Baltimore Orioles: On This Day, The Orioles Became Winners Again

It was on this day in 2012 that the Baltimore Orioles secured their first winning season in a long, long time.

I don’t remember much about the 1997 Baltimore Orioles, their 98 regular-season wins, or their playoff run that ended in six games to the Cleveland Indians. I have vague memories of going to ball games that season, mainly being extremely excited over the fact that Scott Kamieniecki started one game I went to. I was 10 at the time and had a weird fascination with Kamieniecki that I can’t explain to this day.

However, my dad will gladly talk about watching Mike Mussina strike out 15 Indians in seven innings in that game three extra-inning loss and he’s still bitter about someone using the same VHS tape he used to record game six while he was at work to record cartoons, even though the Orioles would go on to lose and drop the series. Sorry, Dad.

Maybe I should have paid more attention that season, seeing as the Orioles would not experience a winning season again until 2012. If only 10-year-old me knew he wouldn’t watch a wining Orioles team until he after he graduated from college.

In fact, it was on this day, September 16th, 2012 in which the Baltimore Orioles would clinch their first winning season since that 1997 team achieved the feat 15 years earlier. It would start a stretch of five-straight .500 or better seasons for the Orioles, including three playoff appearances and many unforgettable and iconic memories for O’s fans.

Coming off back-to-back losses to Oakland on the road, the Orioles secured win number 82 on the year and a winning record with a 9-5 victory over the A’s and a familiar opposing pitcher.

Randy Wolf, Tommy Hunter, Brian Matusz, Darren O’ Day, Pedro Strop, and Jim Johnson combined to strike out 12 Oakland hitters as Matusz picked up the victory to improve to 6-10 on the year, while Johnson recorded save number 43. Johnson would go on to win Rolaids Reliever of the Year honors.

On the losing end of this one was Oakland starting pitcher and rookie RHP Dan Straily. Straily gave up four runs on five hits (two home runs) and five walks across 4.2 innings of work. It was his first career loss as a major league starting pitcher.

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J.J. Hardy and Robert Andino each picked up two hits in this Sunday afternoon contest, but this particular day belonged to outfielder Endy Chavez and catcher Matt Wieters. Chaves reached base in all five of his plate appearances, going 4-4 with a double and a walk, while Wieters went 2-3 with two home runs and two walks.

The victory kept Baltimore one game behind New York for the American League East crown, a race eventually won by New York by two games.

Buck Showalter and the Orioles would find themselves in the first-ever Wild Card game at the end of the 2012 regular season, matched up against the Texas Rangers on the road. You likely remember that game well, when Joe Saunders outdueled Yu Darvish and Baltimore won the right to take on the Yankees in the ALDS with their 5-1 victory.

It was indeed a magical season which still brings goosebumps and good feelings when looking back. Remember how it felt to watch this team during times like this. Those feelings will return and when they do, it will be worth sitting through seasons like 2018, 2019, and likely 2020.

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