Not every team can have dominating runs. So in the American League, you have the Yankees, obviously, and the Athletics had a run of three straight titles that many people reference. If you turn a blind eye to cheating, the Astros technically had a period where they were regularly winning pennants. Way back in the early days of baseball, the Red Sox and Babe Ruth dominated. But one team that tends to get overlooked historically is the Baltimore Orioles. In 1966, they won their first World Series and then they rattled off 3 straight pennants from 1969-1971, including the 1970 title run we'll be covering today.
The '69 Orioles were expected to easily beat the Mets in the World Series, but were shocked when the Miracle Mets pulled off the major upset. Going into 1970, the Orioles were looking to refocus. Earl Weaver's troops still felt the window was open to get title #2, but the previous season had introduced divisions and a round of playoffs prior to the World Series that the Orioles would have to navigate. Just being the best in the regular season would not be enough anymore.
First order of business was to make it to that playoff. The Yankees won 93 games, but that was nowhere close enough to keep up with the 108 wins the Orioles had, easily heading back to the ALCS where once again the Minnesota Twins were waiting. Just like the year before, the Twins offered no resistance to the Orioles as they swept them away in 3 games and made it back to the fall classic.
Back in the World Series, this time the Orioles would oppose the Cincinnati Reds. While the Reds were destined for much success later in the decade, the Orioles jumped all over them, taking a quick 3-0 lead before a Complete Game effort by Mike Cuellar in Game 5 wrapped up the championship for the Orioles.
Baltimore would try to defend that title the following season but fall to the Pirates, then their run of dominance would be abruptly replaced by the Athletics in 1972. It wouldn't be until 1983 when the Orioles would return to the World Series.
Boog led the Orioles with 35 Home Runs and 114 RBI as took home the AL MVP award. In the World Series, he homered in Games 1 and 2 to help set the tone for the Orioles' championship drive.
Defensive god Brooks Robinson was only perfect in 1970, and his offensive chart isn't quite elite, but he saved his best work for when it counted most. In the World Series, he batted .429, hit 2 Home Runs and drove in 6 runners to win the World Series MVP award.
The other Hall of Fame Robinson on this team. The MVP of Baltimore's first championship (both regular season and WS MVP) in 1966, he had 2 more Home Runs to help them win it again here in 1970.
The rest of the starters. Solid all around, especially at defense. It wasn't just Brooks who was bringing home Gold Gloves. In addition to B. Robinson, Davey Johnson and Paul Blair also were recognized. Blair, not only had that better-than-perfect +4 in Centerfield, but he was also their top speed man with his team best 24 Stolen Bases.
Off the bench for the Orioles were these gentlemen. No one who would unseat any of the regulars in the field, but some make for some fun lil options in a lopsided game.
Any rotation of this era needs to be headlined by Oriole great Jim Palmer. Still in the early years of his dominance, he tied for the league lead with 305 IP, and also paced the team with 199 Strikeouts and 5 Shutouts.
Orioles pitching in 1970 featured a rarity, with not 1, but 3 pitchers winning 20+ games. Along with Palmer (20), McNally and Cuellar would win 24, and be in a 3-way tie with Minnesota's Jim Perry for the most in baseball. Needless to say, all 3 Orioles aces received votes for the Cy Young award. Perhaps it was because of the logjam that they created for each other, but none of them finished in first for voting, with McNally, Cuellar and Palmer finishing 2nd, 4th and 5th respectively. (Cuellar had won it in '69, while Palmer would go on to win it 3 times in the coming decade. McNally's 2nd place finish in 1970 would be the closest he'd ever get.)
Saves were really becoming a thing by now, but while some teams were relying on one man to nail down the 9th inning for them, the Orioles would call upon 2 men to get 25 of their 31 Saves in 1970.
The remaining arms in Baltimore's bullpen. While not a Closer, Dick Hall's 2.1 IP efforts in Game 2 netted him a Save. He entered the game in the 7th inning with 2 men on and the O's leading by just one run. He'd get Tony Perez to ground out to end the inning, then proceed to be perfect in the 8th and 9th to slam the door on any hope for the Reds.
