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 and center field.
This week, we move over to right.
Frank Robinson, 1966
.316/.410/.637 – 122 runs, 34 doubles, 49 home runs, 122 RBI, AL MVP Award, Triple Crown
During his first year with the Baltimore Orioles, Frank Robinson made quite an impression. In his age-30 season, Robinson became the only MLB player to capture the regular season MVP in both leagues and first to claim the American League’s Triple Crown since Mickey Mantle in 1956.
Robinson led the majors in slugging percentage, OPS (1.047), total bases (367), home runs, runs created (146), extra base hits (85), and times on base (279). He paced the AL in batting average, on-base percentage, runs, and RBI.
Relative to the rest of the American League in 1966, Robinson posted an OPS+ of 198, which led the majors and is the highest for a single-season in Orioles history. He was roughly 98% more productive at the plate than the average player that season and 17% more productive than the man who finished second in OPS+. In other words, Frank Robinson was other worldly in 1966.
Of the five MVP Awards won by Oriole players, Robinson’s 130-point victory margin in 1966 is the largest.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/facyOb56s7Y[/youtube]
Nick Markakis, 2008
.306/.406/.491 – 106 runs, 48 doubles, 20 home runs, 87 RBI, 10 stolen bases
Throughout the 2013 season, Nick Markakis was the subject of criticism for the relative state of slumber his bat was in for most of the year. Much of the criticism came because O’s fans remember what he did in 2008.
With the bat, Markakis set career-highs in runs (4th in AL), doubles (3rd in AL), walks (99 – 2nd in AL), batting average, on-base percentage (3rd in AL), slugging percentage, OPS (.897), and OPS+ (136). His 283 times on base were tops in the American League.
With the glove, Markakis led all AL outfielders in assists with 17 and his 22 defensive runs saved (per Baseball Info Solutions) are the most of his career for a single-season by 17 runs.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/6ketDFb5Es4[/youtube]
Ken Singleton, 1977
.328/.438/.507 – 90 runs, 24 doubles, 24 home runs, 99 RBI, 107 walks
In 10 seasons with the Orioles, Ken Singleton had two top-3 finishes in the AL MVP voting. One of them came in 1977, when he finished third and made his first All-Star team.
Singleton was second in the AL in on-base percentage, OPS+ (165), times on base (285), and walks. He was third in batting average and runs created (124).
His .438 on-base percentage is the second highest among all Orioles, regardless of position, since 1954.
In the field, Singleton’s .986 fielding percentage led AL right fielders.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/bYVNUSmjdsI[/youtube]
Reggie Jackson, 1976
.277/.351/.502 – 84 runs, 27 doubles, 27 home runs, 91 RBI, 28 stolen bases
Because of his success with the Oakland A’s and New York Yankees, many forget “Mr. October” spent a year in Baltimore. He was traded to the Orioles in April 1976 and went on to have a productive season in orange & black.
Jackson paced the American League in slugging percentage and OPS+ (155). He finished second in home runs and fourth in extra base hits (56).
He led the O’s in total bases (250) and was second on the team in runs, doubles, and RBI.
The 28 steals stand as Jackson’s career-high.
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Previous positions: Left Field, Center Field
Next week: Third Base
