Pitching, Defense, and Three-Run Homers

The 1970 Baltimore Orioles

Edited by Mark Armour and Malcolm Allen

Memorable Teams in Baseball History Series

288 pages
43 photographs, 32 tables

Paperback

May 2012

978-0-8032-3993-7

$26.95 Add to Cart

eBook (PDF)

(Requires Adobe Digital Editions)

May 2012

978-0-8032-4027-8

$26.95 Add to Cart

about author bio praise table of contents media awards

About the Book

For the Baltimore Orioles, the glory days stretched to decades. Through the 1960s and 1970s, the team arguably had the best players, the best manager, the best Minor League teams, the best scouts and front office—and, unarguably, the best record in the American League. But the best of all, and one of baseball’s greatest teams ever, was the Orioles team of 1970. Pitching, Defense, and Three-Run Homers documents that paradoxically unforgettable yet often overlooked World Champion team.

Led by the bats of Frank Robinson and Boog Powell and a trio of 20-win pitchers, the Orioles won 108 regular season games and dropped just 1 postseason game on their way to winning the World Series against the Reds. The club featured three future Hall of Fame players (Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, and Jim Palmer), a Hall of Fame manager (Earl Weaver), and several other star players in the prime of their careers. Featuring biographical articles on Weaver, his coaches, the broadcasters, and the players of the 1970 season, this book tells what happened in and out of the game. It details highlights and timelines, the memorable games, spectacular plays, and the team’s working philosophy, “the Oriole Way”—and in sum recreates the magic of one of the greatest seasons in baseball history.

Author Bio

Mark Armour, the director of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Baseball Biography Project, is the author of three books on baseball, most recently Joe Cronin (Nebraska, 2010).

Baltimore native Malcolm Allen has served as associate editor of La Prensa del Beisbol Latino, the quarterly newsletter of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Latino baseball committee.

Praise

“I’ll never forget the men whose efforts earned the 1970 Orioles consideration as one of the best ball clubs of all time and after reading Pitching, Defense, and Three-Run Homers, you won’t either.”—Brooks Robinson, Hall of Fame third baseman

“After the embarrassment of the year before and the shock of losing to the Miracle Mets, the 1970 Orioles couldn’t wait to avenge that defeat and show the baseball world what the fans of Baltimore already knew. Brooks Robinson and his cast of All-Stars were knocking on dynasty’s door. The Oriole Way was alive and well on 33rd Street.”—Ted Patterson, Orioles history expert

"If you are a fan of baseball, this is a great book to pick up. If you are an Orioles fan, especially one that can remember the 1970 team, it's essential."—cardinal70.com

Introduction

1. The Oriole Way
Warren Corbett
2. Earl Weaver
Warren Corbett
3. George Bamberger
Tom Hawthorn
4. Jim Frey
Adam Ulrey
5. Billy Hunter
Michael Huber
6. George Staller
Malcolm Allen
7. Looking Ahead to the Season
Mark Armour
8. Don Buford
Mark Armour
9. Dave Leonhard
Thomas Ayers
10. Curt Motton
Malcolm Allen
11. Jim Palmer
Mark Armour
12. Dave May
Charlie Weatherby
13. April 1970 Timeline
Malcolm Allen
14. Tom Phoebus
John Stahl
15. Dave Johnson
Mark Armour
16. Jim Hardin
Malcolm Allen
17. Elrod Hendricks
Rory Costello
18. Chico Salmon
Russell Wolinsky
19. May 1970 Timeline
Malcolm Allen
20. Boog Powell
Joe Wancho
21. Clay Dalrymple
Rory Costello
22. Mike Cuellar
Adam Ulrey
23. Eddie Watt
Malcolm Allen
24. Merv Rettenmund
Jacob Pomrenke
25. June 1970 Timeline
Malcolm Allen
26. Frank Robinson
Maxwell Kates
27. Don Baylor
Alfonso L. Tusa C. and Malcolm Allen
28. Marcelino Lopez
Malcolm Allen
29. Mark Belanger
Frank Vaccaro
30. Dick Hall
Chip Greene
31. July 1970 Timeline
Malcolm Allen
32. Pete Richert
Adam Ulrey
33. Paul Blair
Michael Huber
34. Terry Crowley
Malcolm Allen
35. Bobby Grich
John McMurray
36. Moe Drabowsky
R. J. Lesch
37. August 1970 Timeline
Malcolm Allen
38. Andy Etchebarren
Ben Klein
39. Bobby Floyd
Chip Greene
40. Roger Freed
Joe Wancho
41. Dave McNally
Mark Armour
42. Johnny Oates
Jacob Pomrenke
43. September 1970 Timeline
Malcolm Allen
44. Fred Beene
Todd Newville and Mark Armour
45. Chuck Thompson
Matt Bohn
46. Bill O'Donnell
Matt Bohn
47. John Gordon
Stew Thornley
48. Brooks Robinson
Maxwell Kates
49. The 1970 Orioles Postseason
Mark Armour

Epilogue
Notes and References
List of Contributors

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C'RONA Pandemic Comics

With Stories by Bob Hall, Judy Diamond, Liz VanWormer, and Judi M. gaiashkibos
Art by Bob Hall, Henry Payer, and Bob Camp
Production Design by Aaron Sutherlen
With Peter C. Angeletti, Julia McQuillan, Patricia Wonch Hill, Meghan Leadabrand, Amy Spiegel, Wendy Smith, and James Van Etten
Web Design by Joel Brehm