MLB: Earl Weaver and the Orioles

[Cyclone90]

If you're a fan of MLB and its history, there is a great article on Earl Weaver in the July 13-20 issue of SI. Just getting around to reading it. It's a where are they now issue.

Some facts that amazed me about him and his teams.

• Won the pennant one year making only 167 pitching changes in 159 games.
• Won the WS in 1970 using 12 pitchers the entire season
• Managed 12 full seasons during which he averaged 97 wins/season.
• Won at least 90 in 11 of them, 88 in the other

Won a lot of games, but outside of 1970 could not win another World Series. Thought SI was wrong and he won in 1983, but Joe Altobelli was the manager that year.

Pitchers are coddled weenies these days. Yet another outcome of big long term contracts.

 

[jsheajr]

Thanks for the heads-up. Growing up in Boston, I was (of course) a Red Sox fan but always respected and liked Earl Weaver and the Orioles. They were a premier franchise and he is one of the all-time great managers. Not only did he have a brilliant baseball mind but he was also extremely colorful and fun to watch. I'll have to check that article out.

 

[Cyballz]

I interned for the O's one summer and got to meet Earl. I had the duty of bringing him his Hall of Fame sport coat. He proceeds to try it on and he thinks the length isn't right, so he says he needs one that fits. So I go down to the clubhouse and ask my boss if we have another jacket and of course we don't. I have no idea what to do so I go back up to the suite that Earl is in and his daughter (not sure exactly who it was) asks me if that's the same jacket. I tell her yes, but she tells Earl that I brought a different one. He tries the same jacket on and lo and behold it fits for him the second time around.

 

[Cyclone90]

The article makes him out as not much of a people person. He was obsessed with winning baseball games and the players were just parts of the puzzle. Didn't relate to them personally much and apparently liked it that way.