Favorite Orioles Role Players

[tntoriole]

I'd say that Blefary made too much of a difference to be considered a mere role player. He was the starting left fielder several years running and I remember him being on a yearbook cover with Boog, Brooks, and Frank as one of the Orioles' slugging foursome. And later we even got Mike Cuellar for him!

He played mostly left field in 65 and 66 and then was in left, right, 1b and caught total of 60 games in 67 and 68. He was replaced by Don Buford in left in 1968 and was a super utility guy that year.

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[tntoriole]

Charlie Lau

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[LA2]

He played mostly left field in 65 and 66 and then was in left, right, 1b and caught total of 60 games in 67 and 68. He was replaced by Don Buford in left in 1968 and was a super utility guy that year.

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1965: 561 PA (I use PA's because he walked a lot.). All 136 games in the OF.

1966: 508 PA. OF: 109 G; 1B: 20 G.

1967: 645 PA. OF: 103 G; 1B: 52 G.

1968: 535 PA. OF: 92 G; C: 40 G; 1B: 12 G.

Maybe it's just semantics, but that seems a lot more to me than a "role player," i.e. one who is mainly deployed in highly specific situations (platoons, defensive replacement, pinchhitter, pinch runner, etc.) and plays significantly less than a "regular." Regardless of position, Blefary was in the starting lineup for his walks and homers, balancing out, with Boog, the right-handed hitting of Brooks, Frank, and Blair.

[BarclaySouthway]

Dave Criscione.

7 games in 1977. 9 ABs .333/.333/.667 slash line for a 1.000 OPS. On July 25, 1977 he hit a game winning, pinch-hit home run in the 11th inning to keep the O's in first place, which they had just taken from Boston the night before. I think I heard the Rocky theme song when he hit that homer.

Good times.

Oh, and he never played another games after those 7.

[duffaphonic]

The late great John Lowenstein.

[OFFNY]

The late great John Lowenstein.

???

Lowenstein isn't dead.

[tntoriole]

1965: 561 PA (I use PA's because he walked a lot.). All 136 games in the OF.

1966: 508 PA. OF: 109 G; 1B: 20 G.

1967: 645 PA. OF: 103 G; 1B: 52 G.

1968: 535 PA. OF: 92 G; C: 40 G; 1B: 12 G.

Maybe it's just semantics, but that seems a lot more to me than a "role player," i.e. one who is mainly deployed in highly specific situations (platoons, defensive replacement, pinchhitter, pinch runner, etc.) and plays significantly less than a "regular." Regardless of position, Blefary was in the starting lineup for his walks and homers, balancing out, with Boog, the right-handed hitting of Brooks, Frank, and Blair.

I agree. He was more of the super utility guy like Melvin Mora was in later years. He played a lot, but just a lot of different roles.

[BohKnowsBmore]

Does Jeff Fiorenrino, aka Screech, count?

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[LA2]

I agree. He was more of the super utility guy like Melvin Mora was in later years. He played a lot, but just a lot of different roles.

Cool. Made me realize that Zobrist had been our division's Melmo the last few years.

[duffaphonic]

Sorry...the great not late John Lowenstein.

[tom_o'malley]

Tim Hulett

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[DoubleStufOriole]

David Newhan is one of my all-time favorite Orioles. So, he was the first name that came to mind, but a few others have already mentioned him.

I was also a big fan of Tim Hulett, Jeff Reboulet and Chris Gomez, but again, they've been said.

So, I'll add a few of my favorite middle relievers to the mix; Todd Frohwirth, Todd Williams and Brian Burres.

[OFFNY]

o

Terry Crowley's 68th birthday.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crowlte01.shtml

[Norfolk orioles]

Jose Bautista........

Just kidding!

It's obviously Sammy Sosa.

Ok in all seriousness, Chris ray was always a favorite when he was an Orioles. And of course the indomitable Jorge Julio.

[ArtVanDelay]

Geronimo Gil :laughlol: Ahhhh, memories of the terrible Orioles baseball of my youth.