Which Baltimore O's players are the best/ most famous?

Question

I'm really new to baseball and was just wondering who a few famous/best players are on the Orioles and what postion they play

Answer 1

The Orioles have been in Baltimore since 1954. The team has been in two previous cities under two other names:

Milwaukee Brewers 1901
St. Louis Browns 1902-53

It is (despite moving and renaming) one of the original franchises of the American League.

Hall Of Famers who have played (unless noted for another role) with the Orioles:
Cal Ripken, Jr. (played exclusively for Baltimore)
Eddie Murray
Frank Robinson (played and managed)
Earl Weaver (managed)
Jim Palmer (exclusively Baltimore)
Brooks Robinson (exclusively Baltimore)
Reggie Jackson
Luis Aparicio
Robin Roberts
Hoyt Wilhelm
George Kell

HOFers who played/other for the Browns/Brewers:
Satchel Paige
Rogers Hornsby (played and managed)
Willard Brown
Dizzy Dean
Rick Ferrell
Jim Bottomley (played and managed)
Goose Goslin
Heinie Manush
George Sisler (played and managed)
Eddie Plank
Bobby Wallace
Branch Rickey (played and managed)
Rube Waddell
Jesse Burkett
Hugh Duffy (played and managed)

Orioles Championships:
World Series: 1966, 1970, 1983
American League: 1969, 1971, 1979
AL East: 1973, 1974, 1997
AL wildcards: 1996

Browns championships:
American League: 1944

Major Award Winners
AL Most Valuable Player:
Brooks Robinson, 1964
Frank Robinson, 1966 (achieved Triple Crown, leading AL in batting average, home runs, and RBI)
Boog Powell, 1970
Cal Ripken, Jr., 1983, 1991

Browns: George Sisler, 1922

AL Cy Young:
Mike Cuellar, 1969 co-winner
Jim Palmer, 1973, 1975, 1976
Mike Flanagan, 1979
Steve Stone, 1980

AL Rookie Of The Year:
Ron Hansen, 1960
Curt Blefary, 1965
Al Bumbry, 1973
Eddie Murray, 1977
Cal Ripken, Jr., 1982
Gregg Olson, 1989

Browns: Roy Sievers, 1949

The most famous, easily, is Ripken, who primarily played shortstop but moved to third base later in his career. He is noted for playing in a record 2632 consecutive games.

The Robinsons (not related, and if you look at portraits of them, it's pretty obvious; they even made a funny Lite Beer commercial about it) would be next, followed by Palmer, and then (in no particular order) Paige, Jackson (not "really" an Oriole, only played there one season), Hornsby, Rickey, Powell, Dave McNally, and Murray (who was a very good player, but tended to be quiet). Not all are best known for their work with this team though.

Brooks R. - third base (16 consecutive Gold Glove awards)
Frank R. - outfield
Palmer, Paige, McNally - pitchers
Powell - first base

When someone tells you that the 1971 Orioles are the only team in major league history with four 20+ game winning pitchers, you tell them that they are wrong, and mention the 1920 Chicago White Sox.

Answer 2

Orioles hall-of famers:

Jim Palmer - the majority of his career was before my time, he is by far the best pitcher the franchise as the "Baltimore Orioles" has had. He's also the only Orioles, and to my knowledge one of the few players in history (if not the only won) to have world series rings in 3 different decades (66,70,83).

Brooks Robinson - Once again this guy was before my time, he is widely regarded as the best defensive 3rd baseman to ever play the game. He dazzled the Reds in the 1970 world series, and sometimes if current 3rd baseman Melvin Mora makes a great play, occasionally O's fans will say something like "That's a Brooks Robinson type play!"

Frank Robinson - Orioles slugger traded from the Cincinnati Reds for Milt Pappas. Nothing against Pappas, but getting Frank was a steal for the Orioles. He played for the Orioles during the 60s and 70s. He was inducted into the hall as an Oriole. I believe he was the only Oriole player to ever hit homerun clear OUT of Memorial Stadium to the tune of at least 450 feet maybe more.

Eddie Murray -500 + career homeruns, he didn't like to talk to the media, but he was a great player, and was one of the most respected hitters in the 80s. One of his career highlights was hitting two homeruns in game 5 of the world series where the Orioles clinched the championship over the Phillies.

Cal Ripken jr- He's a player that I actually did get to watch on an all-most daily basis. He was a class act throughout his career, and redefined the short-stop position. Consider that most short stops before Cal's time in the 80s, they where short and quick. Ripken on the other hand was well over 6 feet tall, but extremely agile in the feild, and had a strong and accurate arm.

Ripken who grew up in Aberdeen Maryland was around with the Orioles quite a lot as his father Cal Sr. was involved with the organization as a coach. He was extremely lucky to get drafted by his hometown team. He is best noted for breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak. Cal surpased it when career game number 2131 became official after the top of the 5th inning.

Earl Weaver - not an Orioles player, but a hall of famer as an Orioles manager during the 60s and 70s. He lead one of the most dominate franchises of his times to 4 world series appearances between the 60s, and 70s, he also has a world series ring from 1970. He was known as hard-nosed manager with tough and high expectations of his ballclub, but at the same time he stood firmly behind his players. He has many of classicly animated arguments with umpires on disputable calls. Once Weaver would get himself ejected by the umpire, he let it loose. The cap turned backwards, the ump didn't hear the end of it, and there would be a lot of dirt kicked up on homeplate, among other things. Nothing of what he did was truly over the top or way out of line there though.

other Orioles fan favorites:

Rick Dempsey: Traded from the Yankees to the Orioles, Dempsey spent the bulk of his career with Baltimore as their catcher. He wasn't an all-star with the bat, but he was a good catcher who provided a sound game plan for his pitchers. He was voted as MVP of the 1983 world series, and since his retirement he has spent a long time working for the Orioles in the capacity of a coaching position, and now as a pre-game and post-game commentator for the Orioles on their TV network MASN.

Booq Powell - Orioles first baseman in the 60s and 70s. He was a long tenured Oriole, not an all-star with the bat, but a sound first baseman with a very likeable attitude. Booq is basically a staple with the Orioles organization itself. He has his own pit beef and BBQ stand on Eutaw St. inside of Camden Yards that does a booming business every home game.

Other past Oriole favorites without glossing over every detail? Scott McGregor (pitcher), John Lowenstein (outfeilder), "the bee" Al Bumbry" among others.

Answer 3

old school Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer

now Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, and Nick Markakis

Answer 4

Right now you have to mention Miguel Tejada(SS) and Brian Roberts(2B), but cant hate on Nick Markakis(RF). He is the future for Baltimore. Former greats include Brooks Robinson(3B), Cal Ripken, Jr.(SS) and Eddie Murray(1B/DH) and, of course, Jim Palmer(SP). Not to mention Hall of Famer Frank Robinson(OF).

Answer 5

Historically- Cal Ripken, Cal Ripken JR(SS) & Brooks Robinson(3B) are the most famous.

Currently- Migeul Tejada ( SS), Brian Roberts(2B), Erik Bedard (SP)

Answer 6

One record holder nobody has mentioned is Jim Gentile, 1st baseman from the 1960s, who hit 5 grand slams in one season.

And Gus Triandos, Hoyt Wilhelm's catcher (Wilhelm was one of the originators of the knuckleball), is famous for the extra large catcher's mitt he wore to hold on to Wilhelm's pitches which flew around like a butterfly.

Answer 7

Without a doubt it would have to be Cal Ripken. Everyone knows his name, his records, what he did for the game, his voice, his face- everything about him. He'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year- you'll hear more talk about him as it approaches July.

Good luck with your new hobby- but be careful- it can take up your entire life! LOL

Answer 8

ripken and robinson are the no brainers, how bout brady anderson, mike mussina, raphiel palmero, jim palmer to name a few. Or guys who spent some time but not carreer there like eddie murray or harold baines. look at the teams official web site at mlb.com, they got a top 50 favorite Os players list and positions.

Answer 9

Brooks Robinson - 3B - Hall of Famer from their great teams of the 60's/70's

Jim Palmer - SP - Hall of Famer from their great teams of the 60's/70's

Cal Ripken Jr - SS - broke Lou Gerhig's record of consecutive games played (2130) with the new record of 2632. Elected to the Hall of Fame this year

Answer 10

Cal Ripken Jr./ Shortstop

Eddie Murray/ 1B

Brooks Robinson/ 3B

I'm sure there's a lot more, but that's a few.