Orioles and Baltimore's Victory Celebration

This 1969 team has become the darlings of the cyber world. What they couldn't celebrate in real life, they began celebrating on computers everywhere. As in real life this squad was the prohibitive favorite, but opposite of real life they actually won it all. For years, when interviewed, Frank Robinson said, "The Mets didn't win that World Series, we lost it...the better team did not win". From most accounts that would be viewed a sour grapes, but not taken in the context of when it was said and the team that it described.

In 1969 the Orioles won 109 games and viturally cruised to the first ever AL East crown. In the first ever ALCS they made easy work of a powerful Minnesota Twins team in 3 straight. In game 1 of that ill fated World Series Don Buford led off with a homer and the O's never looked back defeating Mets ace Tom Seaver. That's when overconfidence and a nasty slump took over. 4 games later the Miracle Mets were sipping the bubbly and planning for a parade in the canyon of heroes.

Was it over confidence ? Did they take the Mets too lightly ? Did Earl Weaver choke ? Did the God's of baseball smile on the Amazin's ? We'll never know. What we do know is that this team won 3 straight AL pennants and year in year out from the early 60's until the early 80's produced a contender.

From this team 3 Hall of Famer's came. Brooks Robinson did it all with his glove and timely hitting, Frank Robinson won a triple crown, an MVP in both leagues and provided veteran leadership. Jim Palmer ascended to become the dominant pitcher in the AL from the mid 60's well into the early 80's. In fact he is the only player to play on all 3 of their World Championship squads (1966, 1970, 1983).

During this project I gained a real appreciation for the team that Frank Cashen assembled. 4 Gold Glove fielders (Brooks, Belanger, Blair and Johnson) and a pitching staff that had 3 aces (Palmer, Cuellar and McNally). Overlooked was their bullpen, which had three guys with sub 2.00 ERA's (Watt, Hall & Richert).

Common thought is that the 1954 Indians were the best team to lose the World Series. After managing this team for almost 50 games and competing against that Cleveland squad I have to disagree. My honest feeling is that if the Mets didn't pull off the greatest sports miracle of all time, this Baltimore Orioles team would have to be considered the greatest team to have ever played. It was so easy managing them. You couldn't help but make the right moves. Sometimes they won despite my decisions.

I thank them all for allowing me the privilege to stroll down memory lane and to gain a greater appreciation for their history. I can't wait for KOD2 to start so we can create some for Distantreplay memories !!!

KOD WS Game 6: O's soar past Dodgers 11-5 to clinch series

Game 6: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, MD

The series headed back east to the stadium on 33rd street, a place that the Orioles have called home since 1953 when the fledgling St. Louis Browns franchise relocated to Baltimore to become the Orioles. The 1960's were a time of prosperity for the Oriole franchise, and the 1969 team just might have been the franchises strongest offering. Snake bit in real life the 1969 O's will forever be tagged with the label "chokers", because of the way they were swept by the 1969 Miracle Mets. While winning a sports sim championship can never erase those bad memories, it can give credence to the fact that this was a powerhouse team with few if no weaknessess.

The Orioles put their hopes on the shoulders of 23 year old fireballer Jim Palmer, who brought an 8-0 KOD record into the game. Los Angeles had their backs up against the proverbial wall, so they entrusted their fate to one of the franchises most clutch performers, Johnny Podres. For those of you not up on your baseball history, Podres at the tender age of 23 tossed a complete game shutout to close out the 1955 World Series and give Brooklyn it's only World Championship.

The battle lines have been set. We have a young fireballer just ready to enter his prime vs an old crafty veteran who has been there and done all that. An intersting sidebar to all this revolves around the added pressure on Palmer's shoulders. You see if Baltimore doesn't close the series out here in game six they will be forced into facing the imortal Koufax with one of their spot starters. In one of the greatest feats of clandestine operations the Orioles were able to hide from the media the fact that Dave McNally was nursing a sore elbow and could not be counted on to pitch much if he was to start game 7. Palmer knew this and so did his ballclub.

The old axiom when facing an underdog is to put them away early and not let them hang around and gain confidence. The Orioles didn't pay attention to this detail and after 2 innings there was still no score. After Palmer dispatched the Dodgers in the top of the third the Orioles shifted into gear and began the onslaught.

For the next 6 innings Baltimore would score at least 1 run. In the bottom of the 3rd they scored two to break the ice. Andy Etchebarren singled and was bunted over to second by Mark Belanger. Palmer, who is adept with the lumber, pushed him up one more base by grounding out to the right side. With 2 outs Don Buford can through with an RBI single and Davey Johnson followed that up by doubling him in to stake the O's to a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish.

The O's scored 1 in the fourth off of Podres when Boog Powell doubled and Brooks Robinson singled him home. the fifth saw the floodgates open as well as Podres departure. Baltimore chased the veteran lefty with 4 big runs. Podres gave up 7 runs in 4 innings worth of work. The big blow came off the bat of slugger Boog Powell who hit a towering grand slam into the right field bleachers.

The O's would tack on another run in the 6th to increase their lead to 8-0. At this point the outcome wasn't in question. The only question was what the final score would be and how cold could the champagne get. Palmer was cruising along until he gave up 3 runs to LA in the top of the 7th. LA might have been down, but they are a prideful organization that will keep on fighting until the final bell sounds. At this point Palmer looked either disinterested or tired. In either case he should have been removed from the game, but manager Weiss felt a sense of loyalty to his ace and wanted to see him close out the game and the series. Finally by the 9th inning Weiss went to the pen and brought in lefty Pete Richert, who by chance was also on the LA roster...go figure ? Richert, got Maury Wills to fly to right, struck out Willie Davis and ended the series by having Tommy Davis fly out to Don Buford.

Needless to say the crowd bum rushed the field and the players. Redemption is sweet, victory is sweeter. The Orioles answered their critics by posting an incredible 38-8 run in the KOD innaugrual season. The were the pre-season and post-season favorites and they didn't disappoint, even though their detractors said otherwise. Hats off to the '62-Dodgers who won and improbable pennant and tested the O's like no team had before.

Congratulations to the 1969 Baltimore Orioles - KOD World Champions !!!

KOD WS Game 5: Cuellar outduels Drysdale as O's take a 3 games to 2 lead

Game 5: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

With the series knotted at 2 both teams went back to their aces and expected to see a replay of the series opener. Neither starter would disappoint. In 1962 Don Drysdale emerged as Los Angeles ace posting 25 regular season wins. Mike Cuellar, who was aquired from the Astros the previous year (1968), found his grove in 1969 and posted 23 W's. Drysdale is a big intimidating left hander who would sooner put a ball in your ribs than put one over the plate. Cuellar is an unassuming control pitcher who owns the black and changes speeds faster than a Shelby Mustang on the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Orioles were scratching their heads looking for answers after being virtually shut down by journeyman Stan Williams in game 4. Could they reproduce their game 3 offensive explosion (17 runs) or would their bats again remain silent ? In the opening frame the O's jumped on Drysdale for two quick runs. After lead off man Don Buford lined out to second, Davey Johnson doubled to left and scored on the next at bat when Frank Robinson lined a homerun into the left field pavillion, which was quite reminicient of the shot he hit in the 1966 series vs these same Dodgers. Drysdale, like most power pitchers found his slot and got the final two outs in the first.

The key to beating a great one like Drysdale is to get to him early before he finds his grove. The O's got to him early, but would 2 runs be enough ? Cuellar was his normal controlling self. LA did manage to get a run off of him in the second as centerfielder Willie Davis crushed a solo shot to the opposite field.

The game remained 2-1 in favor of the O's until the top of the 4th when Frank Robinson led off with a clean single. Lumber first baseman Boog Powell doubled down the right field line to score Robinson all the way from first. Paul Blair stepped to the plate and hit a hot smash to second, which normally sure handed Junior Gilliam booted. With nobody out the O's had runners at the corners and were threatening to break it open. Mere mortals would crack under this type of pressure. Drysdale is no mortal. Summoning courage from within "Double D" was able to get the next 3 hitters to either pop out or ground out, thus ensuring that Baltimore would not get that much needed extra run. In that inning the O's lost their starting catcher Ellie Hendricks to an undisclosed leg injury. Andy Etchebarren was summoned to replace Elrod to start the 5th.

The bottom of the 5th saw the Dodgers inch closer as Darryl Spencer notched a 1 out single to left. Cuellar then threw a low curve that went past Etchebarren, who was charged with a passed ball. Spencer moved up to second and manger Weiss began second guessing himself for not putting Clay Dalrymple behing the plate instead of Etch. That passed ball would prove costly as Johnny Roseboro promptly delivered an RBI double to cut the Oriole lead to 1.

From this moment on, both aces dug their heels in and went on cruise control. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th and we see the Dodgers in desperate straits trying to get that ellusive run to tie the game up and force extra innings where they have been so successful in this series. Junior Gilliam attempted to lay down a bunt and catch the O's napping. Etchebarren pounced on the ball and nailed Junior by a stride for the first out. All world Tommy Davis promptly singled to left with one out. Jumbo Frank Howard came to the plate with the ability to win it with one might swing from his potent bat. Instead Frank put a dribbler in front of the plate, which backstop Andy Etchebarren promptly bungled and threw past Boog Powell at first. With runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out the O's decided to stick with Cuellar and let him win it. Willie Davis, who already homered, fought off one of Cuellar's best offerings and lined to Mark Belanger at short. Down to their last out LA's hopes rested on the shoulders of Ron Fairly, a great contact hitter. With the classic matchup of contact hitter vs control pitcher the control pitcher won out. Fairly lined a 2-2 pitch to his opposite number, Boog Powell, to end the game.

This classic 1 run matchup gave the fans everything that they wanted. The Orioles were ecstatic to take 2 of 3 in Hollywood and head home with the hopes of closing out the series in 6. LA planned to start left Johnny Podres, who is a clutch performer as evidenced by his game 7 shutout of the Yankees in the 1955 series. Baltimore pins its hopes on top dog Jim Palmer.

KOD WS Game 4: LA evens it up with 2-1 win in 10th

Game 4: 1969 Baltimore Orioles at 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers

The series had moved to Chavez Ravine for games three, four and five. After being embarrassed in front of their home town fans in game three, the Dodgers were to see what they were made of in game four. Would it be just a matter of time before the Orioles hoisted the championship trophy, or could this club somehow regroup after the game three pounding and make it a series?

Down two games to one, the Dodgers chose swingman Stan Williams to take the hill for game four. Manager Roberts considered youngster Pete Richert for the start, but decided to go with the veteran Williams. The result? All Williams did was pitch a 10 inning complete game two hitter, resulting in a 2-1 Dodger victory and squaring up the series at two games apiece. The only run Williams surrendered was in the fifth, and scored on a wild pitch.

Meanwhile Oriole lefty Dave McNally was being quite stingy himself, giving up only a sixth inning sac fly to Tommy Davis, which plated Maury Wills. Both pitchers looked strong. Williams was a bit wild, but was able to pitch out of any threats save for the wild pitch he uncorked that allowed a run. But he stayed strong throughout the game. In the top of the 10th, he struck out two of the three O’s batters, getting the other out on a harmless fly ball.

Dick Hall had been summoned to the Oriole hill in the eighth, and was still on the mound in the 10th when Johnny Roseboro led off with a single. Manager Roberts took a chance and decided to stick with Williams, allowing him to attempt to bunt Roseboro over to second. Williams did the job. Maury Wills then singled, but Roseboro was held at third. Hall was then replaced by a somewhat older Pete Richert, now holding down a spot in the Baltimore bullpen. Oriole Richert got Jim Gilliam to pop out to short, but team MVP Tommy Davis then rifled a ringing single to center to send Roseboro home with the winning run. -contributed by Mike Roberts-

KOD WS Game 3: O's bomb Koufax 17-10

Game 3: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles California

The series shifted coasts as game 3 moved to O'Malley's brand new playground in Chavez Ravine. With the series knotted at 1 game apiece the underdog Dodgers were feeling exceptionally confident. If not for a 9th inning comeback by Baltimore the Dodgers could, and probably should, have been up 2 games to none. On the hill for Los Angeles was emerging superstar Sandy Koufax. The Brooklyn born lefty came into his own in 1962 after years of promise and little dividends. The Orioles countered with the unhearalded Tom Phoebus. Pundits saw this game as LA's chance to take a 2-1 lead in the series as Koufax at times can be unhittable.

Unfortunately Koufax did not have it. The O's scored 10 runs off of him in the first 2 innings, which led to his removal from the hill. Phil Ortega came on in relief and fared no better, giving up 7 runs over 4 innings. Phoebus himself, was not spectacular as he yielded 6 runs over 6 innings. Mop up man Marcelino Lopez came in and yielded 4 more runs over the remaining 3, but the deficit was way too large for LA to overcome. No one could have predicted that the Orioles offens, which so far was held in check, would explode for 5 runs in each of the first 3 innings.

The hitting star for the O's was Brooks Robinson, who blasted 3 homers and accounted for 9 runs batted in. Usually known for his leather Brooksie, who was having a miserable offensive season to this point, finally broke out in a big way. Catcher Andy Etchebarren went 4 for 5 and Boog Powell and Frank Robby each hit the long ball. Wally Moon, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, went 3 for 3 and third sacker Andy Carey had three hits as well.

The Dodgers will pin their hopes on game 4 starter Stan Williams and the O's will hand the ball to lefty Dave McNally.

KOD WS Game 2: BAL 3, LA 2

Game 2: 1962 LA Dodgers @ 1969 Baltimore Orioles

The heavily favored Orioles came into game 2 knowing that they were in a MUST win situation. Teams that lose the first 2 games of a 7 game series do not have a great track record when it comes to righting the ship and winning it all. On top of that little tidbit this team starter hearing the rumblings from the media and fans alike regarding how they lost the 1969 Series to the underdog Mets and they were well on their way to doing the same vs the Dodgers.

Ace righty Jim Palmer took the mound and had the world on his shoulders. His opponent was the cool lefty Johnny Podres who incidentally was the 1955 World Series MVP as he led Brooklyn to their only World Championship.

Both hurlers were posting goose eggs on the board as neither team could score. The O's finally broke Podres' spell and got a single run in the bottom of the 6th. Palmer worked out a lead off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice from lead off hitter Merv Rettenmund. Davey Johnson then hit a sharp grounder to second that was booted by Larry Burright and the O's were in business. Frank Robinson singled Johnson over to 3rd and the makings of a big inning seemed to be in place. That's when the coolness of a Podres comes into play. The crafty lefty struck out Boog Powell and got Paul Blair to fly to left to limit the damage to a lone run.

Palmer was in cruise control as he gave up only 3 hits well into the 8th where he opened the inning by striking out Dodger pinch hitter Wally Moon. All looked right for the O's, even as pinch hitter Duke Snider singled up the middle. Maury Wills followed Snider's hit up by grounding into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning. Palmer looked good to go, when he made a mistake and hung a curve to fleet footed Willie Davis who promptly sent it out of Memorial Stadium. With 2 outs in the top of the 8th the Baltimore faithful became silent. Most fans will tell you that they weren't throwing in the towel, but this reporter will vouch for the fact that at least 20% of them began heading for the exits.

The bottom of the 8th saw the O's get a runner on, but the didn't pose any real threat. The Dodgers didn't do much in their half of the 9th. 3 more outs stood in the way of LA going home up 2-0 over the heavily favored O's with all the momentum in the world on their side.

Paul Blair, who has been clutch all season, lead off the 9th with a solid single to center off of Dodger fireman Ron Perranoski who came on for one out in the 8th. Perranoski promptly induced Brooks Robinson to hit into a force play, which came very close to being a double play. With 1 out and a man on first catcher Andy Etchebarren singled to move Brooksie into scoring position. Mark Belanger battled Perranoski and finally singled to right to score Robinson and move Etch over to 3rd. The game was now tied and life began to breathe back into the stadium on 33rd st. Curt Motton came up to pinch hit for reliever Dick Hall and barely missed a game winning hit as he lined to short. With 2 outs and 2 on switch hitter Don Bufford strolled to the plate. Bufford didn't crack the starting lineup, but did pinch hit for Rettenmund in the 7th. On a 2-1 pitch Perranoski's fastball caught a little bit too much of the plate and entirely too much of Bufford's bat as it wound up on the grass in centerfield as Etch scored the winning run.

Pandemonium broke lose. The series was tied. The O's have life ! We'll see you all for game 3 in Chavez Ravine !

KOD World Series Game 1: '62-LA 4, '69-BAL 3 (11 inn)

Game 1: 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers at 1969 Baltimore Orioles

The first KOD World Series opened in Baltimore at venerable Memorial Stadium. The powerhouse Orioles cruised through the American League regular season, and advanced to the Series by sweeping the 1954 Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. The Dodgers won the National League regular season despite a .500 record, then took the NLCS three games to one over their cousins from the 1988 Los Angeles club.

The weather was warm and humid for game one. Rains briefly halted play in the fifth inning, but that was the only delay in the game due to weather. Dodger ace Don Drysdale took the hill for the gray-clad Dodgers, opposed by crafty Mike Cuellar for the home nine.

Cuellar had a little trouble settling in, as Jim Gilliam coaxed a one out walk in the first, and Tommy Davis singled. Big Frank Howard then singled, plating Gilliam and sending Tommy Davis to second. Willie Davis also singled, loading the bases as Tommy Davis had to stop at third on the sharply hit ball. Ron Fairly then grounded a ball to the left of Brooks Robinson, who scooped and threw out Fairly with Davis scoring. Cuellar escaped further damage by inducing Daryl Spencer to also ground out to Brooksie.

The Orioles countered with a tally in the third on a run scoring double by Mark Belanger, which drove home Boog Powell who had singled earlier. The Dodgers got the run right back in the third on another Gilliam walk, a Tommy Davis ground out with the runner moving, and Willie Davis single an out later.

Baltimore tied it at 3 all in the fourth as Boog Powell hit a tremendous home run to right center field following a Frank Robinson walk.

The game remained 3-3 through nine innings, each team squandering some scoring opportunities. Dave Leonard was on the hill for Baltimore in the 10th, and set the Dodgers down one, two, three. Don Buford greeted Ron Perranoski with a lead off single in the Oriole 10th. Buford was then sacrificed to second, and Frank Robinson was intentionally passed to put runners at first and second with one out. Boog Powell came up with a chance to be a hero, but Perranoski induced him to ground out to Fairly, the runners advancing to second and third. Manager Roberts then signaled to the bullpen for righthander Larry Sherry to face Paul Blair with the game on the line. Blair flew out to Howard in right, ending the threat.

The Dodgers then took the lead in the top of the 11th when John Roseboro singled, and pinch-hitter Duke Snider reached back into his past for some magic, and tripled into the right field corner. The Dodgers squandered a potential insurance tally when they could not get Snider home, despite him perched at third with no outs. But Sherry retired the Orioles in order in the bottom of the 11th to bring home the win, 4-3.