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Baltimore Orioles: Players who won World Series MVP awards

By Kristen Bentley

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 29: Former Oriole Brooks Robinson poses for photos with former Orioles Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Earl Weaver, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer at a ceremony in his honor before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 29, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 29: Former Oriole Brooks Robinson poses for photos with former Orioles Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Earl Weaver, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer at a ceremony in his honor before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 29, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles have three World Series titles since their introduction in 1954. During this time, three men have earned the honor of being the World Series MVP.

The three Baltimore Orioles to be named World Series MVP are Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, and Rick Dempsey.

Even though they were named the MVP of the World Series, Brooks Robinson and Rick Dempsey were not the top players in their respective seasons. Those honors belonged to Jim Palmer in 1970 and Cal Ripken in 1983.

The first Robinson MVP

Frank Robinson was the first MVP on the Orioles team. It was due to his performance in the 1966 World Series. At age 30, he played in four World Series games and finished the series with a slash of .286/.375/.857/1.232. Robinson batted third in all three games. He manned right field. In the series, he scored four runs with two home runs and a triple.

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 12: First base coach Rick Dempsey
ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 12: First base coach Rick Dempsey /

Keep in mind that in 1966, the World Series was the only playoff series back then. There were only 20 teams that the top NL and AL team faced off. The Orioles won four straight games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and shut them out in three of the games.

Accompanying his MVP trophy are several other awards of note. Robinson was the Rookie of the Year in 1956 and the awards just kept coming, including a Triple Crown, two MVPs, a Gold Glove, and a few others.

The second Robinson MVP

The second World Series MVP was Brooks Robinson, who followed Frank Robinson in the lineup in most games. The 6’1 third-baseman earned the MVP award because of his outstanding batting stats: .429/.429/.810/1.238 with two home runs and two doubles. Shockingly, his ALCS numbers were even better as he batted .583/.538/.750/1.288.

More from Orioles History

Robinson also has his own immense collection of hardware, too. He has 16 Gold Glove awards, his own league MVP award, and 18 All-Star Games. Both Robinsons occupy space in the Hall of Fame and they were both on the ’66 and ’70 World Series teams. The Orioles defeated the Reds 4-1 in the series.

The MVP catcher

The third World Series victory came in 1983 as the Orioles defeated the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies won the first game and the Orioles won the final four. Rick Dempsey was the catcher in all five games and he finished the series with a slash of .385/.467/.923/1.390 with one home run and four doubles in his five total hits in 13 at-bats.

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Dempsey may not be a household name like the two Robinsons, but he does have two World Series wins. His first was with the Orioles. His second was with the Los Angeles Dodgers when they won in 1988, but his slash was not as good as it was in 1983. But, he was 38 in 1988.

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