The Baltimore Orioles have long taken pride in “The Oriole Way,” an organizational philosophy rooted in teamwork, preparation and player development. Few players embodied those principles more fully than Alonza “The Bee” Bumbry.
A late-round selection in 1968 (11th round, No. 267 overall), Bumbry’s path to Baltimore was unconventional. A standout basketball player at Virginia State, he did not gain national baseball exposure until the school reinstated its program during his senior year. Scouts quickly took notice.
After college, Bumbry served in the U.S. Army, leading a platoon in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1971 and earning the Bronze Star. He made his major-league debut in September 1972 and broke out the following season.
In 1973, Bumbry played 110 games and slashed .337/.398/.500, stealing 23 bases and leading the American League with 11 triples. He became the first Black Oriole to win Rookie of the Year honors.
Bumbry developed into one of the premier leadoff hitters of his era. Over 13 seasons in Baltimore, he ranked among the franchise’s top 10 in career runs and stolen bases, finishing with a .343 on-base percentage.
His discipline was equally notable, as he recorded 40 or more walks in six seasons during a seven-year stretch, drew a career-high 78 in 1980 and never struck out more than 88 times in a season.
Primarily a center fielder, Bumbry started 1,200 of the 1,416 games he played, providing speed, range and consistency at the top of the lineup. He was named an All-Star and Most Valuable Oriole in 1980 and later contributed to Baltimore’s World Series championship in 1983.
Though he spent one season with the San Diego Padres, Bumbry’s legacy is firmly rooted in Baltimore. The Fredericksburg, VA, native was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1987 and is a member of both the Virginia and Maryland Sports Halls of Fame. In November of 2024, he received the Life in Baseball Award from the Middle Atlantic Scouts Association.
Al Bumbry and Gary Roenicke joined Rob Long to reminisce on the 1983 WS championship. pic.twitter.com/sSABuseSxd
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) August 5, 2023
Bumbry set the standard for leadoff hitters in Baltimore, but his enduring impact extended beyond statistics. His selflessness and commitment to team success helped define an era and reinforced the foundation of “The Oriole Way.”
Alonza Benjamin Bumbry carved out a legacy in Baltimore that will have him as one of the best Orioles of all time. We celebrate him and his contributions to Birdland this Black History Month.
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