The Baltimore Orioles are one of the most instantly recognizable teams in MLB. The franchise has won three World Series titles during their esteemed history, with their most recent win coming in 1983. The Orioles have also won the East Division title on nine occasions during their history, with the most recent coming in 2014.
However, some players during the history of the franchise have played a greater role than others, and that has led to them having their jersey numbers retired after they have called time on their career. But, which stars have been bestowed this honor by the Orioles?
Cal Ripken Jr.
Cal Ripken Jr. was the most recent player to have his number retired by the Orioles. He was bestowed the honor in 2001, which saw his number eight jersey retired. Ripken Jr. played the entirety of his MLB career in Baltimore, after he signed with the franchise in 1981 and called time on his career in 2001.
During his 20-year stay with the franchise, he was named an MLB All-Star on 19 occasions, with his last inclusion coming in 2001. He was part of the last World Series-winning side with the Orioles, and was a two-time AL MVP. Ripken Jr.’s consistency separated him from many of the players that played for the Orioles, as he played in a record 2,632 consecutive games.
Frank Robinson
Few players achieved more success in the MLB than Frank Robinson. The legendary star made a name for himself during his time with the Cincinnati Reds, who he played for between 1956 and 1965. During that time, he led the franchise to the pennant in 1961. However, the biggest moments of his career would come with the Orioles, after he came over in a trade in 1966. Robinson would spend five years with the franchise, and would be an integral player in the side that would win the World Series twice.
The first title came in his first year with the franchise, before he would repeat the feat with the franchise once again in 1970. During the 1966 success, he was also named the MVP. He would be a trailblazer in the sport, as he later became the first black manager in the history of the MLB when he took the role at the Cleveland Indians in 1975. Robinson would later be named Manager of the Year in the AL in 1989 while with the Orioles.
Eddie Murray
Eddie Murray was also handed the honor of having his jersey retired by the Orioles. The retirement of Murray’s number was officially announced in 1998, and no player has worn his number 33 since. Murray’s legacy with the Orioles remains prominent to this day, as he remains the fourth leading player in terms of games and hits. Unfortunately, he was never able to win an MVP award during his esteemed career, but he did finish in the top ten of voting on a number of occasions.
Murray played for the Orioles between 1977 and 1988, before moving on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Cleveland Indians, before returning to the Orioles in 1996. He was an All-Star on eight occasions during his career, and was most memorably part of the 1983 World Series-winning side. He posted a batting average of .287 throughout his career, and registered 3,255 hits and 504 home runs.
Other Orioles with their jerseys retired were manager Earl Weaver (4), third baseman Brooks Robinson (5), and pitcher Jim Palmer (22).
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