Mark Belanger should get a lot more recognition than he does
January 24, 2025
Mark Belanger should get a lot more recognition than he does
22 comments
hey where do i know him from
Mark Belanger walked so Andrelton Simmons could run
Belanger played most of his career in the 70s, which was a hitter’s decade, and his lifetime average was .228. He was a really good fielder, but it didn’t make up for his abysmal hitting.
I saw The Blade at my first MLB game ever. His fielding video(s) are fantastic. High school coach made us infielders watch.
He looks like the brother of the guy who appears on the 1978 Topps Mark Belanger card
Number 2 all time defensive WAR only trails Ozzie Smith
You mean on the street?
the blade is universally loved in b-more.
averaged 3.7 WAR over his 10 peak seasons and led the league in Def WAR 6 times. career #2 (behind ozzie) in Def WAR. (brooks and cal are 3 & 4 BTW)
IMO – he was the best SS I ever saw….Those O’s teams were great on Defense – him and Brooks on one side of the infield…..WOOOOO!
The Orioles moved a young prospect they had to 3B because Belanger was so brilliant. I forget the guy’s name. Brooks something….. /s
Pittsfield’s own
Belanger was a beast on defense. 1968, 4.4 DWAR, no GG. A sham.
He hit for shit tho
Absolutely. Next to Ozzie Smith and Brooks Robinson, he may be best defensive player ever.
If he was in the game, he would have made the play that Kiko Garcia botched and maybe the Orioles would have been world champs in 1979!
I just remember a shot from the Game-of-the-Week of him smoking a cigarette in the tunnel near the dugout.
1968: batted .208,, 3.4 bwar, lol wtf
People don’t give the Orioles from the late 60s and early 70s enough credit. Frank Robinson and Boog Powell leading the offense, with Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger, and Paul Blair – three of the greatest defenders of all-time – leading the defense at three high-leverage positions.
I don’t think Jim Palmer gets all those 20 wins seasons without that insane defense behind him, and his FIP shows it.
6600 ABs with 20 HRs, 389 RBIs and a .228 BA speaks volumes about his defense. Oh, and a handful of MVP votes in 3 years.
22 comments
hey where do i know him from
Mark Belanger walked so Andrelton Simmons could run
Belanger played most of his career in the 70s, which was a hitter’s decade, and his lifetime average was .228. He was a really good fielder, but it didn’t make up for his abysmal hitting.
I saw The Blade at my first MLB game ever. His fielding video(s) are fantastic. High school coach made us infielders watch.
He looks like the brother of the guy who appears on the 1978 Topps Mark Belanger card
Number 2 all time defensive WAR only trails Ozzie Smith
You mean on the street?
the blade is universally loved in b-more.
averaged 3.7 WAR over his 10 peak seasons and led the league in Def WAR 6 times. career #2 (behind ozzie) in Def WAR. (brooks and cal are 3 & 4 BTW)
IMO – he was the best SS I ever saw….Those O’s teams were great on Defense – him and Brooks on one side of the infield…..WOOOOO!
The Orioles moved a young prospect they had to 3B because Belanger was so brilliant. I forget the guy’s name. Brooks something….. /s
Pittsfield’s own
Belanger was a beast on defense. 1968, 4.4 DWAR, no GG. A sham.
He hit for shit tho
Absolutely. Next to Ozzie Smith and Brooks Robinson, he may be best defensive player ever.
If he was in the game, he would have made the play that Kiko Garcia botched and maybe the Orioles would have been world champs in 1979!
I just remember a shot from the Game-of-the-Week of him smoking a cigarette in the tunnel near the dugout.
1968: batted .208,, 3.4 bwar, lol wtf
People don’t give the Orioles from the late 60s and early 70s enough credit. Frank Robinson and Boog Powell leading the offense, with Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger, and Paul Blair – three of the greatest defenders of all-time – leading the defense at three high-leverage positions.
I don’t think Jim Palmer gets all those 20 wins seasons without that insane defense behind him, and his FIP shows it.
6600 ABs with 20 HRs, 389 RBIs and a .228 BA speaks volumes about his defense. Oh, and a handful of MVP votes in 3 years.
I saw this picture and I immediately thought of [former Oriole Gregg Olson](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IoYAAOSw0mlk75Nt/s-l1600.jpg). Even has the exact same crooked smile.
Ryan from The Office played baseball. I did not know that.
Great defensive SS, but couldn’t hit at all, although by today’s standard his .220 average would be passable.