Since the Orioles became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, they have had many great moments. The very best one is likely up for debate among fans, but most fans can agree that there are no fewer than ten that are worth mentioning.
Take their first big win in 1954. In their very first game as the Baltimore Orioles, this team won in a 3-2 game against the Detroit Tigers. Many attribute the win to the Orioles pitcher Duane Pillette. Many wondered at the time if this were a sign of great things to come.
In 1958, the Orioles pitcher, Hoyt Wilhelm pulls off an amazing no hitter against the Yankees with a score of 1-0. This is the game where Wilhelm managed to strike out no less than eight players.
In 1966, the Orioles clinched the team’s first American League Pennant. The game was against the Kansas City A’s with a score of 6-1. The pitcher, Jim Palmer pitched the entire game and both Frank Robinson as well as Brooks Robinson hit two runs.
October of 1966 had the Orioles winning their first World Series with a four game winning streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dave McNally was the pitcher who managed to shut out the Dodgers at 1-0. This shut out was one of three consecutive shut outs by the team during this series. During the entire four games, the Orioles only surrendered two runs. Frank Robinson was the hitter of the only run in the winning game.
In 1969 during the very first American League Championship Series, the Orioles ran a three game sweep against the Minnesota Twins to win the team’s second Pennant for the American League. The third game saw a win with a score of 11-2, with Jim Palmer pitching a complete game. For the second time, the Orioles head to the World Series.
In the 1970 World Series, the Orioles win in five games. The deciding game, against the Cincinnati Reds, was won with a score of 9-3.
1971 has the Orioles winning their third American League Pennant in a row when they beat the Oakland A’s with a score of 5-3 to win the series. Once again, Jim Palmer is the winning pitcher and has pitched the entire game.
In 1979, the Orioles once again win the American League Pennant with a three win streak against the California Angels in the Championship series. The winning game is a win for the Orioles at 8-0. Scott McGregor is the pitcher for the whole game, after which the Orioles are able to move on to their first World Series since 1971.
In 1983, the Orioles win the third World Championship in the history of the franchise. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies four to one. In the winning game, it’s a five run shut out, pitched by Scott McGregor.
1995 saw Cal Ripkin playing in his 2,131st and breaking the previous record set by Lou Gerhig. The Orioles win this game, with a home run hit by Ripkin and a final score of 4-2. In his career, Ripkin will play in a total of 2,632 games for an all time record.