1992 Baltimore Orioles season
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore Orioles
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Orioles finishing third in the American League East
with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses.
Having played almost 40 years at Memorial Stadium
, the 1992 campaign was the inaugural season for the Orioles' new ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards
, where they play to this day.
for first place in the division. The lead switched back and forth between the two teams before the Jays took it for good on June 20. Baltimore remained in second place for the next two months, with the margin between themselves and Toronto fluctuating from between one and five games. However, the Birds faded during the September stretch and relinquished second place to the Milwaukee Brewers
on September 19. Still, they were not mathematically eliminated from contention until September 27, finishing at a respectable 89-73.
In , Mike Mussina
played his first full season with the Orioles. Mussina finished with an 18-5 record and a 2.54 ERA
in 241 innings. His .783 win-loss percentage was the best in the American League, and his 1.79 BB/9 was second best behind Chris Bosio
.
Mussina pitched 4 shutouts and was tied for 2nd in the league. Mussina trailed only Boston's
Roger Clemens
for the league lead in shutouts. Mussina finished 4th in the American League Cy Young Award
voting, and participated in the 1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
in San Diego, pitching one perfect inning.
, and thus retiring Memorial Stadium
in the major league baseball world. The ballpark was an instant success; however, the name of the new park had controversy. Many felt that since the Orioles' new home was so close to Babe Ruth
's birthplace that the new park should have been named after Ruth instead of being indirectly named after the Earl of Camden, Charles Pratt
, who was a Britisher who never set foot on American soil. There was also the superficial connection to the fact that Ruth played for the Orioles early in his career, but the Orioles team that Ruth played for was in no way related to the Orioles team that moved to Baltimore from St. Louis. Camden Yards was built at the location of the old Camden Railway. It was the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It involved the Orioles finishing third in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses.
Having played almost 40 years at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
, the 1992 campaign was the inaugural season for the Orioles' new ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
, where they play to this day.
Offseason
- November 13, 1991: Jeff Robinson was released by the Orioles.
- January 7, 1992: Amalio Carreno was signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles.
Regular season
The Orioles spent most of the first three months of the season battling with the Toronto Blue Jays1992 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays played their 16th season in Major League Baseball. Toronto finished first in the American League East for the 4th time with a record of 96 wins and 66 losses, closing the season with an attendance record of 4,028,318...
for first place in the division. The lead switched back and forth between the two teams before the Jays took it for good on June 20. Baltimore remained in second place for the next two months, with the margin between themselves and Toronto fluctuating from between one and five games. However, the Birds faded during the September stretch and relinquished second place to the Milwaukee Brewers
1992 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers season featured the team finishing in second place in the American League East with a record of 92 wins and 70 losses.-Offseason:* October 15, 1991: George Canale was traded by the Brewers to the Montreal Expos for Alex Diaz....
on September 19. Still, they were not mathematically eliminated from contention until September 27, finishing at a respectable 89-73.
In , Mike Mussina
Mike Mussina
Michael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....
played his first full season with the Orioles. Mussina finished with an 18-5 record and a 2.54 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 241 innings. His .783 win-loss percentage was the best in the American League, and his 1.79 BB/9 was second best behind Chris Bosio
Chris Bosio
Christopher Louis Bosio is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners from to and a current major league pitching coach...
.
Mussina pitched 4 shutouts and was tied for 2nd in the league. Mussina trailed only Boston's
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
for the league lead in shutouts. Mussina finished 4th in the American League Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting, and participated in the 1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 63rd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 1992 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, the...
in San Diego, pitching one perfect inning.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
In 1992, with grand ceremony, the Orioles began their season in a brand new ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden YardsOriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
, and thus retiring Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
in the major league baseball world. The ballpark was an instant success; however, the name of the new park had controversy. Many felt that since the Orioles' new home was so close to Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's birthplace that the new park should have been named after Ruth instead of being indirectly named after the Earl of Camden, Charles Pratt
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden was an English lawyer, judge and Whig politician who was first to hold the title of Earl of Camden...
, who was a Britisher who never set foot on American soil. There was also the superficial connection to the fact that Ruth played for the Orioles early in his career, but the Orioles team that Ruth played for was in no way related to the Orioles team that moved to Baltimore from St. Louis. Camden Yards was built at the location of the old Camden Railway. It was the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised.
Notable transactions
- August 11, 1992: Juan BellJuan BellJuan Bell Mathey , is a former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues primarily as an infielder from 1989-1995.- Early career :...
was traded by the Orioles to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Steve ScarsoneSteve ScarsoneSteven Wayne Scarsone , is a retired professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the major leagues between 1992 and 1999. A former manager of the Kane County Cougars, he was named manager of the Stockton Ports on Jan. 6, 2010.He attended Canyon High School in his...
.
Roster
| 1992 Baltimore Orioles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Chris Hoiles Chris Hoiles Christopher Allen Hoiles is an American former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles from 1989 to 1998... |
96 | 310 | 85 | .274 | 20 | 40 |
| 1B | Randy Milligan Randy Milligan Randall Andre Milligan is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1987-1994. He is currently a scout with the Baltimore Orioles. Milligan is nicknamed "Moose".-External links:... |
137 | 462 | 111 | .240 | 11 | 53 |
| 2B | Billy Ripken Billy Ripken William Oliver Ripken is an American radio personality for XM Satellite Radio, a studio analyst for MLB Network's "MLB Tonight," and is a former infielder in Major League Baseball from –... |
111 | 330 | 76 | .230 | 4 | 36 |
| 3B | Leo Gómez Leo Gomez Leonardo Gómez Vélez , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a 3rd baseman from 1990–1996. He currently manages the Aberdeen IronBirds of the New York-Penn League.-Minor leagues:Gómez was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1985 as an amateur... |
137 | 468 | 124 | .265 | 17 | 64 |
| SS | Cal Ripken, Jr. Cal Ripken, Jr. Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles .... |
162 | 637 | 160 | .251 | 14 | 72 |
| LF | Brady Anderson Brady Anderson Brady Kevin Anderson is an American former outfielder with the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball... |
159 | 623 | 169 | .271 | 21 | 80 |
| CF | Mike Devereaux Mike Devereaux Michael Devereaux is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round of the amateur draft and made his debut on September 2, 1987... |
156 | 653 | 180 | .276 | 24 | 107 |
| RF | Joe Orsulak Joe Orsulak Joseph Michael Richardson Orsulak III is a former Major League Baseball player from 1983 to 1997 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Florida Marlins, and Montreal Expos. Orsulak, who threw and batted lefthanded, played mostly in the outfield, although he played some games... |
117 | 391 | 113 | .289 | 4 | 39 |
| DH | Glenn Davis Glenn Davis (baseball) Glenn Earl Davis is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. While a member of the Houston Astros in the late 1980s, he finished three times in the top ten in National League MVP balloting . He batted and threw right-handed.... |
106 | 398 | 110 | .276 | 13 | 48 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chito Martínez Chito Martinez Chito Martínez was the first player in the history of Major League Baseball to be born in the country of Belize.Martínez, born in Belize City, spent parts of three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, hitting 13 home runs in his rookie season, 1991 and posting a slugging percentage of .514 in 216... |
83 | 198 | 53 | .268 | 5 | 25 |
| Luis Mercedes Luis Mercedes Luis Roberto Mercedes Santana was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants from to .-External links:... |
23 | 50 | 7 | .140 | 0 | 4 |
| Steve Scarsone Steve Scarsone Steven Wayne Scarsone , is a retired professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the major leagues between 1992 and 1999. A former manager of the Kane County Cougars, he was named manager of the Stockton Ports on Jan. 6, 2010.He attended Canyon High School in his... |
11 | 17 | 3 | .176 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Voigt Jack Voigt John David Voigt is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, from until , for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics... |
1 | 0 | 0 | .--- | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Sutcliffe | 36 | 237⅓ | 16 | 15 | 4.47 | 109 |
| Ben McDonald Ben McDonald Larry Benard McDonald is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:McDonald prepped at Denham Springs High School, which is about 10 minutes east of Baton Rouge, and was both a basketball and baseball standout.-College:A collegiate star at Louisiana State University in both basketball... |
35 | 227 | 13 | 13 | 4.24 | 158 |
| Mike Mussina Mike Mussina Michael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees .... |
32 | 241 | 18 | 5 | 2.54 | 130 |
| Bob Milacki Bob Milacki Robert "Bob" Milacki , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues between and , mostly with the Baltimore Orioles.-Major league career:... |
23 | 115⅔ | 6 | 8 | 5.84 | 51 |
| Arthur Rhodes Arthur Rhodes Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles... |
15 | 94⅓ | 7 | 5 | 3.63 | 77 |
| José Mesa José Mesa José Ramón Nova Mesa [MAY-sah] is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. His nickname was "Joe Table," the literal translation of his name in the English language.... |
13 | 67⅔ | 3 | 8 | 5.19 | 22 |
| Craig Lefferts Craig Lefferts Craig Lindsay Lefferts was a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , Texas Rangers and California Angels... |
5 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 4.09 | 23 |
| Richie Lewis Richie Lewis Richie Todd Lewis is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds. He attended Southside High School in Muncie, where his father was the coach for many years... |
2 | 6⅔ | 0 | 2 | 10.80 | 4 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregg Olson Gregg Olson Greggory Olson is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played with the Baltimore Orioles , Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , Kansas City Royals , Detroit Tigers , Houston Astros , Minnesota Twins , Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers... |
60 | 1 | 5 | 36 | 2.05 | 58 |
| Pat Clements Pat Clements Patrick Brian Clements is a retired professional baseball player who played eight seasons for the California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball.-External links:... |
23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.28 | 9 |
| Mark Williamson Mark Williamson (baseball) Mark Alan Williamson Mark Alan Williamson Mark Alan Williamson (July 21, 1959 in Corpus Christi, Texas, is a retired professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1987-1994. He played for the Baltimore Orioles. On July 13, 1991, he pitched a no hitter along with Bob... |
12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.96 | 14 |