The Orioles would nearly equal the previous season's exploits, winning 108 games
to easily take 1st place for the 2nd year in a row behind the feisty little Orioles
Manager, Hall of Famer Earl Weaver. At the plate, Boog Powell (35 HR, 114
RBI, .297) and Frank Robinson (25 HR, .306) were the team's hitting stars but 1970
was far more about the pitching than the hitting. The Orioles showcased three
20-game winners with Mike Cueller (24-8, 3.48), Dave McNally (24-9, 3.22) and
Hall of Famer Jim Palmer (20-10, 2.71) leading the charge. Lead they would as
they destroyed Johnny Bench, Pete Rose and Tony Perez' Cincinnati Reds in the
World Series, 4 games to 1 to take home their 2nd World Series Championship in
5 years. Paul Blair hit .474 and Brooks Robinson hit 2 HR and batted .429 in the
fall classic. The pitching continued to progress until 1971 when the Baltimore
Orioles became the first team to feature four 20-game winners on the same
team… Mike Cuellar (20-9, 3.08), Pat Dobson (20-8, 2.90) Jim Palmer (20-9, 2.68)
and Dave McNally (21-5, 2.89). Frank Robinson was the star hitter on the team
posting 28 HR and 99 RBI while batting .281 at age 35. The Orioles would take
on the Pirates in the World Series after winning 101 games and taking 1st place
yet again. With the game deadlocked at 6 games apiece, Roberto Clemente would
hit a HR in the 4th to take a 1-0 lead which they would never relinquish… as
the Pirates won 2-1 denying the Orioles their 3rd trophy. Jim Palmer continued
to keep the Orioles competitive… posting a 21-10, 2.07 in 1972 as the Orioles
finished 3rd, but by 1973, the Orioles were back in 1st behind Hall of Famer Jim
Palmer's Cy Young Award winning 22-9, 2.40 season. |