Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

While it would seem to many that the Baltimore Orioles were a charter American League team, that was far from the case.

An inaugural team of the American League in 1901, the organization was initially known as the Milwaukee Brewers (no, not those Brewers). The association in Wisconsin lasted for only one season, as they relocated to St. Louis, and would be renamed as the Browns.

This change of scenery would last for over 50 years, but the Browns were not a powerhouse in the AL. They would only win the Pennant once in 1944, but they would not be able to win it all.

The competition with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League would finally be their undoing, and they would move to Baltimore in 1954. The first few seasons were the same as they had been in St. Louis, but they methodically built a defensive gem of a team. The turning point would be a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, that netted them, Frank Robinson. Baltimore would win their first World Series in 1966, and secured their second title in 1970.

Baltimore would win their third World Series Championship in 1983.

This list is up to the end of the 2023 regular season.

Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.

39. Carl Weilman

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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A member of the St. Louis Browns for his entire career, Carl Weilman was unique for his time as a 6’ 5” Pitcher. Nowadays, hurlers his size are commonplace but in the 1910s he was a curiosity. He was also a good Pitcher.

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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Harry Howell was traded from the New York Highlanders to the St. Louis Browns for the 1904 Season, and while he lost more games than he won, the Browns were not that good. Howell was a starter for five seasons, and he had three years where he had an ERA under 2.00, and in all of those years, his WHIP was under 1.100. In four of those years, he was in the top ten in ERA, despite his losing record.

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In keeping with the excellent defensive players that the Baltimore Orioles had in the 1960s and 1970s, Davey Johnson was a three-time Gold Glove winner (1969-71) and would also be named to three All-Stars (1968-70).

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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Rod Carew called Mike Boddicker’s pitch assortment, "Little League Slop." The right-hander didn't have much of a fastball, had a strange change-up, but he could throw what he had from different angles. That skill allowed him to progress well past “Little League.”

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Chris Hoiles would play his entire 10-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, and defensively he was highly regarded not just for his acumen with a glove but his skill in handling a staff.

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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Traded from the New York Yankees during the 1976 season, Rick Dempsey would find a lot more playing time in the city of Baltimore.

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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Faced with the dreadful task of being the player who had to replace Brooks Robinson at Third Base, Doug DeCinces had some Gold Glove worthy years with Baltimore. The advanced metrics show that he was worthy of consideration, but traditionally he wasn’t there.

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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As you would deduce by his nickname, Walter Cleveland "Lefty," Stewart was a left-handed Pitcher, and he played most of his career with the St. Louis Browns.

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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Matt Wieters was highly touted from Georgia Tech, and the Orioles would select the former ACC Rookie of the Year in 2007 with the fifth overall draft pick.

Top 50 Baltimore Orioles

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Hoyt Wilhelm was only with the Baltimore Orioles for four and half seasons, but he was an All-Star in three of them, and it was his stint there that would later propel him into Cooperstown.