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Flashback Friday: Celebrate Buck, but Don’t Forget Ned Hanlon

Ned Hanlon's Baseball Hall of Fame plaque.
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There’s a Baltimore Orioles team that apparently never existed.

The other day, you may have been read a lot about Buck Showalter now having won the second-most games as manager of the Baltimore Orioles. I contend that that’s not 100% true. It is true that he would be number two on the current franchise list, but not on a list that included all of the “Baltimore Orioles.”

You see, there was a Baltimore Orioles team that played in the National League in the late 1800’s. The team was chock-full of stars and its leader was Ned Hanlon. Hanlon won 555 games in short order with the Orioles between 1892 and 1898. Some biographers credit Hanlon with popularizing the hit and run and the double steal, and he was the head man when the “Baltimore chop” was born.

As an aside, the hit and run thing is somewhat comical to me considering Earl Weaver claimed it was the worst play in baseball.

Blah blah history, old people, blah blah. Maybe this all hits you in the voice of Charlie Brown’s teacher, but baseball is about its history as much as it is about its present and future. The teams Hanlon led included John McGraw, Hughie Jennings, Willie Keeler and some other incredible players. Look ‘em up on Baseball Reference (just click the names above) – you’d wish any of them played for the current O’s squad. I’d also encourage you to read Hanlon’s SABR biography. If you do, you’ll read about a man who loved Baltimore, a place he just so happens to be buried.

I don’t bring up Hanlon to diminish what Buck has accomplished; actually, you could argue that it reminds us how great Buck has been. I often feel like the front office sends Buck into a gun fight with dull butter knife. Remember Baltimore sports talk radio hosts claiming that the manager had nothing to do with the Orioles struggles? I do. Buck has made all the difference in the world.

Back to Hanlon real quick. On Tuesday night, I tweeted Dan Connolly that Hanlon had more wins than Buck as manager of the “Baltimore Orioles.” Connolly told me that MLB and the HOF only recognizes the current franchise. Funny, Hanlon is in the Hall of Fame as a manager. His induction was fairly recent (1996).

So, while you should unquestionably be cheering Buck Showalter, please don’t forget Ned Hanlon and Baltimore Orioles teams that played here long before the St. Louis Browns moved to Charm City.

0 Responses

  1. I’m glad someone else sees it my way. I dislike the fact that the Orioles completely ignore the 1890’s team, which is one of the greatest baseball teams of all time. Just because New York stole the original Birds doesn’t mean we have to shun them. At the very least, either Wee Willie or John McGraw should have a statue out in centerfield next to the more contemporary Hall of Famers

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0 Responses

  1. I’m glad someone else sees it my way. I dislike the fact that the Orioles completely ignore the 1890’s team, which is one of the greatest baseball teams of all time. Just because New York stole the original Birds doesn’t mean we have to shun them. At the very least, either Wee Willie or John McGraw should have a statue out in centerfield next to the more contemporary Hall of Famers

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