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Baltimore Orioles: The 5 best second basemen in Orioles history

ByTim Smart|
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 16: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs during the seventh inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 16: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs during the seventh inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
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Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 30: A general view during the fourth inning of the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Since the franchise moved in 1954, the Baltimore Orioles have had many great players come through the organization. Some of them have helped lead the Orioles to World Series titles, while others haven’t been as lucky; but all of them have left their mark on the team and the city. Who are the best of the best?

At this point, we’re deep into the offseason and the Baltimore Orioles are focused on building their front office and management staff, which doesn’t always make for exciting news. GM Mike Elias will certainly make further adjustments to the 40-man roster, and they’ll make a few minor league additions as well.

But the Orioles aren’t buying any big-name free agents and they’re not likely going to make front-page news any time soon. So today we’re looking into the record books, searching for the best players in Orioles’ history.

After the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the Orioles, the franchise has had several runs of success. The strongest of those runs came from 1964-1983, a 20-year stretch during which the Orioles posted a league-best .575 winning percentage, made the postseason eight times, and won three World Series titles.

The Orioles were good for a six-year stretch in the mid-1990’s but made the postseason just twice, and never reached the World Series. They followed their run in the 90’s with an abhorrent 14-year stretch from 1998-2011 that we won’t dive into.

The 2010’s Orioles brought life back to Baltimore. Under Buck Showalter, and led by Adam Jones and Manny Machado, they made the postseason three times in five years. The Orioles of 2019 are likely headed back to the cellar, but with any luck, Mike Elias and company will help lead the O’s back to the promise land.

2019 will mark the 65th season the Orioles have spent in Baltimore, but in all that time, the franchise hasn’t had a single Hall of Fame second baseman. There have certainly been some good ones, but none have been good enough to earn their place in Cooperstown.

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