Baltimore Used to Beat New York and Boston
by Roarfrom34 on Jan 14, 2010 2:53 PM EST
in O's History
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PrintIn 1954, their first year in Baltimore, the Orioles went 11-11 against the Red Sox. It was the team's best record against any opponent that season.
The O's fortunes against the Yankees, however, were squalid that year -- 5-17, the team's second-worst total against any franchise. (Baltimore was 3-19 versus Cleveland, which won 111 games in 1954.)
And so began the longest-running division rivalries in Orioles history.
Of the seven other teams in the 1954 American League, only New York and Boston have shared a division with Baltimore for the franchise's entire modern history.
In other words, the Evil Empires of the American League East have been thorns in the Orioles' side from the get-go.
Last week I provided a look at "A Historically Bad Decade" and contrasted the team's disappointing recent history against its proud past. This week I'm considering how the Birds have fared through the years against the Yankees and Red Sox.
Not surprisingly, the results are similar.
-Overall, the Orioles have done slightly better against the Yankees than they have against the Red Sox. Unfortunately, they don't hold a winning record against either franchise.
The Birds are 412-497 (.453) all-time against the Yankees and 408-495 (.452) all-time against the Red Sox.
-The O's have had 18 winning seasons against the Yankees and three seasons ('61, '73, '07) where they earned a series split. Baltimore's best showing against New York came in 1966 when the team went 15-3 in head-to-head games.
-The O's have had 17 winning seasons against the Red Sox and five seasons ('54, '68, '71, '75, and '98) where they earned a series split. Baltimore's best showing against Boston came in 1960 when the team went 16-6 in head-to-head games.
-The Orioles' worst season against each franchise came at different times, but the record was the same each time. The O's were 1-12 against the Yankees in 1985 and 1-12 against the Red Sox in 1987.
-Bring back the '60s and '70s. The Orioles posted winning percentages of .603 and .549 against the Yankees and .571 and .509 against the Red Sox in those successive, successful decades.
The O's did not lose a season series against the Yankees for 11 straight seasons from 1964 through 1974. Meanwhile, the Birds did not lose a season series against the Red Sox for eight consecutive seasons from 1964 through 1971.
-The 1960s were the only decade when the Orioles won 100 or more games against both franchises. Conversely, the 2000s were the only decade when they lost 100 or more games against both franchises.
By the way, the 2000s were every bit as bad as you remember them: 62-116 (.348) against New York, 64-114 (.360) against Boston.
-Finally, as if you needed a reminder, Baltimore's last winning season against the Yankees came in 1997 when they went 8-4 (note: the O's did split with the Yankees in 2007); Baltimore's last winning season against the Red Sox came in 2004 when they went 10-9.
Here's to rivalries in the 2010s that look more like those of the '60s and '70s Can you dig it, man?
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Ugh
We all know that the Red Sox and Yankees have been very good in the recent past, but you have to also give some of that credit to the Orioles and Devil Rays for fielding such awful teams against them.
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
Factoid:
There was a period in the late 70s/early 80s where the Orioles were the only club in the major leagues with a lifetime winning record against the Yankees.
I’d tell you exactly when, but I don’t know where to get “lifetime series” data. Where did you get your stats?
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
Not sure if this is what he used
But Baseball Reference has a head to head record generator.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/games/head2head.shtml
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
I created a spreadsheet based on data from Baseball Reference
Here’s the link to Google Docs: O’s vs. Evil Empires
I just went over to baseball reference myself
I was under the impression the Yankees were bad in the ’80’s. I looked at the year by year and they had a winning record practically every year, they just didn’t make the playoffs all that often, but by no means were they bad.
God, I hate the Yankees.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
late 80s they were pretty bad
like 1988 through 1992 or so, IIRC
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
i'll pinpoint it...
i seem to recall the point where the yankees picked up rickey henderson that things got noticeably irritating.
…but, then there was steve balboni and how could i stay mad at him?
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
by j.q. higgins on Jan 14, 2010 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
This was all extremely interesting, really. But I DID throw up. Twice.
First chunky style at the Yerkee data, then creamy smooth all over the Sawx.
I feel much better now, thanks (no dry heaves). I’m reserving projectile vomit, btw, for the Commissioner’s next visit to OPACY
p.s. Boy, that 1954 season was one Rich Man / Poor barn-burner, weren’t it? The Yerks won 103 games — and finished 8 games out! The WrightSox won 94 and might as well have been down a mine shaft somewhere at 17 back. And nobody else in the 8-team league was within shouting distance of .500.
Yikes!
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
by Titov on Jan 14, 2010 4:28 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
And I'd forgotten that the A's were still in Philly then.
Actually, at 51-103, maybe they’d already left.
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
I remember thinking in 2007
that the Orioles would have a winning season against the Yanks. Then we got swept in the last series (or maybe it was 3-1). All I know was that i was so bummed. On the plus side I think I saw Cabrera shut down the yanks for one game
It was a reasonable expectation.
By late August of 2007 the Orioles were 8-4 against the Yankees with six games remaining. All they had to do was go 2-4 in those games and they would’ve clinched the season series. Instead, they went 1-5 and earned a split. During most seasons a 9-9 record against the Yankees would be fairly satisfying, but it really stung in 2007.
Things had looked so promising that summer. The Birds took two of three in New York in mid-August, including the Aug. 15 getaway game where they blew a three-run lead in the 9th inning only to rally for three more runs off Mariano Rivera – Mariano freakin’ Rivera! – in the top of the 10th starting with Nick Markakis’ lead-off double.
Exactly one week later was the 30-3 game against the Rangers and the team’s complete free fall from there. That bullpen was awful.
Stacey: This person needs Abusive Boyfriend Counseling
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
Only Surprise Here..
Is that apparently O’s were better in 60’s than 70’s, at least against the two rivals. Would have thought that the team was more consistently good in 70’s, compared with 60’s where they had some great years — 60, 66, 69 — and a lot of so-so years. The “It can be done in ’61” year was actually pretty great, too. I think they actually won more games than in ‘60 but did not come anywhere near as close to pennant since Yankees were monsters, the year when Mantle and Maris were both going after Ruth’s home run record.
"Killing a Yankee fan -- is that illegal in this state?" -- Homicide Life on the Street
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