1980 Baltimore Orioles season

The 1980 Baltimore Orioles season was the club's 27th season in Baltimore. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 100 wins and 62 losses. This was the last season the Orioles would win 100+ games until 2023.

Offseason

December 6, 1979: John Flinn was traded by the Orioles to the Milwaukee Brewers for Lenn Sakata.^[1]

Spring training

The Orioles played two spring training exhibition games at the Louisiana Superdome against the New York Yankees over the weekend of March 15 and 16, 1980. 45,152 spectators watched the Yankees beat the Orioles 9 to 3 on March 15, 1980. The following day, 43,339 fans saw Floyd Rayford lead the Orioles to a 7 to 1 win over the Yankees.^[2]

Regular season

During the season, Steve Stone became the last pitcher to win at least 25 games for the Orioles in the 20th century.^[3]

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

April 3, 1980: Billy Smith was released by the Orioles.^[4]
April 5, 1980: Steve Luebber was signed as a free agent by the Orioles.^[5]
April 21, 1980: Paul Hartzell was signed as a free agent by the Orioles.^[6]
May 13, 1980: Dave Skaggs was purchased from the Orioles by the California Angels.^[7]
June 3, 1980: 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
- Carl Nichols was drafted by the Orioles in the 4th round.^[8]
- Mark Brown was drafted by the Orioles in the 6th round.^[9]
- Ricky Jones was drafted by the Orioles in the 15th round.^[10]

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Charlotte

Notes

^ John Flinn page at Baseball Reference
^ Associated Press (March 17, 1980). "Big Crowds see Baseball at Superdome". Toledo Blade. Retrieved June 19, 2009.
^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 99, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
^ Billy Smith page at Baseball Reference
^ Steve Luebber page at Baseball Reference
^ Paul Hartzell page at Baseball Reference
^ Dave Skaggs page at Baseball Reference
^ Carl Nichols page at Baseball Reference
^ Mark Brown page at Baseball Reference
^ Ricky Jones page at Baseball-Reference

References

Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
1980 Baltimore Orioles team page at Baseball Reference
1980 Baltimore Orioles season at baseball-almanac.com