It’s the bottom of the ninth, and Orioles left-hander Scott McGregor is on the mound facing Phillies center fielder Garry Maddox. It’s an 0-2 pitch when Maddox hits a liner right to O’s shortstop, Cal Ripken Jr., and the Orioles win the 1983 World Series!
It’s been 40 years since the Orioles hoisted the World Series trophy. What did the team look like? Who was the unsung hero? What legacy did this team leave behind? Let’s recap the 1983 Orioles and their postseason run.
Behind a hot bat of a 22-year-old second-year player, Cal Ripken Jr., and a 27-year-old Eddie Murray fresh into his prime, the ’83 Orioles offense was dangerous. The pitching was at the same level as team ace Scott McGregor and lefty closer Tippy Martinez held it down on the mound.
This was the first season without the greatest manager in Orioles’ history in Earl Weaver as the skipper. This team was just one game away from making the 1982 postseason, and now here they were as a 98-win team and considered one of the best in baseball.
The ’83 team was filled with three All-Stars (Ripken Jr., Murray and Martinez). It also consisted of the 1983 AL MVP in Ripken Jr. by a close margin. In second place was Murray. But now the Orioles had one thing on their agenda, to hoist that World Series trophy. The first team in their way: the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox would take game one of the ALCS with a final score of 2-1 after a complete game gem by LaMarr Hoyt, who only gave up five hits. Game two would go to Baltimore with a final of 4-0 behind a big two-RBI day from Gary Roenicke and a complete game shutout by Mike Boddicker, who had 14 strikeouts in that game.
Game three would be an Orioles blowout of 11-1, as Murray had a three-RBI game, and the team had nine walks in the game. The O’s having all the momentum would play game four on the road, and they would win that game 3-0 in 10 innings, as Storm Davis and Britt Burns pitched phenomenal for both teams.
Baltimore can thank Tito Landrum for a home run in the 10th that started the rally. Tippy Martinez would enter the game and grab the win to send the Orioles to the World Series. Boddicker would receive the ALCS MVP for his complete game shutout in game two.
We now head to a matchup against a stacked Phillies squad. The 1983 Phillies won 90 games during the regular season and were built with MLB legends like Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, Gary Matthews, Steve Carlton and John Denny, just to name a few.
Game one would be played at Memorial Stadium, and the Orioles would lose a 2-1 pitching duel behind a huge solo shot by Phillies outfielder Garry Maddox in the eighth inning off McGregor. Game two would be a little different, as the Orioles would win 4-1 behind a three-hit day from John Lowenstein and another great complete game performance from Boddicker, as he only gave up three hits and struck out six.
Game three would be played at Veterans Stadium, and the O’s would win the game 3-2 and grab a 2-1 series lead. The Birds would also take game four with a score of 5-4 behind a three-hit and three-RBI day by infielder Rich Dauer, and just like that, the Orioles were one game away from history.
Game four for the Orioles would be big as they would win 5-0 behind a monstrous complete game shutout by McGregor and home runs from Murray and catcher Rick Dempsey.
The Orioles have won the 1983 World Series. So, who won the World Series MVP? It’s an interesting answer, honestly.
Good ole Rick Dempsey won the World Series MVP. He played in all five games and slashed a clean .385/.467/.923 with a 1.390 OPS. In 13 at-bats, he had five hits, four doubles, three runs, one home run and two RBIs and also walked twice.
Since 1983, the Orioles have yet to make a World Series, as they have made the ALCS three times and failed to make it past that point. They also lost in the ALDS in 2012 and the AL Wild Card in 2016, which to date is their last playoff appearance.
As we celebrate 50 years of this accomplishment, it’s important to remember the history of where the team’s legacy came from. When you look at the left field of Camden Yards, you can see the retired numbers and remember that the numbers 8, 33 and 22 all were a part of the last World Series to come to Baltimore.
What do you remember most about the O’s 1983 World Series Championship team? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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