The newsletter spends several months examining the greatness of the past. It focuses on 50 baseball clubs in history (collectively the best 50), which is determined by my new book The best team in baseball. We reached No. 13 on the Baltimore Orioles’ all-time roster in 1970.
Here is a quick boilerplate note attached to each story I have in this series:
I compiled the best 50 by analyzing 2,544 major league teams from 1903 to 2024. (The historical percentile for a given club is the percentage of its other 2,543 teams.)
Please refer to my book to explain my TS calculations. The book also offers a separate breakdown of the best and worst clubs every decade, along with a comprehensive overview of the best 50 (including a position-by-position lineup and more information than you will find in this newsletter), and a similar summary of the 10 worst teams of all time.
Now enter today’s profile.
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Team: 1970 Baltimore Orioles
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Team Score: 89.271 points
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Ranking History: 13 of 2,544
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Historical percentile: 99.53%
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Seasonal record: 108-54 (.667)
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Season position: No. 1 in the US Eastern League
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Final identity: World Champion
The Orioles were a group of self-confidence in 1969. They celebrated the celebration after Minnesota beat Minnesota in the American League Championship Series, seemingly not concerned about the upcoming World Series against the Mets. Baltimore Superstar Frank Robinson He shouted jokingly: “Bring Come on the pole,” citing the name of a lightweight New York outfielder. The clubhouse burst into laughter.
Of course, the Mets sent Baltimore with amazing ease. So Robinson and his Orioles were angry in 1970, determined to eliminate their embarrassment. They took first place at Al East on April 26, but they never gave up on the lead.
Pitching remains a team’s logo. Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally And tied for the league with 24 wins Jim Palmer Joined the 20-win club. Baltimore’s 3.15 is the lowest era for any team in any league to release.
The Orioles won 108 games. Until the New York Yankees won 114 games in 1998, no one would have exceeded that total.
Get a complete low in 50 greatest (and 10 weakest) clubs of all time
As in 1969, the Orioles swept the twins in the 1970 American League Championship Series. The result was even more shocking. Comprehensive score: Baltimore 27, Minnesota 10.
The first two games of the World Series were close, even though the Orioles both had the upper hand. They lost to the Mets in the last series, but in Game 1 and 2 of 1970, they beat the Reds 4-3 and 6-5. In the third game, a 9-3 victory won the championship.
Baltimore’s third baseman became a national sensation in this series, hitting .429 and doing well in the field. “Brooks Robinson Beat us,” said the Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson.
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In 1970, 11 major league pitchers won 20 or more wins. Three people work for the Orioles: Mike Currellal, Dave McNally and Jim Palmer. The other eight are scattered in eight different clubs. Cuellar won the CY Young Award in 1969, but voters moved the rankings in 1970. Jim Perry Minnesota. Cuellar ranked fourth and Palmer ranked fifth.
The Orioles also made a strong offense, scoring 4.89 per game. “Let’s face it,” Palmer said. “With this team, if I go out 35 times, I will win 20.”
The outstanding members of the batting order in 1970 were the same as in 1969. First baseman Boog Powell Having won 35 home runs and 114 runs in the club, the impressive number is considered worthy of winning the AL’s Most Valuable Player Award. Detroit said: “Without him, I think the Orioles are just another team Denny McLain. “But with Powell behind him, you have to strike.”
Robinson continued to hit the strikes. The .306 hit average for the right outfielder is the best of everyday players in Baltimore. The other major producers of 1970 were third baseman Brooks Robinson, with 94 RBIs, left-handed fielder Don Buford 99 run score, midfielder Paul Blair There are 24 stolen bases.
Blair’s achievements – including his second straight-line gold glove – are particularly noteworthy as he was punctured on the May field, damaging his left light bone. Blair shocked his teammates after rushing back to the roster within three weeks and was slightly better after the injury (.269).
