The 100 Most Significant Dates in Modern Orioles History

[Frobby]

2 minutes ago, Redskins Rick said:

Alston rode him hard, and Koufax put on his superman cape and carried the team on his back, too.

Yes, he did.   6-1 with a 1.50 ERA in Sept./Oct. that year, though he did pitch one game where he was no-decisioned and they lost.    

The year before was equally ridiculous, as Koufax pitched 73 innings and made 9 starts and a relief appearance in the final 30 games, going 5-2 with a save and a 1.51 ERA.

[Redskins Rick]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

Yes, he did.   6-1 with a 1.50 ERA in Sept./Oct. that year, though he did pitch one game where he was no-decisioned and they lost.    

The year before was equally ridiculous, as Koufax pitched 73 innings and made 9 starts and a relief appearance in the final 30 games, going 5-2 with a save and a 1.51 ERA.

And yet Reggie is known as Mr. October!

[Frobby]

I know I’ve said this a few times, but thanks again SteveA for all the work you did putting the list together and writing all the articles about each event.   I can’t even imagine the time and effort that went into it.    

[Redskins Rick]

4 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I know I’ve said this a few times, but thanks again SteveA for all the work you did putting the list together and writing all the articles about each event.   I can’t even imagine the time and effort that went into it.    

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMEN

It has been fun trip down memory lane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[murph]

Thanks much SteveA, this has been fantastic reading.   As others said, I can't imagine the effort, but it is much appreciated. 

Great, the thread is over, which means spring training starts and we can start enjoying our completely rebuilt rost.......oh wait.  

[Frobby]

So, I’m not going to nitpick the exact order of things, but looking at the top 26, here’s a few things I’d move around.   

3.   Sale of the Browns to the Baltimore ownership group.  To me, that has to be no. 1.    Without that, there are no World Series titles or any other significant dates in Orioles’ history.   

6.    Mets beat us in the WS.     I’m not going to put a WS loss above the two other wins.    

7.    Fans come out to show appreciation for the ‘88 team during the losing streak.    Nice moment, but sorry it doesn’t make my top 25.    

15.  O’s win ‘83 Series.    Way too low.   For me it’s in a dead heat with the 1970 Series wIn.   

23.   O’s clinch winning record.    For me, clinching a playoff spot and winning the wild card game were more significant in 2012.

I’m sure I’d tinker with the order some more, but those were the main things.    I sort of felt Cal was overrepresented in the top 25, with the day he broke the record, the day the streak ended, the day it began and the day he moved to SS all in the top 20.     But the streak looms large.  

[SteveA]

56 minutes ago, Frobby said:

So, I’m not going to nitpick the exact order of things, but looking at the top 26, here’s a few things I’d move around.   

3.   Sale of the Browns to the Baltimore ownership group.  To me, that has to be no. 1.    Without that, there are no World Series titles or any other significant dates in Orioles’ history.   

6.    Mets beat us in the WS.     I’m not going to put a WS loss above the two other wins.    

7.    Fans come out to show appreciation for the ‘88 team during the losing streak.    Nice moment, but sorry it doesn’t make my top 25.    

15.  O’s win ‘83 Series.    Way too low.   For me it’s in a dead heat with the 1970 Series wIn.   

23.   O’s clinch winning record.    For me, clinching a playoff spot and winning the wild card game were more significant in 2012.

I’m sure I’d tinker with the order some more, but those were the main things.    I sort of felt Cal was overrepresented in the top 25, with the day he broke the record, the day the streak ended, the day it began and the day he moved to SS all in the top 20.     But the streak looms large.  

The one thing I'll say about #7 is that was also the date that Camden Yards was announced and the longterm future of the team in Baltimore was secured.

But I've felt from the start that I was NOT going to get into discussions on order, because there is so much subjectivity in that.   I will stick to that and say no more about the order of  the top 100.   I do plan a writeup in the next day or two about what I omitted entirely from the list and why.   And I'll post the entire list when I get home from work tonight, both in 1-100 order and chronological order.

[Frobby]

19 minutes ago, SteveA said:

The one thing I'll say about #7 is that was also the date that Camden Yards was announced and the longterm future of the team in Baltimore was secured.

But I've felt from the start that I was NOT going to get into discussions on order, because there is so much subjectivity in that.   I will stick to that and say no more about the order of  the top 100.   I do plan a writeup in the next day or two about what I omitted entirely from the list and why.   And I'll post the entire list when I get home from work tonight, both in 1-100 order and chronological order.

I have to admit, I kind of glossed over the fact that OPACY was announced at that game.   That does make it considerably more significant.    I agree there’s no point in debating the order of the list, but I’m still interested to read others’ perspectives on how they would’ve ranked the various events.    That’s part of the fun.   Thanks again for putting the list together.    

[OFFNY]

2 hours ago, Frobby said:

 

I remember that Jim Lonborg went on 2 days’ rest in Game 7 of the 1967 Series, and Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich each went on 2 days’ rest in Games 6 and 7 of the 1968 Series. Both Lonborg and Lolich faced Gibson, who was going on regular 3 days’ rest each time. Pitching on 2 days’ rest isn’t something you want to make a habit of.

Koufax pitched 66 innings between September 3rd and October 2nd preceding his World Series start, pitching five complete games in his final six starts (and 8 innings in the other). Alston rode him very hard.    

 

o

 

Alston rode him hard, but it was Koufax' doings (and decision) that made him wind up having to pitch Game 7 of the 1965 World Series on only 2 days' rest. Alston had planned to pitch Koufax in Games 1, 4, and (if necessary) 7, but ........

 

Sandy Koufax was not particularly religious.

However, because of the fact that he knew how important the Jewish faith was to others, and that the Jews at-large had been persecuted throughout the recent centuries, he made a decision not to pitch Game One of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur ...... which put the Dodgers in a pretty severe bind in terms of their starting rotation for the remainder of the series.

 

Greatness is in the eyes of the beholder, and I believe that what Koufax did in choosing not to pitch Game One of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kipper was a great thing (again, especially when considering the fact that he was not particularly devout in terms of religion in the first place.)

 

 

Sandy Koufax's Refusal to Pitch on Yom Kippur still Resonates

(By Jim Caple)

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13710996/los-angeles-dodgers-legend-sandy-koufax-decision-not-pitch-game-1-1965-world-series-yom-kippur-resonates-today

 

o

[Moose Milligan]

Yeah, this was a really massive undertaking, thank you @SteveA!  Definitely made the countdown to spring training and better weather more tolerable, for sure.

 

[SteveA]

Here's the entire list:

Ranking    Historic Date    Posting Date    Description
100    07/09/1958    11/05/2017    All Star Game at Memorial Stadium
99    12/12/1993    11/06/2017    Rafael Palmeiro signing – 1st major free agent signing under Angelos
98    04/19/1960    11/07/2017    Ernie Tyler's first game
97    07/08/1985    11/08/2017    No longer allowed to bring beer to Memorial Stadium
96    04/05/1974    11/09/2017    Rex Barney's first game as PA announcer
95    05/09/1961    11/10/2017    Jim Gentile 2 grand slams in one game
94    11/23/1998    11/11/2017    Albert Belle signing
93    09/30/1989    11/12/2017    Eliminated from Why Not season
92    10/22/1960    11/13/2017    Brooks Robinson wins his first Gold Glove
91    05/08/1966    11/14/2017    Frank Robinson hits ball out of Memorial Stadium
90    10/05/2012    11/15/2017    First postseason game in 15 years – AL Wild Card Game vs Texas
89    08/14/1997    11/16/2017    Power Failure at Oriole Park – does it preserve the streak?
88    04/11/1955    11/17/2017    Paul Richards takes over as manager
87    12/07/2000    11/18/2017    Mike Mussina signs with Yankees
86    08/28/1957    11/19/2017    First of the Kiddie Corps to start for the O's (Jerry Walker)
85    04/02/1976    11/20/2017    Orioles trade for Reggie Jackson
84    09/27/1996    11/21/2017    Roberto Alomar spitting incident
83    04/21/1949    11/22/2017    Chuck Thompson begins broadcasting Baltimore baseball
82    06/05/1989    11/23/2017    O's select Ben McDonald with #1 overall pick in MLB Draft
81    05/17/1996    11/24/2017    Chris Hoiles 2-out 2-strike grand slam in bottom of 9th to win by 1 run
80    12/01/1954    11/25/2017    O's complete 17 player trade with Yankees, including Gus Triandos
79    08/24/2011    11/26/2017    Death of Mike Flanagan
78    07/13/1993    11/27/2017    All Star Game at Camden Yards
77    09/03/1960    11/28/2017    Orioles clinch first winning record
76    01/10/1991    11/29/2017    Glenn Davis Trade
75    11/11/1970    11/30/2017    Boog Powell wins MVP
74    08/06/1986    12/01/2017    O's hit 2 grand slams and lose to Rangers, season collapse ensues
73    11/03/1996    12/02/2017    Jon Miller fired
72    11/19/1964    12/03/2017    Brooks wins MVP
71    04/10/1977    12/04/2017    Eddie Murray debut and 1977 youth movement
70    07/31/1996    12/05/2017    No midseason selloff allowed in 1996
69    09/16/2014    12/06/2017    Orioles clinch AL East title in 2014
68    09/18/1973    12/07/2017    Orioles go steal happy in 1973
67    04/29/1988    12/08/2017    0-21 streak ends
66    09/29/2012    12/09/2017    Statue dedication
65    09/06/1996    12/10/2017    Eddie Murray hits 500th home run
64    06/14/1985    12/11/2017    Earl Weaver return
63    10/02/1966    12/12/2017    Frank Robinson clinches Triple Crown
62    04/22/1993    12/13/2017    Camden Yards sellout streak ends
61    10/04/2016    12/14/2017    Toronto wins 2016 wildcard game on walkoff vs Ubaldo while Britton sits
60    12/02/1971    12/15/2017    Frank Robinson traded away
59    09/21/2006    12/16/2017    Free The Birds Protest
58    09/28/1971    12/17/2017    O's win 100th game 3rd straight season
57    12/28/2003    12/18/2017    2004 Free Agent signing spree begins
56    10/03/2014    12/19/2017    Delmon Young hit electrifies Camden Yards in playoffs vs Detroit
55    05/17/1984    12/20/2017    Jim Palmer retirement
54    01/17/1995    12/21/2017    Peter Angelos refuses to use replacement players
53    03/28/1984    12/22/2017    Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis
52    03/28/1999    12/23/2017    Orioles play game in Cuba
51    04/29/2015    12/24/2017    Orioles play game in empty stadium
50    11/19/1991    12/25/2017    Cal Ripken wins 1991 MVP
49    01/16/2016    12/26/2017    Chris Davis signs big longterm contract
48    04/03/1989    12/27/2017    Opening Day 1989 – start of Why Not season
47    08/02/1979    12/28/2017    Edward Bennett Williams buys Orioles
46    06/15/1976    12/29/2017    Big 1976 trade with Yankees
45    07/28/2000    12/30/2017    Syd Thrift sells off veterans for youth
44    11/08/2011    12/31/2017    Reins passed from Andy McPhail to Dan Duquette
43    08/13/1969    01/01/2018    Jim Palmer no hitter
42    12/07/1984    01/02/2018    Free agent signing spree in 1985
41    12/04/1988    01/03/2018    Eddie Murray traded away
40    08/01/2005    01/04/2018    Rafael Palmeiro suspension dooms 2005 season
39    08/09/2012    01/05/2018    Manny Machado debut
38    06/27/1967    01/06/2018    Frank Robinson injury leads to losing season
37    08/07/2014    01/07/2018    MASN lawsuit filed
36    09/28/2011    01/08/2018    Orioles eliminate Red Sox on last day of 2011 season
35    10/06/2001    01/09/2018    Cal Ripken retires
34    09/17/1955    01/10/2018    Brooks Robinson debut
33    10/17/1971    01/11/2018    Orioles lose 1971 World Series
32    09/29/2004    01/12/2018    Expos move to Washington announced
31    09/14/1997    01/13/2018    Cal every inning of every game streak ends
30    09/26/1971    01/14/2018    Orioles have 4 20 game winners
29    10/17/1979    01/15/2018    Orioles lose 1979 World Series
28    08/22/2007    01/16/2018    30-3 loss to Rangers
27    09/30/2012    01/17/2018    O's clinch playoffs in 2012
26    10/03/1982    01/18/2018    Last game of 1982 season...Orioles eliminated, Earl retires
25    11/05/1997    01/19/2018    Davey Johnson and Orioles part ways
24    09/22/1966    01/20/2018    Orioles clinch pennant in 1966
23    09/16/2012    01/21/2018    Orioles clinch winning record in 2012
22    10/09/1996    01/22/2018    Jeffrey Maier costs Orioles game in 1996 ALCS
21    10/15/1997    01/23/2018    Orioles lose 1997 ALCS on Tony Fernandez HR
20    07/01/1982    01/24/2018    Earl Weaver moves Cal Ripken to shortstop
19    02/08/2008    01/25/2018    Erik Bedard trade
18    06/22/1979    01/26/2018    Oriole Magic 1979
17    08/03/2010    01/27/2018    Buck Showalter takes over as manager
16    05/30/1982    01/28/2018    Cal Ripken starts consecutive game streak
15    10/16/1983    01/29/2018    Orioles win 1983 World Series
14    09/20/1998    01/30/2018    Cal Ripken ends consecutive game streak
13    10/06/1991    01/31/2018    Last game at Memorial Stadium
12    09/18/1977    02/01/2018    Thanks Brooks Day 1977
11    11/04/1993    02/02/2018    Peter Angelos buys Orioles
10    07/11/1967    02/03/2018    Earl Weaver takes over as Oriole manager
9    04/15/1954    02/04/2018    First Orioles Opening Day  
8    10/15/1970    02/05/2018    Orioles win 1970 World Series
7    05/02/1988    02/06/2018    Fantastic Fan Night – Oriole Park announced
6    10/16/1969    02/07/2018    Orioles lose 1969 World Series
5    12/09/1965    02/08/2018    Orioles trade for Frank Robinson
4    04/08/1992    02/09/2018    First Opening Day at Camden Yards
3    09/28/1953    02/10/2018    St Louis Browns franchise move to Baltimore announced
2    09/06/1995    02/11/2018    Cal Ripken breaks Lou Gehrig's record
1    10/09/1966    02/12/2018    Orioles win 1966 World Series

 

[SteveA]

Here it is from top down:

Ranking    Historic Date    Posting Date    Description
1    10/09/1966    02/12/2018    Orioles win 1966 World Series
2    09/06/1995    02/11/2018    Cal Ripken breaks Lou Gehrig's record
3    09/28/1953    02/10/2018    St Louis Browns franchise move to Baltimore announced
4    04/08/1992    02/09/2018    First Opening Day at Camden Yards
5    12/09/1965    02/08/2018    Orioles trade for Frank Robinson
6    10/16/1969    02/07/2018    Orioles lose 1969 World Series
7    05/02/1988    02/06/2018    Fantastic Fan Night – Oriole Park announced
8    10/15/1970    02/05/2018    Orioles win 1970 World Series
9    04/15/1954    02/04/2018    First Orioles Opening Day  
10    07/11/1967    02/03/2018    Earl Weaver takes over as Oriole manager
11    11/04/1993    02/02/2018    Peter Angelos buys Orioles
12    09/18/1977    02/01/2018    Thanks Brooks Day 1977
13    10/06/1991    01/31/2018    Last game at Memorial Stadium
14    09/20/1998    01/30/2018    Cal Ripken ends consecutive game streak
15    10/16/1983    01/29/2018    Orioles win 1983 World Series
16    05/30/1982    01/28/2018    Cal Ripken starts consecutive game streak
17    08/03/2010    01/27/2018    Buck Showalter takes over as manager
18    06/22/1979    01/26/2018    Oriole Magic 1979
19    02/08/2008    01/25/2018    Erik Bedard trade
20    07/01/1982    01/24/2018    Earl Weaver moves Cal Ripken to shortstop
21    10/15/1997    01/23/2018    Orioles lose 1997 ALCS on Tony Fernandez HR
22    10/09/1996    01/22/2018    Jeffrey Maier costs Orioles game in 1996 ALCS
23    09/16/2012    01/21/2018    Orioles clinch winning record in 2012
24    09/22/1966    01/20/2018    Orioles clinch pennant in 1966
25    11/05/1997    01/19/2018    Davey Johnson and Orioles part ways
26    10/03/1982    01/18/2018    Last game of 1982 season...Orioles eliminated, Earl retires
27    09/30/2012    01/17/2018    O's clinch playoffs in 2012
28    08/22/2007    01/16/2018    30-3 loss to Rangers
29    10/17/1979    01/15/2018    Orioles lose 1979 World Series
30    09/26/1971    01/14/2018    Orioles have 4 20 game winners
31    09/14/1997    01/13/2018    Cal every inning of every game streak ends
32    09/29/2004    01/12/2018    Expos move to Washington announced
33    10/17/1971    01/11/2018    Orioles lose 1971 World Series
34    09/17/1955    01/10/2018    Brooks Robinson debut
35    10/06/2001    01/09/2018    Cal Ripken retires
36    09/28/2011    01/08/2018    Orioles eliminate Red Sox on last day of 2011 season
37    08/07/2014    01/07/2018    MASN lawsuit filed
38    06/27/1967    01/06/2018    Frank Robinson injury leads to losing season
39    08/09/2012    01/05/2018    Manny Machado debut
40    08/01/2005    01/04/2018    Rafael Palmeiro suspension dooms 2005 season
41    12/04/1988    01/03/2018    Eddie Murray traded away
42    12/07/1984    01/02/2018    Free agent signing spree in 1985
43    08/13/1969    01/01/2018    Jim Palmer no hitter
44    11/08/2011    12/31/2017    Reins passed from Andy McPhail to Dan Duquette
45    07/28/2000    12/30/2017    Syd Thrift sells off veterans for youth
46    06/15/1976    12/29/2017    Big 1976 trade with Yankees
47    08/02/1979    12/28/2017    Edward Bennett Williams buys Orioles
48    04/03/1989    12/27/2017    Opening Day 1989 – start of Why Not season
49    01/16/2016    12/26/2017    Chris Davis signs big longterm contract
50    11/19/1991    12/25/2017    Cal Ripken wins 1991 MVP
51    04/29/2015    12/24/2017    Orioles play game in empty stadium
52    03/28/1999    12/23/2017    Orioles play game in Cuba
53    03/28/1984    12/22/2017    Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis
54    01/17/1995    12/21/2017    Peter Angelos refuses to use replacement players
55    05/17/1984    12/20/2017    Jim Palmer retirement
56    10/03/2014    12/19/2017    Delmon Young hit electrifies Camden Yards in playoffs vs Detroit
57    12/28/2003    12/18/2017    2004 Free Agent signing spree begins
58    09/28/1971    12/17/2017    O's win 100th game 3rd straight season
59    09/21/2006    12/16/2017    Free The Birds Protest
60    12/02/1971    12/15/2017    Frank Robinson traded away
61    10/04/2016    12/14/2017    Toronto wins 2016 wildcard game on walkoff vs Ubaldo while Britton sits
62    04/22/1993    12/13/2017    Camden Yards sellout streak ends
63    10/02/1966    12/12/2017    Frank Robinson clinches Triple Crown
64    06/14/1985    12/11/2017    Earl Weaver return
65    09/06/1996    12/10/2017    Eddie Murray hits 500th home run
66    09/29/2012    12/09/2017    Statue dedication
67    04/29/1988    12/08/2017    0-21 streak ends
68    09/18/1973    12/07/2017    Orioles go steal happy in 1973
69    09/16/2014    12/06/2017    Orioles clinch AL East title in 2014
70    07/31/1996    12/05/2017    No midseason selloff allowed in 1996
71    04/10/1977    12/04/2017    Eddie Murray debut and 1977 youth movement
72    11/19/1964    12/03/2017    Brooks wins MVP
73    11/03/1996    12/02/2017    Jon Miller fired
74    08/06/1986    12/01/2017    O's hit 2 grand slams and lose to Rangers, season collapse ensues
75    11/11/1970    11/30/2017    Boog Powell wins MVP
76    01/10/1991    11/29/2017    Glenn Davis Trade
77    09/03/1960    11/28/2017    Orioles clinch first winning record
78    07/13/1993    11/27/2017    All Star Game at Camden Yards
79    08/24/2011    11/26/2017    Death of Mike Flanagan
80    12/01/1954    11/25/2017    O's complete 17 player trade with Yankees, including Gus Triandos
81    05/17/1996    11/24/2017    Chris Hoiles 2-out 2-strike grand slam in bottom of 9th to win by 1 run
82    06/05/1989    11/23/2017    O's select Ben McDonald with #1 overall pick in MLB Draft
83    04/21/1949    11/22/2017    Chuck Thompson begins broadcasting Baltimore baseball
84    09/27/1996    11/21/2017    Roberto Alomar spitting incident
85    04/02/1976    11/20/2017    Orioles trade for Reggie Jackson
86    08/28/1957    11/19/2017    First of the Kiddie Corps to start for the O's (Jerry Walker)
87    12/07/2000    11/18/2017    Mike Mussina signs with Yankees
88    04/11/1955    11/17/2017    Paul Richards takes over as manager
89    08/14/1997    11/16/2017    Power Failure at Oriole Park – does it preserve the streak?
90    10/05/2012    11/15/2017    First postseason game in 15 years – AL Wild Card Game vs Texas
91    05/08/1966    11/14/2017    Frank Robinson hits ball out of Memorial Stadium
92    10/22/1960    11/13/2017    Brooks Robinson wins his first Gold Glove
93    09/30/1989    11/12/2017    Eliminated from Why Not season
94    11/23/1998    11/11/2017    Albert Belle signing
95    05/09/1961    11/10/2017    Jim Gentile 2 grand slams in one game
96    04/05/1974    11/09/2017    Rex Barney's first game as PA announcer
97    07/08/1985    11/08/2017    No longer allowed to bring beer to Memorial Stadium
98    04/19/1960    11/07/2017    Ernie Tyler's first game
99    12/12/1993    11/06/2017    Rafael Palmeiro signing – first major free agent signing under Angelos
100    07/09/1958    11/05/2017    All Star Game at Memorial Stadium

[SteveA]

And here it is in chronological order:

Ranking    Historic Date    Posting Date    Description
83    04/21/1949    11/22/2017    Chuck Thompson begins broadcasting Baltimore baseball
3    09/28/1953    02/10/2018    St Louis Browns franchise move to Baltimore announced
9    04/15/1954    02/04/2018    First Orioles Opening Day  
80    12/01/1954    11/25/2017    O's complete 17 player trade with Yankees, including Gus Triandos
88    04/11/1955    11/17/2017    Paul Richards takes over as manager
34    09/17/1955    01/10/2018    Brooks Robinson debut
86    08/28/1957    11/19/2017    First of the Kiddie Corps to start for the O's (Jerry Walker)
100    07/09/1958    11/05/2017    All Star Game at Memorial Stadium
98    04/19/1960    11/07/2017    Ernie Tyler's first game
77    09/03/1960    11/28/2017    Orioles clinch first winning record
92    10/22/1960    11/13/2017    Brooks Robinson wins his first Gold Glove
95    05/09/1961    11/10/2017    Jim Gentile 2 grand slams in one game
72    11/19/1964    12/03/2017    Brooks wins MVP
5    12/09/1965    02/08/2018    Orioles trade for Frank Robinson
91    05/08/1966    11/14/2017    Frank Robinson hits ball out of Memorial Stadium
24    09/22/1966    01/20/2018    Orioles clinch pennant in 1966
63    10/02/1966    12/12/2017    Frank Robinson clinches Triple Crown
1    10/09/1966    02/12/2018    Orioles win 1966 World Series
38    06/27/1967    01/06/2018    Frank Robinson injury leads to losing season
10    07/11/1967    02/03/2018    Earl Weaver takes over as Oriole manager
43    08/13/1969    01/01/2018    Jim Palmer no hitter
6    10/16/1969    02/07/2018    Orioles lose 1969 World Series
8    10/15/1970    02/05/2018    Orioles win 1970 World Series
75    11/11/1970    11/30/2017    Boog Powell wins MVP
30    09/26/1971    01/14/2018    Orioles have 4 20 game winners
58    09/28/1971    12/17/2017    O's win 100th game 3rd straight season
33    10/17/1971    01/11/2018    Orioles lose 1971 World Series
60    12/02/1971    12/15/2017    Frank Robinson traded away
68    09/18/1973    12/07/2017    Orioles go steal happy in 1973
96    04/05/1974    11/09/2017    Rex Barney's first game as PA announcer
85    04/02/1976    11/20/2017    Orioles trade for Reggie Jackson
46    06/15/1976    12/29/2017    Big 1976 trade with Yankees
71    04/10/1977    12/04/2017    Eddie Murray debut and 1977 youth movement
12    09/18/1977    02/01/2018    Thanks Brooks Day 1977
18    06/22/1979    01/26/2018    Oriole Magic 1979
47    08/02/1979    12/28/2017    Edward Bennett Williams buys Orioles
29    10/17/1979    01/15/2018    Orioles lose 1979 World Series
16    05/30/1982    01/28/2018    Cal Ripken starts consecutive game streak
20    07/01/1982    01/24/2018    Earl Weaver moves Cal Ripken to shortstop
26    10/03/1982    01/18/2018    Last game of 1982 season...Orioles eliminated, Earl retires
15    10/16/1983    01/29/2018    Orioles win 1983 World Series
53    03/28/1984    12/22/2017    Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis
55    05/17/1984    12/20/2017    Jim Palmer retirement
42    12/07/1984    01/02/2018    Free agent signing spree in 1985
64    06/14/1985    12/11/2017    Earl Weaver return
97    07/08/1985    11/08/2017    No longer allowed to bring beer to Memorial Stadium
74    08/06/1986    12/01/2017    O's hit 2 grand slams and lose to Rangers, season collapse ensues
67    04/29/1988    12/08/2017    0-21 streak ends
7    05/02/1988    02/06/2018    Fantastic Fan Night – Oriole Park announced
41    12/04/1988    01/03/2018    Eddie Murray traded away
48    04/03/1989    12/27/2017    Opening Day 1989 – start of Why Not season
82    06/05/1989    11/23/2017    O's select Ben McDonald with #1 overall pick in MLB Draft
93    09/30/1989    11/12/2017    Eliminated from Why Not season
76    01/10/1991    11/29/2017    Glenn Davis Trade
13    10/06/1991    01/31/2018    Last game at Memorial Stadium
50    11/19/1991    12/25/2017    Cal Ripken wins 1991 MVP
4    04/08/1992    02/09/2018    First Opening Day at Camden Yards
62    04/22/1993    12/13/2017    Camden Yards sellout streak ends
78    07/13/1993    11/27/2017    All Star Game at Camden Yards
11    11/04/1993    02/02/2018    Peter Angelos buys Orioles
99    12/12/1993    11/06/2017    Rafael Palmeiro signing – first major free agent signing under Angelos
54    01/17/1995    12/21/2017    Peter Angelos refuses to use replacement players
2    09/06/1995    02/11/2018    Cal Ripken breaks Lou Gehrig's record
81    05/17/1996    11/24/2017    Chris Hoiles 2-out 2-strike grand slam in bottom of 9th to win by 1 run
70    07/31/1996    12/05/2017    No midseason selloff allowed in 1996
65    09/06/1996    12/10/2017    Eddie Murray hits 500th home run
84    09/27/1996    11/21/2017    Roberto Alomar spitting incident
22    10/09/1996    01/22/2018    Jeffrey Maier costs Orioles game in 1996 ALCS
73    11/03/1996    12/02/2017    Jon Miller fired
89    08/14/1997    11/16/2017    Power Failure at Oriole Park – does it preserve the streak?
31    09/14/1997    01/13/2018    Cal every inning of every game streak ends
21    10/15/1997    01/23/2018    Orioles lose 1997 ALCS on Tony Fernandez HR
25    11/05/1997    01/19/2018    Davey Johnson and Orioles part ways
14    09/20/1998    01/30/2018    Cal Ripken ends consecutive game streak
94    11/23/1998    11/11/2017    Albert Belle signing
52    03/28/1999    12/23/2017    Orioles play game in Cuba
45    07/28/2000    12/30/2017    Syd Thrift sells off veterans for youth
87    12/07/2000    11/18/2017    Mike Mussina signs with Yankees
35    10/06/2001    01/09/2018    Cal Ripken retires
57    12/28/2003    12/18/2017    2004 Free Agent signing spree begins
32    09/29/2004    01/12/2018    Expos move to Washington announced
40    08/01/2005    01/04/2018    Rafael Palmeiro suspension dooms 2005 season
59    09/21/2006    12/16/2017    Free The Birds Protest
28    08/22/2007    01/16/2018    30-3 loss to Rangers
19    02/08/2008    01/25/2018    Erik Bedard trade
17    08/03/2010    01/27/2018    Buck Showalter takes over as manager
79    08/24/2011    11/26/2017    Death of Mike Flanagan
36    09/28/2011    01/08/2018    Orioles eliminate Red Sox on last day of 2011 season
44    11/08/2011    12/31/2017    Reins passed from Andy McPhail to Dan Duquette
39    08/09/2012    01/05/2018    Manny Machado debut
23    09/16/2012    01/21/2018    Orioles clinch winning record in 2012
66    09/29/2012    12/09/2017    Statue dedication
27    09/30/2012    01/17/2018    O's clinch playoffs in 2012
90    10/05/2012    11/15/2017    First postseason game in 15 years – AL Wild Card Game vs Texas
37    08/07/2014    01/07/2018    MASN lawsuit filed
69    09/16/2014    12/06/2017    Orioles clinch AL East title in 2014
56    10/03/2014    12/19/2017    Delmon Young hit electrifies Camden Yards in playoffs vs Detroit
51    04/29/2015    12/24/2017    Orioles play game in empty stadium
49    01/16/2016    12/26/2017    Chris Davis signs big longterm contract
61    10/04/2016    12/14/2017    Toronto wins 2016 wildcard game on walkoff vs Ubaldo while Britton sits

[SteveA]

OMISSIONS

As I have said, I won't spend much time discussing the order of the list because there is so much subjectivity involved.   But I will talk about what was left out of the list for one reason or another

1) Couldn't find the date:   there were three dates that absolutely would have made the top 100 if my research (which basically was just a combination of Google and John Eisenberg's great oral history "From 33rd Street to Camden Yards") had been able to nail down an exact date.

   -- Brooks Robinson moved from 2nd base to 3rd base by manager George Stallings in his first minor league summer in York PA.   I know it happened roughly 50 days in after he signed out of high school, but could never nail down a date .  In lieu of this date, I included Brooks' major league debut date instead.

   -- Frank Robinson's first session of the famed "Kangaroo Court"

   -- The first time Wild Bill Hagy spelled out O-R-I-O-L-E-S in front of section 34 and the stadium

2) Types of dates that I chose not to include:

   -- I made a conscious decision to not include debut games for Oriole players who turned out to be great   I did not include debut games for Palmer, Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken.  Brooks' was only included because I couldn't find the date I wanted (see above);   Eddie's was included only as part of Opening Day 1977 heralding a youth movement with a large number of young players debuting or starting for the first time in 1976-1977 as the team transitioned from the great teams of the late 60s/early 70s to the team that stayed together for the most part from 1977-1983    I did include Manny's debut because it held a lot of importance in the 2012 season and the second half turnaround.   Note that I DID include manager and GM debut days, as changes of leadership are obviously critical; the debut of a rookie who later turns out to be great does not hold the same significance, IMO.

   -- Awards:  for the most part, I decided not to include awards such as MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, etc.   I made some exceptions:   I included Boog's MVP because it was the only date I could find to specifically honor that all time Oriole great   I included Cal's 2nd MVP because it was historic, no MVP has ever come from a team as bad as the 1991 Orioles.   And I included Brooks MVP as an extra way to honor one of the greatest Orioles of all time (and it was the first Oriole MVP).   I also included Brooks' first Gold Glove   But otherwise, I didn't include awards.

   -- Individual regular season games were included if they symbolized something (the 30-3 loss symbolizing the 14 year losing stretch), represented a turning point IMO, or if they clinched something really significant (example:  clinching a winning season after 14 years of losing; clinched first winning record; clinched first pennant, etc).    I included Jim Gentile's 2-grand slam game because it seemed the best way to have a day to honor the Orioles' first superstar and he merited that honor.   The only date that I included solely because of what happened in the game was Chris Hoiles walkoff grand slam, which was historic in that it was the first time ever a 2-out, full count walkoff grand slam was hit when trailing by 3.   But it was pretty low on the list.   This meant that some very memorable games did not make the cut.   Three that I considered very strongly were the Mother's Day Massacre, Chris Davis pitching in the 18th inning in Boston, and the Tippy/Sakata 3 pickoff game.   I agonized over those, believe me.

3) Other dates that just missed the cut:  These were tough omissions, and I can certainly see someone arguing for their inclusion.   In one case, I simply didn't think about it in early November when I was putting the list together and by the time I thought of it I felt I was already too high up on the list to bump something off and put it in its place.   The others were considered but I just didn't put them on, and can easily be second guessed:

   -- Steve Bechler's death

   -- Rochester Red Wings cancel their longstanding affiliation with the Orioles, citing dissatisfaction with the major league club

   -- Orioles finally find a permanent spring training facility in Sarasota after years of wandering Florida and having substandard facilities

   -- Jerry Hoffberger elevated to primary owner of the team (he was one of the partners from the beginning but became the primary owner sometime in the early 60s)

   -- Mike Boddicker traded for Brady Andreson and Curt Schilling

   -- the heralded debut of Matt Witers

4) People who missed the cut completely:    There were significant contributors to the Orioles who did not have a date devoted to them and, in some cases, never even got mentioned:

   -- George Bamberger

   -- Mark Belanger

   -- Nick Markakis

   -- Dennis Martinez

   -- Ray Miller

   -- Ralph Salvon

   -- Steve Stone

   -- Matt Wieters

   -- Pat Santerone

   -- Luis Aparicio

   -- Ken Singleton

   -- Johnnie Oates

   -- Cal RIpken Sr

   -- Lee May

   -- Billy Hunter

   -- Bobby Boyd

   -- Joe Durham

   -- Bobby Grich

   -- Don Baylor

   -- Brady Anderson

   -- Elrod Hendricks

   -- Joe Angel

   -- Bill O'Donnell

   -- Ernie Harwell

   -- Roenicke/Lowenstein

   -- Paul Blair

   -- Hank Bauer

   -- Joe Altobelli

   -- almost every great closer in Oriole history from Drabowsky to Watt to Stanhouse to Stoddard to Olson to Benitez to Ray to Sherrill to Britton

Other guys were really only mentioned as part of famous trades that brought them to the team (Triandos, Dempsey, Mora, Adam Jones, Chris TIllman)

    -- I'm sure there are plenty of others that could be added to the list

  

[Moose Milligan]

Damn, really good stuff @SteveA