Name your favorite non-playoff O's team.

[Boy Howdy]

That's right. No 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1983, 1996 or 1997.

What other Orioles team would you like to go back in time to watch play?

My answer would have to be the 1960 Baby Birds. Five of the six pitchers that started the most games were 22 or younger. Just from his stats and reading about him, I'd really like to see a healthy Chuck Estrada on the mound. You also have a rookie-of-the-year at shortstop (Ron Hansen), and Brooks Robinson's first really outstanding year.

Of all the losing teams we've had over the years, I still have fond memories (don't ask why) of the 1988 team that started 0-21. I really liked Jeff Stone for one thing. Jose Bautista pitched OK with no support, and it was the last year (until 1996 anyway) that Cal & Eddie were teammates.

[Jimbo81]

Are you kidding 89 all the way no ?'s asked.

Give me Greg "12to6" olsen any day:D

[SacreBleu]

1989 right up until that last series in Toronto....

[The Rick]

I've only been watching since 1995 (was born in 1985). I would have to say my favorite non-playoff year was 2005. Boy was that fun, until Raffy gets busted and Sosa unravels, blah blah blah. It was mighty fun while it lasted. I remember going to a day game on a Wednesday or Thursday while we were still in it against the Twins and beating Johann Santana. I loved watching my O's for the most part that year.

[Aurelius]

Most definitely 1977. We had lost all-star 2B Bobby Grich and HOF Reggie Jackson from the 1976 team, yet were still in playoff contention all year. Eddie Murray's rookie year, LEEEEEE MAYYYYYY and the birth of the roar from Section 34. Great memories and the beginning of great things to come.

[cindyluvsbrady]

89:) I got spolied after becomming an O fan in 1988:D
89 was awesome!!

[SacreBleu]

Are you kidding 89 all the way no ?'s asked.

Give me Greg "12to6" olsen any day:D

Good call Jimbo, I didn't see your post before I posted mine.....That series still hurts almost 20 years later.....Jeff Ballard pitched a whale of a game in the opener only to lose it in extra innings. Olsen pitched a couple of innings before giving way to another reliever (Kevin Hickey?) who gave up a run in the 11th......A heartbreaker!

[utvolzac]

I can't think of one from the past, because the majority of my life we're been terrible and not alot to cheer for. But I'll be optomistic in thinking that the Bedard/Roberts and whoever else gets move in the true rebuilding process. I can say, even sight unseen from what we get in the trades, seeing a young team with upside will be by far one of my favorite O's teams, simply because their hope for the future and it's a refreshing new direction.

[SacreBleu]

89:) I got spolied after becomming an O fan in 1988:D
89 was awesome!!

Thanks for the 1988 reminder, Cindy.....We need a progression like we had from 1988-89. Is that doable in today's environment or are those types of re-birth's history...?

[wesamos]

1989 right up until that last series in Toronto....

Yeah 89 all the way. I was 8 years old. I used to listen to WBAL and the games before I fell asleep every night. Times before I had a t.v. in my room. I even nick-named my sister who was born in 1989 after my favorite player "Moose".

I remember driving down to the stadium on the last weekend against the blue jays trying to get tickets. Although the price was to steep for my pops. I miss my Dad allot. I remember being so upset that we drove all the way down to Memorial stadium only to turn around and watch on t.v.

Thinking back the only thing I regret is not being able to go see a game with my dad ever again.:002_scry: Hopefully one day I will have my own son and I can take him to O's games just like my dad took me....

[ChaosLex]

One of the teams from the mid-90's. Maybe 1994?

[Gurgi]

The 89 team and the 82 team. They both had similar fates. The 82 team was just great. Weaver's last season really added to the drama.

[bandy75]

89 was awesome, especially after the 88 season. "Why Not?"

"the Otter" was definitely one of my favorites. Orioles make "Big Ben" their #1 draft pick. Fun stuff, good times!

[mikezpen]

Agree w/you Boom Boom. God, how do you know about that? You must have gotten a good history book.I saw Chuck Estrada shut out a team that yr. He had a great fastball and a wicked curve ball. I think he fanned about 12 that night (complete game of course!), but I don't remember the team.What a thrill. I mean, I'd watched them for 2 years and they were mediocre, although you could see that the young talent was coming.Then all of a sudden they burst forth.

The highlight was the Labor Day weekend in Balto when we swept the Yankees to go into first by a couple of games.But then came that horrible 4-game sweep in NY 2 weeks later, and they went on to run the table the final 13 games of the season.

Pirates got our revenge for us though. Bill Mazeroski still has a revered place in my heart!

[rolliefingers]

Easy. 1989. If only to see if Jeff Ballard was secretly using a nail file, and to see perhaps the best defensive outfield the O's have ever had (Finley, Devo, Brady and Orsulak).

[SteveA]

Most definitely 1977. We had lost all-star 2B Bobby Grich and HOF Reggie Jackson from the 1976 team, yet were still in playoff contention all year. Eddie Murray's rookie year, LEEEEEE MAYYYYYY and the birth of the roar from Section 34. Great memories and the beginning of great things to come.

I was about to say 1989 was a slam dunk obvious choice until I read this. 1977 was a great year....we were in it until the last weekend of the season, despite all the pundits saying that the era of free agency and our recent losses of Grich, Baylor, Reggie, and Garland would doom us to the second division. We broke in a bunch of young players (in addition to Eddie: Rich Dauer, Dennis Martinez, Mike Flanagan, Scott McGregor, Rick Dempsey, Tippy Msrtinez all either made their Oriole debuts that year or had their first year as a significant contributor). That nucleus stayed almost completely intact through 1983, a 7 year span during which we finished more than 2.5 games out of first place only once. EXACTLY the kind of thing we are trying to put together now for 2009 and beyond.

But I still have to vote 1989 as my #1. I got out of college in 1988 and my first major purchase was a 13 game plan, Section 5, Terrace Box. Well, 13 turned out to be not nearly enough, as I went to 45 games that year probably 15 to 20 more than I ever did before or have since. And like 1977, a team full of young players making their debuts or seeing their first full season of action, stayed in it until the final weekend of the season. The only disappointment is that young nucleus did not stay together for a 7 year run of greatness. Jeff Ballard wasn't Scott McGregor; Bob Milacki wasn't Dennis Martinez; Randy Milligan wasn't Eddie Murray; Craig Worthington wasn't Doug DeCinces; and so on. But we didn't know that in 1989, and the wild ride of that season combined with the # of games I went to has to make 1989 my favorite year.

[Pre-Highlanders]

89 was wonderful, but 82 was even better. We were a really good team, and had it been the wild card era, we'd have easily been in the playoffs, but instead, it came down to the last game of the season vs. Miluakee with both teams tied atop the AL east. Palmer was on the mound, and it was Earl Weaver's last season, and everyone knew it. Memorial Stadium was packed, I was in the nosebleed seats 20,000 feet above home plate (I was seven).

Palmer got shelled. We lost. Season over. Dream crushed. But then, uot of those ashes, the crowd got up and gave a standing ovation that went on and on, everyone thanking the Orioles and Earl for all of this. People were weeping as they cheered. And Earl came back out and gave a speech. The most electric atmosphere I've ever been a part of at any gathering of strangers, much less any sporting event. I literally can not imagine a better season that wasn't a Championship.

[freelancer]

Without a doubt, the 1982 Orioles were one of the best teams they've ever had. I think they were better than the 1983 team frankly.

[clarence]

My favorite like many others would be the one from 89. After the 88 season, it was so unlikely that it gave it some additional magic. The 82 season fielded a much better team, but not one that we didn't expect to do what it did. We were only three years removed from the World Series and expectations were still very high. When you look at the roster of that team compared with the one in Toronto it is amazing that we were in it until the end. I hope some of the players we have coming up and acquire in trades have the same type of attitude as many from the 89 team.

[Why Not?]

My handle probably gives my choice away.

It was a rebirth for me and the O's. I was always a fan, but that year made me want to watch every game once again. I would guess I've watched or listened to at least 80% of the Orioles' games since that season.

[sakata_catching]

The 82 team, without a doubt. The 80 team was no slouch either.

[ChipTait]

Another vote for '89.

If we ditch a few more guys (EB, JP, JG, AH),, and add a few dynamite young players to compliment Roberts (in the role of Cal), and the young pitching walks out there believing in themselves... Nah, ain't gonna happen :)

[Lucky Jim]

Without a doubt, the 1982 Orioles were one of the best teams they've ever had. I think they were better than the 1983 team frankly.

The 1982 season was when I fell in love with the O's. At precisely the moment John Shelby's throw arrived at home plate, I became a lifelong O's fan.

[beaner]

Easy. 1989. If only to see if Jeff Ballard was secretly using a nail file, and to see perhaps the best defensive outfield the O's have ever had (Finley, Devo, Brady and Orsulak).

Don't forget the great Stan Jefferson.

No doubt it's '89 for me too. It was the summer after I graduated High School. In fact, we stopped on the boardwalk during Senior Week to call a score phone line the night we won 16-5 or whatever in Yankee Stadium. Finley hit a Grand Slam. That whole season was like "Major League" around town. Good Times!

[CamdenChick]

1995 I miss that year.

[blueberryale77]

Another vote for '89.

If we ditch a few more guys (EB, JP, JG, AH),, and add a few dynamite young players to compliment Roberts (in the role of Cal), and the young pitching walks out there believing in themselves... Nah, ain't gonna happen :)

'89 was possible because the Sox and Yanks weren't very good at the time. Sadly, we'll have to wait until BRob is grayer and balder than Ripken before that happens again. :(

I vote for '89 too though. In '82 I was way too young to be aware and in '60 my parents hadn't met yet. '95 didn't do too much for me. That was right around the beginning of my teen/college "sports are the opiate of the masses" phase though.