HR in first at-bat

by BirdFanLA on Aug 6, 2008 8:23 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

Just did a little checking -- looks like 97 players have done it before. Only one name jumped out as a great player Will Clark in '86 -- a few others had good careers. A lot of them never did much, including a bunch for whom that was their only career HR. The only Oriole to do it before was Buster Narum in '63. Remember him? -- I sure don't. He was a pitcher and only lasted in the bigs a few years. I guess you could also include Bob Neiman for the Browns in '51 -- he was one of the better players for the poor Oriole teams of the 50s. A few other Orioles did it for other teams. Knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm for the Giants in '53 (remember Gus Triandos with the huge mitt catching him?) -- his only career homer. Also Benny Ayala for the Mets in '74 who was a valuable role-player for the great Oriole teams of the 70's.

But all that aside -- congrats to Montanez on a great, great debut. We all hope it continues!

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Great home run

But the hell happened to the ball he fielded early in the game. I believe Teix was the batter. Did he kick the ball or something?

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 6, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad carom off the concrete at the bottom of the wall

It hit the concrete below the wall and took a wicked bounce. Trembley said just after it happened he simply overran it. Enthusiastic mistake in a strange park.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 6, 2008 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh, thanks

I thought Lou made a strange defensive error ala Ed Rogers ball up the sleeve type of thing.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 6, 2008 11:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...

Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.

-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"

by dayzd toe on Aug 7, 2008 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clark might be the only GREAT player

But some more notables:

Bert Campaneris
Gary Gaetti
Terry Steinbach
Carlos Lee
Jay Bell
Tim Wallach
Jose Offerman
Jermaine Dye

Also: Chris Richard, Hoyt Wilhelm, Esteban Yan

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Aug 7, 2008 7:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I used to love Jay Bell

I don’t know why.

"There is a value to breaking the string of losing seasons as an organization or as a franchise. But breaking that streak can’t come at the expense of doing what you need to do to get your franchise to the point where it can reach the postseason." ~Andy MacPhail

by Stacey on Aug 7, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My best friend hated him

Well, hated might be too strong. But for him, Jay Bell was the guy who showed up in every pack of baseball cards he bought. Couldn’t get away from the dude.

by Brotz13 on Aug 7, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs