70 in 70. Celebrating the Orioles 70th season by showcasing a handful of pictures from each season of Orioles Baseball. 1989
February 24, 2023
70 in 70. Celebrating the Orioles 70th season by showcasing a handful of pictures from each season of Orioles Baseball. 1989
6 comments
The 1989 Billy Ripken card may be the most famous card with a Ripken on it. Here’s an article that can tell the story of the card much better than I can. [Fuck Face article ](https://www.cardlines.com/billy-ripken-fuck-face-card/)
The Why Not Orioles were an incredibly fun an magical team. MLB.com did a great article with a lot of the guys from that team 30 years later that talks about the atmosphere and what made that team so special. [Why Not 30 years later](https://www.mlb.com/news/1989-orioles-30-years-later)
Previously in this series I have given much attention to small design choices or marketing material the Orioles use. The team released an updated look in 1989 but with legendary designer James Hartzell taking a much more limited role nearing the end of his time with the Orioles, information about the designs and the process behind them is much more limited. In official logo guides and timelines the new logo is called The Ornithologically Correct Bird because it looks like a normal bird and not a cartoon like the Hartzell bird or the Mean Bird. This guide shows off much of the designs from the past and the evolution behind each of them. The Pumpkins were not featured much in this series but the orange on orange is always a fun look for me.
Following the horrid 988 season, the Orioles again named Ripken their third-base coach. Sr would continue his close relationship with the Orioles going from minor league coach, to minor league manager, to major league coach, to major league manager, back to major league coach. Speaking at the Annual Ripken Fan Club Banquet, general manager Roland Hemond said, “1988 was a tough year for the Orioles, a tough year for me, and a tough year for the Ripken family. There was a lot of trauma, and I respected them for the way they handled it. I will never forget it.” Brady Anderson, who would play for the Orioles from 1988 through 2001 and hit 50 home runs in 1996, credited Ripken for helping him make it with the Orioles: “I’ll never forget earlier in my career how Cal Sr. stayed with me, trying to help me become a better player when it might not have been the fashionable thing to do within the organization.” Ripken remained with the team until after the 1992 season, when he was removed from third-base coach duties as the Orioles wished to give younger coaches opportunities The Orioles offered him the brand new position of coordinator of minor league field operations, but he declined, disappointed at being removed from third base. Ripken maintained that he was not retired, but he would never coach professionally again.
Ben McDonald was considered a can’t miss pitcher. It’s fitting that Cal Sr. a man that did so much for developing Oriole Magic and the future of the franchise through player development would have a key role in securing the first overall pick for the Orioles in 1989. A collegiate star at Louisiana State University who also played varsity basketball for the Tigers He also led the 1988 US Olympic Team to a gold medal for baseball, winning complete games against host South Korea and Puerto Rico. During his three-year college career at LSU, McDonald twice helped his team reach the College World Series. He gave up a notable walk-off grand slam to Stanford’s Paul Carey in the 1987 series. A legendary moment in college baseball that defines the meaning of College World Series to this day. His best collegiate season came in 1989, which he finished with a 14–4 record, a 3.49 ERA, and a Southeastern Conference record 202 strikeouts. That year, he was selected as a member of the All-America team, and he won the Golden Spikes Award. In 1989, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League,recording one start. He had earlier been chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round of the 1986 draft, but decided to go to college at that time instead of signing. He signed with the Orioles on August 19, and on September 6, he made his major league debut. McDonald was the second member of his draft class to reach the majors, coming up three days after his Olympic teammate John Olerud. In the finale of the 1989 season, McDonald tossed one scoreless inning of relief versus the American League East champion Toronto Blue Jays, logging his first career win. It should be noted, he would become the sixth player to make the majors in the same season that he was selected as the number one overall pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. McDonald would have a respectable career with the Os. He was both a Starter and Closer throughout his career.
I included the 1989 Hall of Fame program not because there’s anything super special about the class but because it’s literally the first time I’ve been able to find a good picture of one of these programs. As far as I can tell there are programs dating back to before the 1983 world series. 1989 featured former Oriole Home Run King, MVP Candidate and really the first star of the Orioles Jim Gentile. It also feature Dick Hall who is interestingly listed as both a pitcher and an outfielder despite only appearing in 180 games in the outfield over a 16 year career with 140 of those coming during one season in Pittsburgh. Stu Miller also honored, his time in Baltimore was simple. He came into close games late as a reliever and sucked the life out of opposing offenses. He was only in Baltimore for 4 seasons, similar to Gentile but he almost had 100 saves and 225 games finished for the Os. The current Orioles Hall of Fame has plaques behind section 1 at OPaCY near the bathrooms
Very nice!
FUCK FACE
THERE IT IS!
I was young (under 10) during that Why Not season. I remember being devastated when they lost to Toronto. With all the excitement that year, I assumed we’d win. I remember crying my eyes out like it was the first time I realized the harsh reality of the world.
I got one of these for my dad years ago for a special occasion and it’s one of his prized possessions
6 comments
The 1989 Billy Ripken card may be the most famous card with a Ripken on it. Here’s an article that can tell the story of the card much better than I can. [Fuck Face article ](https://www.cardlines.com/billy-ripken-fuck-face-card/)
The Why Not Orioles were an incredibly fun an magical team. MLB.com did a great article with a lot of the guys from that team 30 years later that talks about the atmosphere and what made that team so special. [Why Not 30 years later](https://www.mlb.com/news/1989-orioles-30-years-later)
Previously in this series I have given much attention to small design choices or marketing material the Orioles use. The team released an updated look in 1989 but with legendary designer James Hartzell taking a much more limited role nearing the end of his time with the Orioles, information about the designs and the process behind them is much more limited. In official logo guides and timelines the new logo is called The Ornithologically Correct Bird because it looks like a normal bird and not a cartoon like the Hartzell bird or the Mean Bird. This guide shows off much of the designs from the past and the evolution behind each of them. The Pumpkins were not featured much in this series but the orange on orange is always a fun look for me.
Following the horrid 988 season, the Orioles again named Ripken their third-base coach. Sr would continue his close relationship with the Orioles going from minor league coach, to minor league manager, to major league coach, to major league manager, back to major league coach. Speaking at the Annual Ripken Fan Club Banquet, general manager Roland Hemond said, “1988 was a tough year for the Orioles, a tough year for me, and a tough year for the Ripken family. There was a lot of trauma, and I respected them for the way they handled it. I will never forget it.” Brady Anderson, who would play for the Orioles from 1988 through 2001 and hit 50 home runs in 1996, credited Ripken for helping him make it with the Orioles: “I’ll never forget earlier in my career how Cal Sr. stayed with me, trying to help me become a better player when it might not have been the fashionable thing to do within the organization.” Ripken remained with the team until after the 1992 season, when he was removed from third-base coach duties as the Orioles wished to give younger coaches opportunities The Orioles offered him the brand new position of coordinator of minor league field operations, but he declined, disappointed at being removed from third base. Ripken maintained that he was not retired, but he would never coach professionally again.
Ben McDonald was considered a can’t miss pitcher. It’s fitting that Cal Sr. a man that did so much for developing Oriole Magic and the future of the franchise through player development would have a key role in securing the first overall pick for the Orioles in 1989. A collegiate star at Louisiana State University who also played varsity basketball for the Tigers He also led the 1988 US Olympic Team to a gold medal for baseball, winning complete games against host South Korea and Puerto Rico. During his three-year college career at LSU, McDonald twice helped his team reach the College World Series. He gave up a notable walk-off grand slam to Stanford’s Paul Carey in the 1987 series. A legendary moment in college baseball that defines the meaning of College World Series to this day. His best collegiate season came in 1989, which he finished with a 14–4 record, a 3.49 ERA, and a Southeastern Conference record 202 strikeouts. That year, he was selected as a member of the All-America team, and he won the Golden Spikes Award. In 1989, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League,recording one start. He had earlier been chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round of the 1986 draft, but decided to go to college at that time instead of signing. He signed with the Orioles on August 19, and on September 6, he made his major league debut. McDonald was the second member of his draft class to reach the majors, coming up three days after his Olympic teammate John Olerud. In the finale of the 1989 season, McDonald tossed one scoreless inning of relief versus the American League East champion Toronto Blue Jays, logging his first career win. It should be noted, he would become the sixth player to make the majors in the same season that he was selected as the number one overall pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. McDonald would have a respectable career with the Os. He was both a Starter and Closer throughout his career.
I included the 1989 Hall of Fame program not because there’s anything super special about the class but because it’s literally the first time I’ve been able to find a good picture of one of these programs. As far as I can tell there are programs dating back to before the 1983 world series. 1989 featured former Oriole Home Run King, MVP Candidate and really the first star of the Orioles Jim Gentile. It also feature Dick Hall who is interestingly listed as both a pitcher and an outfielder despite only appearing in 180 games in the outfield over a 16 year career with 140 of those coming during one season in Pittsburgh. Stu Miller also honored, his time in Baltimore was simple. He came into close games late as a reliever and sucked the life out of opposing offenses. He was only in Baltimore for 4 seasons, similar to Gentile but he almost had 100 saves and 225 games finished for the Os. The current Orioles Hall of Fame has plaques behind section 1 at OPaCY near the bathrooms
Very nice!
FUCK FACE
THERE IT IS!
I was young (under 10) during that Why Not season. I remember being devastated when they lost to Toronto. With all the excitement that year, I assumed we’d win. I remember crying my eyes out like it was the first time I realized the harsh reality of the world.
I got one of these for my dad years ago for a special occasion and it’s one of his prized possessions