The 2014 season will be a special one for the Baltimore Orioles, and not just because there are postseason dreams around Birdland. The O’s will celebrate 60 years in Baltimore, which presents the perfect opportunity to reflect on great players and memories since 1954.
In the spirit of the occasion I’ve decided to highlight some of the great individual seasons we’ve witnessed from 1954-2013. So far, we’ve looked at left field, center field, right field, third base, shortstop, and second base.
This week, we continue around the infield with first base.
Jim Gentile, 1961
.302/.423/.646 – 96 runs, 25 doubles, 46 home runs, 141 RBI
Over a nine-year career, Jim Gentile made three All-Star teams. Each of those seasons came with the Baltimore Orioles. One of them, 1961, resulted in a third-place finish in the American League’s MVP Award voting behind Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.
Gentile was tied for first in the AL in RBI. He was third in home runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Gentile also finished fourth in runs created (138) and extra base hits (73), fifth in batting average, sixth in total bases (314) and walks (96), and eighth in runs scored.
Among all Orioles since 1954, Gentile’s slugging percentage and OPS (1.069) are tops for a single-season. Gentile’s 10.6 at-bats per home is the best in franchise history and his 187 OPS+ is second only to Frank Robinson’s 198 in 1966.
Eddie Murray, 1984
.306/.410/.509 – 97 runs, 26 doubles, 29 home runs, 110 RBI, 107 walks, 10 stolen bases, Gold Glove Award
[youtube]http://youtu.be/m7aAnmvgfSo[/youtube]
Eddie Murray was consistently good for many years, basically from his first year in the big leagues (1977) through 1993. It was during his 13 years with the Orioles that he built the foundation for a Hall of Fame career. Murray was in the top-5 of the American League MVP Award voting each year from 1981-1985 and won the Gold Glove in three of those seasons.
In 1984, Murray played in all 162 games and led the major leagues in walks, intentional walks (25), and OPS+ (157). He led the American League in on-base percentage. Murray also finished second in the AL in runs created (130) and times on base (289), fifth in RBI, eighth in batting average, and ninth in total bases (299).
Among AL first basemen, Murray was second in total zone runs (10), third in fielding percentage (.992), and claimed his second Gold Glove.
Chris Davis, 2013
.286/.370/.634 – 103 runs, 42 doubles, 53 home runs, 138 RBI
[youtube]http://youtu.be/xfIlVtEskvM[/youtube]
After being acquired via a trade with the Texas Rangers in 2011, Chris Davis was a pleasant surprise during the Orioles’ playoff run in 2012. The following year, Crush took Major League Baseball by storm and finished third in AL MVP Award voting.
Davis led the majors in total bases (370), home runs, RBI, and extra base hits (96). He was second in the American League in slugging percentage and runs scored. Davis was also third in OPS+ (165) and doubles.
Since 1954, Davis’ 370 total bases are the most by an Oriole and are second in franchise history to George Sisler’s 399 in 1920. His 53 home runs and 96 extra base hits both surpassed marks set by Brady Anderson in 1996 (50 and 92 respectively) to establish new club records.
And, Davis was third among AL first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage.
Boog Powell, 1970
.297/.412/.549 – 82 runs, 28 doubles, 35 home runs, 114 RBI, 104 walks, AL MVP Award
Earlier in the series, Boog Powell made an appearance at a position many may not have remembered him playing (left field). This time, we find him at his more familiar spot on the diamond.
In 1970, Powell set his career-high in doubles, walks (6th in AL), and on-base percentage (3rd in AL). His runs scored, hits (156), RBI (3rd in AL), batting average, and OPS+ (163 – 3rd in AL) rank second among his 17 seasons as a big leaguer. Powell also finished second in the AL in slugging percentage, fourth in extra base hits (63), and fifth in total bases (289) and home runs.
During Baltimore’s postseason run, one that culminated in a World Series victory over the Cincinnati Reds, Powell posted a .355/.444/.742 batting line with 11 hits, three doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, and five walks in eight games.
Rafael Palmeiro, 1998
.296/.379/.565 – 98 runs, 36 doubles, 43 home runs, 121 RBI, 11 stolen bases, Gold Glove Award
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=testn9HZRrk&feature=share&list=PLomYypladqst5d-IvVSZYuFSDq1hxGgC5[/youtube]
In seven seasons with the Orioles, Palmeiro captured one Silver Slugger Award and two Gold Gloves. In 1998, he took home both.
In 1998, Palmeiro was the Orioles’ leader in runs, hits (183), doubles, home runs (6th in AL), RBI (8th in AL), and total bases (350 – 7th in AL). He was second in on-base and slugging percentage.
His 16 total zone runs on defense is the highest of his career and led all major league first basemen that year.
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Next week: Catcher
