Switch-hitting outfielder Ken Singleton was a fixture in the middle of the Orioles’ lineup in the late 1970’s and the early 1980’s. His best season for the Orioles came in 1979, when he made the A.L. All-Star team and finished second in the MVP voting. Singleton played in 159 games in 1979 and he was 168 for 570 (.295 avg, .938 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 35 homers, 111 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Singleton played in 1,446 games in 10 years with the Orioles and he was 1,455 of 5,115 (.284 avg, .833 OPS) with 684 runs scored, 182 homers, 766 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Singleton made 3 All-Star teams in his 10 years with the Orioles. Singleton is 10th in Orioles’ history in games played with 1,446. He is also #9 in hits (1,455), #8 in homers (182), #8 in RBIs (766) and #5 in walks (886) in Orioles’ history.

Righty closer Gregg Olson burst onto the scene for the Orioles in 1989 when he won the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award. Olson pitched in 64 games (0 starts) in 1989 for the O’s and he was 5-2 with 27 saves, a 1.69 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He only gave up 57 hits while whiffing 90 batters in his 85 innings pitched in 1989. Olson pitched in 320 games (0 starts) in his six years with the Orioles and he was 17-21 with 160 saves, 2.26 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Olson might be the Orioles’ leading save man for quite some time as no one on the team now is anywear close to him.

Lefty starting pitcher Mike Flanagan was one of the better pitchers in Orioles’ history. His best year with them was 1979, when he won the American League Cy Young Award. He pitched in 39 games (38 starts) for the Orioles in 1979 and he was 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He liked finishing what he started as he threw 16 complete games, five of which were shutouts. Flanagan pitched 15 years for the Orioles (1975-1987 and 1991-92) in which he pitched in 450 games (328 starts) and he was 141-116 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He only made 1 All-Star team and it was in 1978. Flanagan is #3 all-time in Orioles’ history in games pitched (450). He is also #3 in games started (328), #5 in wins (141), #3 in innings pitched (2,317 2/3), #4 in strikeouts (1,297), #10 in complete games (98) and he’s #10 in shutouts (17) in Orioles’ history. Mike Flanagan still works for the Orioles as a T.V. announcer, but he used to be one of the best starting pitchers in team history.

UPDATE: (8/25/2011) - Mike Flanagan was found dead on his property yesterday at the age of 59. This is a big loss for the Orioles’ organization. Prayers go out to Mike Flanagan’s family.

42-year old 2B Roberto Alomar has been inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Alomar played 3 years with the Baltimore Orioles from 1996-1998. He played in 412 games in his three years with the Orioles and he was 496 of 1,588 (.312 avg, .862 OPS) with 282 runs scored, 50 homers, 210 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. Alomar made it to the A.L. All-Star team all three years for the Orioles. He also won 2 Gold Gloves and 1 Silver Slugger Award for the O’s. Overall, Alomar played in 2,379 games in his 17 years in the majors and he was 2,724 of 9,073 (.300 avg, .814 OPS) with 1,508 runs scored, 210 homers, 1,134 RBIs and 474 stolen bases.

Cal Ripken Jr. is most associated with going to work everyday. He has the all-time record for most consecutive games played in major league history with 2,632. Ripken was voted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2007. He bursted onto the scene for the Orioles in 1982 when he played in 160 games in which he was 158 of 598 (.264 avg, .792 OPS) with 90 runs scored, 28 homers and 93 RBIs winning the Rookie of the Year Award in the A.L. He followed up his outstanding 1982 season by winning the A.L. MVP Award in 1983. In 1983, Ripken played in 162 games and he was 211 of 663 (.318 avg, .888 OPS) with 121 runs scored, 27 homers and 102 RBIs. Ripken would have to wait another 8 years before winning his second and last MVP Award. Ripken played in 162 games in 1991 and he was 210 of 650 (.323 avg, .940 OPS) with 99 runs scored, 34 homers and 114 RBIs. In Ripken’s 23 years with the O’s, he played in 3,001 games in which he was 3,184 of 11,551 (.276 avg, .788 OPS) with 1,647 runs scored, 431 homers and 1,695 RBIs. Ripken is the Orioles all-time leader in games played (3,001), runs scored (1,647), hits (3,184), doubles (603), homers (431), RBIs (1,695) and walks (1,129). When his career was over Ripken played in 19 All-Star Games, he won 8 Silver Slugger Awards and he won 2 Gold Gloves. Now you see that Ripken was a great player and he did so much more than playing everyday.