’t nearly as good as it was in the early 1980s and 1970s. And became a power hitting team that needed big offensive games to win. The Tigers won the MLB World Series in 1984 and were still good enough to contend in 85. But they slipped back as the Blue Jays and Yankees finished first and second.

Baltimore Orioles 1954: Tribute To Baltimore Memorial Stadium

Source:The New Democrat

The Orioles in their first 10 seasons or so weren't very good at all, but by 1964 or 1965, they not only started winning but also became solid American League contenders and in 1966 not only won the American League but also their first World Series, a 4-0 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And after that, up until 1986, you are talking about the winningest franchise in baseball, which included a total of three World Series championships, six American League championships, and seven AL East titles. Those are the Orioles at Baltimore Memorial Stadium that I love and respect and have been hoping will get back to that consistent winning ever since they started sliding in the late 1980s.

Baltimore Orioles Baseball: '1989 Baltimore Orioles: "Why Not?"'

Source:Baltimore Orioles Baseball- the Orioles against I believe the Anaheim Angels, in 1989.

"This music video is from the VHS documentary of the 1989 Baltimore Orioles.  

The 1988 Baltimore Orioles started the '88 season 0-21 and finished that year with a record of just 54 wins, and 108 losses.  So when the 1989 season began, no one gave the Orioles a chance to even compete.  But the young and hungry Orioles had something to prove, going 87-75 and finishing just two games out of first place in the American League East.  During that season, the term, "WHY NOT?", was coined by Oriole fans, and  it has lived with us since that magical season." 

From Baltimore Orioles Baseball

The Orioles literally came out of nowhere in 1989 to be AL East contenders after having one of the worst teams of all time in 1988. Which is one of the reasons why they were so successful in 1989 because they surprised so many people. 

A lot of the Orioles success started in 1988, by calling up pitcher Bob Milacki and trading for power hitting catcher Mickey Tettleton. And in the offseason of 1988-89 by trading their best player in Eddie Murray to the Los Angeles Dodgers and getting 1B Randy Milligan and OF Mike Deveraux who both contributed to the Orioles success of 1989, as well as in 1992. 

The 1989 Orioles weren't really great anywhere except on defense, but they had three reliable starting pitchers they could count on in Jeff Ballard who only had one good year in his entire MLB career but that year was 1989. To go along with Bob Milacki and Dave Schmidt and Dave Johnson came up during that year and won some big games for them. And they had a solid bullpen that could hold leads with Greg Olson closing out games. And 2-3 hitters in their lineup they could rely on to hit big home runs and drive in runs. Cal Ripken, Mickey Tettleton and Craig Worthington, and Phil Bradley at the top of the lineup.

The 1989 Orioles were a lot of fun to watch and it made going back to Baltimore Memorial Stadium fun again because you knew that the Orioles had a good shot at winning again. And without 1989, the Orioles would've had a harder time getting Oriole Park at least when they did. And their financial situation in the 1990s would've looked at lot different having to play at Baltimore Memorial Stadium for perhaps another five years, with Baltimore still trying to land a pro football franchise. So 1989 was critical for the Orioles success.

Baltimore Orioles Baseball: 'Orioles Magic: 1983 Baltimore Orioles: Sweet Dreams'

Source:Baltimore Orioles Baseball- the Orioles celebrating winning the 1983 MLB World Series, at Philadelphia Veterans Stadium.

"This video is from the Memories on 33rd Street that was released via VHS by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1992. 

The narrator for this video is Jon Miller.  

Music: Sweet Dreams by: Eurythmics" 

From Baltimore Orioles Baseball

The Orioles finally come through and win another World Series after being contenders ever since they won their last WS in 1970. 

The Orioles lose the 1979 World Series after being up 3-1 in that series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then they win 100 games in 1980, but don't even win the AL East and lose the AL East title to the Milwaukee Brewers during the last series of the season in 1982. So finally coming through for Oriole players like Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Ken Singleton, Jon Lowenstein, Gary Roenekie, Rich Dauer, and other players who went through the Oriole disappointments from the late 1970s and early 80s, had to be very special for them in 1983.

Baltimore Orioles Baseball: 'Orioles Magic: 1979 Baltimore Orioles: Orioles Magic is Born'

Source:Baltimore Orioles Baseball- One of the reasons why Baltimore Memorial Stadium was nicknamed the Outdoor Insane Asylum, was because the Orioles dugout was like a dance floor at a nightclub.

"This video is from the Memories on 33rd Street that was released via VHS by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1992.  The music you hear in the background during the playoffs is "Ain't no stoppin' us now" by McFadden & Whitehead.  

The narrators for this video is Chuck Thompson for the regular season highlights and Jon Miller for the post-season highlights.

1979 Baltimore Orioles Season:

102-57.  1st in the American League East

American League Championship Series:

Baltimore Orioles (3) California Angels (1)

MVP: The A.L. did not award an MVP of the ALCS until 1980. 

1979 World Series:

Pittsburgh Pirates (4) Baltimore Orioles (3)

MVP:  Willie Stargell

Side Notes:

Mike Flanagan won the CY Young award in 1979, going 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA" 

From Baltimore Orioles Baseball

The Orioles had Oriole Magic, the Cleveland Browns had the Kardiac Kids, both nicknames from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The difference being the Orioles were generally good enough to beat their opponents and generally didn't need to have to make miracle comebacks to beat their opponents. 

The Orioles were so good, so disciplined, so professional, Earl Weaver was their manager, that they were never out of any game, especially at Baltimore Memorial Stadium which was an awesome (in the real sense of the word) home field advantage for them in the 1970s and 1980s. 

Baltimore Orioles: MLB 1982- 'Orioles Magic: 1982 Baltimore Orioles: The Earl of Baltimore'

Source:Baltimore Orioles- honoring the great manager in Orioles history, as well as The Earl of Baltimore: Earl Weaver.

"This video is from the Memories on 33rd Street that was released via VHS by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1992. The music you hear in the background is "You Can Do Magic" by America.  The narrator for this video is Chuck Thompson.  1982 Baltimore Orioles:

94-68 

1.0 GB

2nd Place

American League Rookie of the Year:

Cal Ripken JR

This video is owned by the Baltimore Orioles INC. and Major League Baseball." 

From the Baltimore Orioles 

The 1982 Orioles one of the best teams not to make the MLB playoffs.

ESPN: 'Earl Weaver, 82, Dies While On Cruise'

Source:ESPN- The Earl of Baltimore: Earl Weaver.

" Earl Weaver always was up for an argument, especially with an umpire.

At the slightest provocation, the Earl of Baltimore would spin his hat back, point his finger squarely at an ump's chest and then fire away. The Hall of Fame manager would even tangle with his own players, if necessary.

All this from a 5-foot-6 pepperpot who hated to be doubted.

Although reviled by some, Weaver was beloved in Baltimore and remained an Oriole to the end.

The notoriously feisty Hall of Fame manager died at age 82 on a Caribbean cruise associated with the Orioles, his marketing agent said Saturday.

"Earl was a black and white manager," former O's ace and Hall of Fame member Jim Palmer said Saturday. "He kind of told you what your job description was going to be and kind of basically told you if you wanted to play on the Orioles, this was what you needed to do. And if you couldn't do it, I'll get someone else. I know that's kind of tough love, but I don't think anyone other than Marianna, his wife, would describe Earl as a warm and fuzzy guy."

Weaver took the Orioles to the World Series four times over 17 seasons but won only one title, in 1970. His .583 winning percentage ranks fifth among managers who served 10 or more seasons in the 20th century.

Dick Gordon said Weaver's wife told him that Weaver went back to his cabin after dinner and began choking between 10:30 and 11 Friday night. Gordon said a cause of death has not been determined.

"It's a sad day. Earl was a terrific manager," Orioles vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said. "The simplicity and clarity of his leadership and his passion for baseball was unmatched. He's a treasure for the Orioles. He leaves a terrific legacy of winning baseball with the Orioles and we're so grateful for his contribution. He has a legacy that will live on."

Weaver will forever remain a part of Camden Yards. A statue of him was dedicated last summer in the stadium's flag court, along with the rest of the team's Hall of Fame members." 

From ESPN

Former Orioles great manager the winningest manager in Orioles history and I believe the best manager, in Major League Baseball in the 1970s and one of the best managers of all time, died today at the age of 82. 

Earl Weaver's memory and legacy will live forever as long as there's Baltimore Orioles baseball because he taught the Orioles how to win not just for one season but how to win season after season. He built the foundation with the players he had on how to win each game and win each season. And his philosophy was so fundamentally sound because it was all about fundamentals. You win baseball games by beating your opponents, not by beating yourself. 

Earl's philosophy was you pitch and execute your pitches well, you play good defense and you get timely hitting. You don't win games by consistently leaving runners in scoring position or by giving your opponents extra outs or by hanging hittable pitches in the strike zone. And because of this there might of been amore fundamentally sound baseball manager in MLB history because The Earl's message was all about fundamental. And his players knew that if they didn't execute, they didn't play.

The Orioles didn't win so much and so often in the 1970s and 80s because they had so much more talent than their opponents, but because they were so much more fundamentally sound than their opponents. When other teams were relying on great talent to win games and relying on a handful of players to win, the Orioles were relying on their whole team because of their great depth and because they had so many players who knew how to play the game the right way and avoided making big mistakes. Which is something the Orioles got way from in the last decade and are finally getting back to now.