Baltimore Orioles: Top ten pitchers who gave up the most home runs

In the top spot are four retired Orioles, Robin Roberts in 1963, Scott McGregor in 1986, Sidney Ponson in 1999, and Jeremy Guthrie in 2009. These four men are notable for the unfortunate fact that they gave up 35 home runs in a single season.

A true horse

Robin Roberts played for 19 years and four of those were with the Orioles while the team was still quite young. He spent most of his tenure in the league with the Phillies where he went to the All-Star Game for seven consecutive seasons between 1950 and 1956. During many of those years, he led the league in innings pitched, games played, complete games, batters faced, hits allowed, and strikeouts. He was truly the definition of a horse and the Phillies rode him for all he was worth.

By the time he got to the Orioles, he was still a solid pitcher whose ERA was 3.09 in his four years with the team. He may have given up 35 home runs in 1963, but he gave up 41 in 1955,  46 in 1956, and 40 in 1957. So, 35 home runs put him at the top for the Orioles, but not for other teams.

More from Orioles History

• Baltimore Orioles: 2023 Hall of Fame BBWAA Ballot Features J.J. Hardy
• Baltimore Orioles: Five Treats from the 2022 Season
• Former Orioles Players on Playoff Teams this October
• On This Day: 2012 Ragtag Orioles Win Wild Card Game
• The April Orioles Seem Like a Completely Different Team

The sophomore slump

Sidney Ponson gave up more home runs in his second season in the MLB than he did in any other season. He was only 22 years old when he toed the slab in 1999 for the Orioles. In his second season, Ponson gave up 30 home runs. He threw for the Orioles for eight years, and in his seventh season, he was truly horrible as he led the league earned runs (127) and hits (265). He had no other season with numbers of that magnitude. The following season, 2005, was his last with the Orioles.

So many troubles for Mr. Guthrie

McGregor’s penchant for giving up home runs was already discussed, so let’s move on to Jeremy Guthrie. He and Ponson had similar numbers during their time in the MLB. Guthrie actually pitched for the Washington Nationals in 2017 in one game. During that game he got two outs, but gave up 10 earned runs and quickly adding a 135.00 ERA to his career stat lines. Despite that blip, he was had career 4.43 ERA and a 4.12 ERA in his time with the Orioles.

Next: O's share a World Series record with Astros and Dodgers

His most notable stats, besides the 35 home-run season involve losing the most games as a pitcher in 2009 and 2011. His 35 home runs allowed in 2009 led the league that year.