We’re in the midst of season number 72 of Baltimore Orioles baseball, and it’s time to go down good ‘ole memory lane.
We have constructed a list of four players who each did something for the first time in Orioles history since the move to Baltimore before the 1954 season.
Let’s discuss these four players and the feats they reached.
First Hit/First Stolen Base: Gil Coan
It’s April 13, 1954, the inaugural Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles as they take on the Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium.
With two outs in the top of the first, outfielder Gil Coan collects the first hit in Baltimore Orioles history with a single to right field. The then-32-year-old made history that day, and he would do it again in the coming days.
Alongside the first hit, nine days later on April 22 against the then-Cleveland Indians, Coan would also be the first player to grab the a stolen base in O’s history when he stole on Hal Naragon in the second inning.
Coan started playing in the majors in 1946 for the Nationals, and he was an average player for his career. In 11 years, Coan slashed .254/.316/.359 with a .675 OPS in 918 games, collecting 731 hits, 98 doubles, 44 triples and 39 home runs while knocking in 278 RBIs. He retired after the 1956 season.
First Pitcher Win: Duane Pillette
On April 14, 1954, the club collected their first franchise win as the Baltimore Orioles in a 3-2 victory over Detroit.
Duane Pillette was on the mound and pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs, four walks and one strikeout.
Pillette had a very interesting MLB career statistics-wise. The former 1949 World Series winner pitched 904 total innings in his eight-year career and struck out just 305 batters.
Pillette carried a 4.40 ERA in 188 games, including 119 starts, walked 391 batters and gave up 442 earned runs. He retired in 1956, and despite not having the best career, it’s safe to say he holds a very special accomplishment that only 32 or so pitchers can say.
First Home Run: Clint Courtney
It’s April 15, 1954, the first home opener for the Orioles at iconic and Memorial Stadium. The Orioles hosted the Chicago White Sox for game three of the 1954 season.
In the bottom of the third, catcher Clint Courtney took pitcher Virgil Trucks deep to right field for the first home run in Orioles history. Courtney was anything but a home run hitter, as he only hit four during that 1954 season.
Courtney had a .705 OPS during his 11-year career and hit .268 in 946 games. In 750 hits, Courtney had 126 doubles, 17 triples and just 38 home runs.
He retired in June of 1961, but he will always be known for being the first Oriole to hit a long ball.
First Save: Marlin Stuart
The 1954 Orioles were not known for saves, as the club converted just nine in that season. The first one came on May 14, right after the Orioles scored five runs in the eighth inning.
The ball was given to Marlin Stuart to shut the door. Stuart gave up a hit but would get the save in the 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Stuart would actually receive that save in his final season in the major leagues. He pitched just six MLB seasons and posted a 4.65 ERA in 196 games.
He pitched 485.2 innings, gave up 251 earned runs, walked 256 batters and struck out 185. Stuart also had just 12 saves in his career, but he was the first to record one for the Orioles.
Did you honestly know any of these names? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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