Baltimore Orioles: Six days until pitchers and catchers report

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We’re just six days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. Let’s take a look at the players who have donned the number six for the Baltimore Orioles.

It’s always fun taking a trip down memory lane. Sometimes the memories are good, other times they’re bad. For example, remember when the Baltimore Orioles won the American League East for the first time since 1997? That was good. But, remember when Ubaldo Jimenez allowed a three-run walk-off homer to Edwin Encarnacion? Yeah, that was bad.

I’m going to take a trip down memory lane today and look back at a few players who have had the pleasure of sporting the number “6” in Baltimore.

Instead of bringing to light repetitious news numerous times, over-and-over again, this offseason, let’s have some fun today.

A few of these names you’ll know off the top of your head. A few of them you may not have had the pleasure of watching in person, but you recognize the name.

In franchise history, there have been 42 players to wear the number six. Some of them held the jersey number for one season – the majority, actually – and one player has held the number for a decade.

The following slideshow will give you a list of players who have had the number – for at least four seasons – the longest.

A few honorable mentions not named in the slideshow are current MLB Network Analysist, Harold Reynolds (1993), current Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star, Justin Turner (2010) and former Orioles manager Davey Johnson (1965).

Floyd Rayford doing a commercial for the Baltimore Symphony in 1984. (Baltimore Sun file photo by Irving H. Phillips) /

#5. Floyd Rayford (1984-1987)

Drafted by the California Angels in 1975, Floyd Rayford came to the Orioles in a trade for outfielder, Larry Harlow.

His major league debut came on April 17, 1980, batting seventh and playing third base in a game the Orioles defeated the Kansas City Royals, 5-to-2. In case you were wondering, Floyd went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

In his first stint with the Orioles, Floyd hit just .155 over 42 games, spanning parts of the 1980 and 1982 seasons. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in June of 1983 but found his way back to Baltimore the very next season.

Floyd was given the number six for the 1984 season, and that was his number until his final game on September 16, 1987.

Over 334 games with the Orioles, Rayford slashed just .248/.284/.403 and hit just 35 home runs.

Joe Orsulak, 6, swings at a pitch while batting for the Baltimore Orioles. /

#4. Joe Orsulak (1988-1992)

Drafted in the sixth round of the 1980 Amateur Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected left-handed outfielder Joe Orsulak. To this day, Orsulak is the only player ever to play a major league game, who drafted from Parsippany Hills High School, in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Orsulak was traded to the Orioles in November of 1987, for minor leaguer, Terry Crowley (not the Orioles hitting instructor).

Over five seasons in Baltimore, Orsulak played in 632 games, hitting .281 over 2,276 plate appearances.

In 1991, Orsulak led the American League with 13 outfield assists as a left-fielder, and 22 total assists as an outfielder.

In his final season with the Orioles, Orsulak appeared in 117 games, hitting .289, which led the team in that category.

BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 21: Jonathan Schoop /

#3. Jonathan Schoop (2013-present)

Currently, the number six flaunts proudly on the front and back of second baseman, Jonathan Schoop. Coincidentally, this will be Schoop’s sixth season with the Orioles.

Schoop’s major league debut came on September 25, 2013, in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He went 2-for-3 with a home run off Blue Jays reliever, Kyle Drabek. The Orioles won that game, 9-to-5.

Over his five-year career in Baltimore, Schoop has appeared in 550 games for the Orioles, slashing .264/.300/.451 along the way. Last season, he made his first All-Star team and had his best season, statistically.

Schoop led the team in WAR, 5.1, led the team in overall batting average, .293, slugging percentage, .503 and runs batted in, 105. Schoop was able to attain these great numbers, all during his age-25 season.

Yesterday, Schoop and the Orioles agreed on an $8.5MM contract for the 2018 season, avoiding Arbitration.

The focus should now turn to extending Jonathan Schoop so he can remain with the Orioles organization for years to come.

Baltimore Orioles Melvin Mora slides into home plate against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays July 23, 2006 in St. Petersburg. The Orioles defeated the Rays 4 – 2. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage) /

#2. Melvin Mora (2000-2009)

Melvin, Melvin, Melvin, where do I begin?

On July 28, 2000, Melvin Mora was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, along with pitcher Leslie Brea, utility-man Mike Kinkade, and minor leaguer Pat Gorman, for Shortstop, Mike Bordick.

He almost immediately made an impact in Baltimore, hitting .291 in 53 games that season, with nine doubles and 17 RBI’s. Mora took the place of Bordick at Shortstop this season, before being shifted into a utility role for the next few seasons.

Mora moved to third base at the beginning of the 2004 season, and he remained there for the rest of his tenure in Baltimore.

In 1,256 games with the Orioles, Mora was a two-time All-Star, won the Silver Slugger award and led the American League in On-Base Percentage (.419) in 2004. That same season, Mora led the Orioles in batting average (.340), On-Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage (.562).

Likewise, 2004 was Mora’s best season defensively, as he led the American League in putouts as a third baseman (122) and was ranked second in errors committed (21).

Mora currently sits 20th all-time in WAR for the Orioles, as his total 29 Wins Against Replacement ranks just above former double-play partner, Brian Roberts (28.9).

#1. Paul Blair (1965-1976)

An eight-time Gold Glove winner. A four-time World Series champion. A two-time All-Star. An amazing baseball player.

These are all ways you could describe former Orioles Centerfielder, Paul Blair.

Born on February 1, 1944, in Cushing, Oklahoma, Paul Blair spent 17 years in the majors. He played 13 seasons with the Orioles, four for the New York Yankees and appeared in 75 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1979.