Looking Back | The 1970 Baltimore Orioles

The 1970 Baltimore Orioles was a team on a mission due to the unfortunate loss to the 1969 Miracle New York Mets who pulled off one of the great upsets in World Series history. The Mets won in 5 games against the mighty Baltimore Orioles who had a record of 109-53. But the following season was redemption time for the 1970 Baltimore Orioles who had a record of 108-54. 

The Orioles finished 15 games ahead of the New York Yankees. The standout players from this legendary team was First Baseman Boog Powell who led the team with 35 home runs including 114 RBIS with  .297 batting average. Right Fielder Frank Robinson.306 batting average including 25 home runs and 78 RBIS. Finally Third Baseman Brooks Robinson who had a fantastic season with 18 home runs and 94 RBIS including .276 batting average.

In the ALCS, the Orioles faced the Minnesota Twins who swept the Twins in 3 games. Then it was on to the World Series facing the upstart Cincinnati Reds who would become one of the great teams of the decade of the 70s. In the 1970 World Series it would be obviously the first of its kind to kick off the decade of the 70s with the first World Series. The 1970 Cincinnati Reds had a record of 102-60. Sparky Anderson was the manager of the 1970 Cincinnati Reds and Earl Weaver would be the manager of the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.

The 1970 World Series would be an historic feat across racial lines because this World Series was the first to feature the first black umpire of African descent named Emmett Ashford. The 1970 World Series was also the first to be played on artificial turf at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.

This World Series would be the last to be played in the afternoon including the first time ever in World Series history that both teams wore their names on the back of their jersey uniforms. Overall the Baltimore Orioles took care of unfinished business by defeating the Cincinnati Reds in 5 games.

Brooks Robinson was the 1970 World Series MVP which resulted in the culmination of the dominance of the Orioles of the 1970 season a season that represented the Orioles who had 3 20-game pitchers like Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellars and Dave McNally. The Orioles led the American League in runs scored(792),fewest runs allowed(574),60 complete games, lowest team ERA(3.15),and second in fielding percentage with 9.81 established as the most dominant Baltimore Orioles team in the modern era.