1982 Baltimore Orioles season
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore Orioles
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East
with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses.
had 32 homers and 110 RBIs. Jim Palmer
, in his last hurrah, went 15–5. Cal Ripken, Jr.
started off slowly, gathered himself, and ended up as the AL Rookie of the Year, hitting .264 with 28 homers and 93 RBIs. After all the debate about where he should play, he started the year at third base, switched to shortstop in July, and never look back. After sitting out the second game of a doubleheader on May 29, he played in every game for the rest of the season. His consecutive-games streak was underway.
After starting slowly and falling eight games behind the Milwaukee Brewers
in mid-August of '82, the Orioles rallied furiously. They won seven games in a row, lost one, won ten in a row, swept five straight from the New York Yankees
, won two of three in Milwaukee to pull within two games of the Brewers with a week left. In the end, they needed to sweep a season-ending four-game series with the Brewers at Memorial Stadium to complete a comeback. They won the first three before roaring crowds, pulling even, and sent Palmer out to pitch the finale against the Brewers' Don Sutton. Fans brought brooms to the stadium, anticipating the final scene of one of the Orioles' greatest comebacks. Instead, the Brewers pounded Palmer and won the American League East title 10–2.
Weaver announced in March that the 1982 season would be his last managing the Orioles. he was retiring after that and moving to Florida
to play golf. An era was ending. The news had been in the headlines and the back of everyone's mind all season, yet it was almost forgotten as the Orioles chased the Brewers down the stretch. Now, suddenly, the moment was at hand. Weaver was pulling off his uniform for the last time. And the fans weren't going to let him go without a salute.
All-Star Game
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses.
Offseason
- January 28, 1982: Doug DeCincesDoug DeCincesDouglas Vernon "Doug" DeCinces is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the California Angels in 1982 to make room for Cal Ripken Jr. after having begun his career as the successor to Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson...
and Jeff SchneiderJeff SchneiderJeffrey Theodore "Jeff" Schneider is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Schneider played for the Baltimore Orioles in . He was on a rookie card with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken.-External links:*...
were traded by the Orioles to the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for Dan FordDan FordDarnell "Disco Dan" Glenn Ford , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1975-1985...
. - February 9, 1982: The Orioles traded a player to be named later to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Paul MoskauPaul MoskauPaul Richard Moskau is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs. He debuted on June 21, 1977 against the Philadelphia Phillies. After the 1981 season the Reds traded him to the Baltimore Orioles for Wayne Krenchicki...
. The Orioles completed the deal by sending Wayne KrenchickiWayne KrenchickiWayne Richard Krenchicki is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors from until . He is currently the manager of the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League...
to the Reds on February 16. - February 19, 1982: The Orioles traded a player to be named later to the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Rick LisiRick LisiRiccardo Patrick Emilio Lisi is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round of the 1974 amateur draft, and played for the Rangers in 1981...
. The Orioles completed the deal by sending Steve LuebberSteve LuebberStephen Lee Luebber is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Luebber pitched in all or part of five seasons in the majors between and . He currently serves as pitching coach for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, single-A farm team for the Kansas City Royals...
to the Rangers on February 23. - March 4, 1982: John FlinnJohn FlinnJohn Richard Flinn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Flinn pitched in all or part of four seasons between and . He had two separate stints with the Baltimore Orioles, the first in 1978-, and the second in 1982, in between which he pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers in .-Sources:...
was signed as a free agent by the Orioles. - March 26, 1982: Dallas WilliamsDallas WilliamsDallas McKinley Williams is a former professional baseball outfielder and coach. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds, and one season in Nippon Professional Baseball in 1988...
and Brooks Carey (minors) were traded by the Orioles to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Joe NolanJoe NolanJoseph D J Nolan. , spent eleven seasons in the Major Leagues as a catcher with the New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles...
.
Regular season
 Earl Weaver Earl Weaver Earl Sidney Weaver is a former Major League Baseball manager. He spent his entire 17-year managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles . Weaver was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.-Playing career:After playing for Beaumont High School in St... Manager Retired 1982 |
Opening Day starters
- Al BumbryAl BumbryAlonza Benjamin Bumbry is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres from 1972 through 1985.-Playing career:...
- Rich DauerRich DauerRichard Fremont Dauer , is a former professional baseball player who played with the Baltimore Orioles primarily as an infielder from 1976-85. He played in two World Series with the Orioles....
- Rick DempseyRick DempseyJohn Rikard Dempsey is an American former professional baseball player. He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the Baltimore Orioles...
- Dan FordDan FordDarnell "Disco Dan" Glenn Ford , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1975-1985...
- Dennis MartínezDennis MartínezJosé Dennis Martínez Emilia , nicknamed "El Presidente" , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
- Eddie MurrayEddie MurrayEddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
- Cal Ripken, Jr.Cal Ripken, Jr.Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
- Gary RoenickeGary RoenickeGary Steven Roenicke is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Montreal Expos , Baltimore Orioles , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves .-Early career:...
- Lenn SakataLenn SakataLenn Haruki Sakata is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a utility player from 1977–1987 and was a member of the Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Series Championship team. He was the second Asian American to play Major League Baseball. He is Yonsei...
- Ken SingletonKen SingletonKenneth Wayne Singleton is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports commentator. He played as an outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles.-Baseball career:Born in Manhattan, New York...
Notable transactions
- April 5, 1982: Don StanhouseDon StanhouseDonald Joseph Stanhouse is a retired baseball pitcher who had a ten-year major league career from 1972–1980, 1982...
was signed as a free agent by the Orioles. - April 5, 1982: Ross GrimsleyRoss GrimsleyRoss Albert Grimsley II is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Baltimore Orioles , Montreal Expos and Cleveland Indians...
was signed as a free agent by the Orioles. - April 28, 1982: Traded José Morales to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Leo HernandezLeo HernándezLeonardo Jesús Hernández , commonly known as Leo Hernandez , is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees ....
. - June 7, 1982: 1982 Major League Baseball Draft1982 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*Barry Bonds was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft, but did not sign...
- Dave OttoDave OttoDavid Alan Otto , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987-1994. Dave is a 1982 graduate of Elk Grove High School. At 6'7" he is the tallest pitcher to hurl for Elk Grove's Grenadiers...
was drafted by the Orioles in the 2nd round, but did not sign. - Walt WeissWalt WeissWalter William Weiss is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball.Weiss was a member of the National League All-Star Team...
was drafted by the Orioles in the 10th round, but did not sign. - Billy RipkenBilly RipkenWilliam Oliver Ripken is an American radio personality for XM Satellite Radio, a studio analyst for MLB Network's "MLB Tonight," and is a former infielder in Major League Baseball from –...
was drafted by the Orioles in the 11th round. Player signed June 15, 1982.
- Dave Otto
- July 15, 1982: Don Stanhouse was released by the Orioles.
- July 23, 1982: Don Stanhouse was signed as a free agent by the Orioles.
A classic near-miss season
The '82 season was a classic, even though it eventually was as frustrating as those that had preceded it. Eddie MurrayEddie Murray
Eddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
had 32 homers and 110 RBIs. Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer
James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
, in his last hurrah, went 15–5. Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
started off slowly, gathered himself, and ended up as the AL Rookie of the Year, hitting .264 with 28 homers and 93 RBIs. After all the debate about where he should play, he started the year at third base, switched to shortstop in July, and never look back. After sitting out the second game of a doubleheader on May 29, he played in every game for the rest of the season. His consecutive-games streak was underway.
After starting slowly and falling eight games behind the Milwaukee Brewers
1982 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers season resulted in the team winning its first and only American League Championship.- Offseason :*October 23, 1981: Rickey Keeton was traded by the Brewers to the Houston Astros for Pete Ladd....
in mid-August of '82, the Orioles rallied furiously. They won seven games in a row, lost one, won ten in a row, swept five straight from the New York Yankees
1982 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1982 season was the 80th season for the Yankees. The team finished in fifth place in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 79-83, finishing 16 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the first time the Yankees finished with a losing record since , the team's...
, won two of three in Milwaukee to pull within two games of the Brewers with a week left. In the end, they needed to sweep a season-ending four-game series with the Brewers at Memorial Stadium to complete a comeback. They won the first three before roaring crowds, pulling even, and sent Palmer out to pitch the finale against the Brewers' Don Sutton. Fans brought brooms to the stadium, anticipating the final scene of one of the Orioles' greatest comebacks. Instead, the Brewers pounded Palmer and won the American League East title 10–2.
Farewell to a legend
After the final out of the loss to the Brewers, an emotional spectacle unfolded at Memorial Stadium. The disappointed sellout crowd rose and started to cheer, and kept cheering for 45 minutes. The Orioles' players left the clubhouse and came back out onto the field to wave, and then Weaver did, too, setting off the biggest roar. The cheers were mostly for him.Weaver announced in March that the 1982 season would be his last managing the Orioles. he was retiring after that and moving to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to play golf. An era was ending. The news had been in the headlines and the back of everyone's mind all season, yet it was almost forgotten as the Orioles chased the Brewers down the stretch. Now, suddenly, the moment was at hand. Weaver was pulling off his uniform for the last time. And the fans weren't going to let him go without a salute.
Roster
| 1982 Baltimore Orioles roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 125 | 344 | 88 | .256 | 5 | 36 | |
| 1B | 151 | 550 | 174 | .316 | 32 | 110 | |
| 2B | 158 | 558 | 156 | .280 | 8 | 57 | |
| 3B | 50 | 145 | 29 | .200 | 1 | 5 | |
| SS | 160 | 598 | 158 | .264 | 28 | 93 | |
| LF | 122 | 322 | 103 | .320 | 24 | 66 | |
| CF | 150 | 562 | 147 | .262 | 5 | 40 | |
| RF | 123 | 421 | 99 | .235 | 10 | 43 | |
| DH | 156 | 561 | 141 | .251 | 14 | 77 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 137 | 393 | 106 | .270 | 21 | 74 | |
| 136 | 343 | 89 | .259 | 6 | 31 | |
| 77 | 219 | 51 | .233 | 6 | 35 | |
| 71 | 148 | 45 | .304 | 6 | 15 | |
| 65 | 93 | 22 | .237 | 3 | 17 | |
| 64 | 128 | 39 | .305 | 6 | 24 | |
| 41 | 77 | 13 | .169 | 0 | 5 | |
| 34 | 53 | 7 | .132 | 3 | 5 | |
| 26 | 35 | 11 | .314 | 1 | 2 | |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 252 | 16 | 12 | 4.21 | 111 | |
| 36 | 236 | 15 | 11 | 3.97 | 103 | |
| 36 | 227 | 15 | 5 | 3.13 | 103 | |
| 37 | 226.1 | 14 | 12 | 4.61 | 84 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 139 | 10 | 9 | 4.14 | 69 | |
| 29 | 100.2 | 8 | 4 | 3.49 | 67 |
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 3.41 | 78 | |
| 50 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 4.02 | 42 | |
| 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5.25 | 18 | |
| 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5.40 | 8 | |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.51 | 20 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.32 | 13 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.31 | 3 |
Awards and honors
- Cal Ripken, Jr., American League Rookie of the Year
- Ken Singleton, Roberto Clemente AwardRoberto Clemente AwardThe Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It is named for Hall of Fame...
All-Star Game
1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 53rd midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1982 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, home of the...
- Eddie Murray