Doug DeCinces had giant shoes to fill as he was the Orioles Third Baseman after Brooks Robinson.  He played well, but he was never going to be the Hall of Famer, and altercations with his star Pitcher, Jim Palmer, led to a trade to California in 1982.

DeCinces’s career took an upward turn with the Angels, as he belted a career-high 30 Home Runs in '82 and had his only .300 season.  He was an All-Star the following season, and from 1984 to 1986, he smacked at least 20 across the fences.  

His play slipped in 1987, and he was released, but he left the Angels with 130 Home Runs and a .463 Slugging Percentage.

Stepping into the vacuum left by the retirement of Brooks Robinson was a task many deemed impossible, yet Doug DeCinces handled the transition with a blend of power and defensive poise that defined the Orioles' infield for nine seasons. While he spent years playing in the shadow of a legend, DeCinces emerged as one of the most productive third basemen in the American League during the late 1970s.

While traditional Gold Glove voters often overlooked him, modern advanced metrics reveal DeCinces was an elite defensive anchor.  His Total Zone and dWAR figures during his Baltimore tenure confirm he was a legitimate defensive presence, often rivaling his peers in range and sure-handedness. Offensively, he provided a significant power upgrade at the position, reeled off four seasons of 16 or more home runs in Baltimore, and served as a key run-producer for the 1979 American League Champions.

His most iconic moment came in June 1979, the famous "Night of the Magic”, when his walk-off home run against Detroit ignited the phrase "Oriole Magic." Although his only All-Star appearance came later with the Angels, his foundational years in Baltimore were essential to the club's success. He left the Orioles with 738 hits, 107 home runs, and a robust .428 slugging percentage.

He was Inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2005.