The 1996 Baltimore Orioles season was the 96th season in Baltimore Orioles franchise history, the 43rd in Baltimore, and the 5th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Orioles finished second in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses and qualifying for the post-season as the Wild Card team. The Orioles broke the all-time record for most home runs hit by a team (set at 240 by the 1961 New York Yankees) with 257. During the season, four Orioles scored at least 100 runs, four drove in at least 100 runs and nine hit at least 20 home runs (Eddie Murray hit 10 home runs with the Indians before being traded to the Orioles, where he would hit 12 more home runs for a total of 22 for the season. Todd Zeile hit 20 home runs with the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League before he was traded to the Orioles, which technically did not count for his home run total for the season after being traded to the American League Orioles). The Orioles pitching staff allowed 209 home runs, 1,604 hits and had an ERA of 5.15. The Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS and then lost in the ALCS to the New York Yankees.
Offseason
November 22, 1995: Clay Bellinger was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles. December 14, 1995: Randy Myers signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.Randy Myers Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 20, 1995: B. J. Surhoff was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.B. J. Surhoff Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 23, 1995: Billy Ripken was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.Billy Ripken Statistics Baseball-Reference.com March 13, 1996: Sherman Obando was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Montreal Expos for Tony Tarasco.
Regular season On September 27 in Toronto, Roberto Alomar spat at home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck after getting thrown out of a game for arguing a called third strike.The Spit Hits The Fan Time
Opening Day starters Roberto Alomar Brady Anderson Bobby Bonilla Jeffrey Hammonds Chris Hoiles Mike Mussina Rafael Palmeiro Cal Ripken Jr. B. J. Surhoff Tony Tarasco1996 Baltimore Orioles Roster by Baseball Almanac
Notable transactions December 21, 1995: Roberto Alomar was signed as a free agent. December 26, 1995: Traded Curtis Goodwin and Trovin Valdez to Cincinnati Reds for David Wells. April 19, 1996: Luis Polonia was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.Luis Polonia Statistics Baseball-Reference.com June 6, 1996: Todd Frohwirth was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles. August 12, 1996: Luis Polonia was released by the Baltimore Orioles. August 23, 1996: Gregg Zaun was sent by the Baltimore Orioles to the Florida Marlins to complete an earlier deal made on August 21, 1996. The Baltimore Orioles sent a player to be named later to the Florida Marlins for Terry Mathews. The Baltimore Orioles sent Gregg Zaun (August 23, 1996) to the Florida Marlins to complete the trade.Gregg Zaun Statistics Baseball-Reference.com August 29, 1996: Traded Calvin Maduro and Garrett Stephenson to Philadelphia Phillies for Todd Zeile and Pete Incaviglia.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 2 || Royals || 4–2 || Mussina (1–0) || Appier || Myers (1) || 46,818 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || Royals || 7–1 || Wells (1–0) || Gubicza || — || 40,068 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 4 || Royals || 5–3 || Rhodes (1–0) || Pichardo || Myers (2) || 38,753 || 3–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || @ Twins || 2–1 || Mercker (1–0) || Guardado || Myers (3) || 22,744 || 4–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 6 || @ Twins || 3–8 || Radke || Haynes (0–1) || — || 22,334 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 7 || @ Twins || 4–2 || Mussina (2–0) || Robertson || Myers (4) || 14,580 || 5–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 10 || Indians || 3–2 (10) || Orosco (1–0) || Tavarez || — || 45,097 || 6–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 11 || Indians || 14–4 || Erickson (1–0) || Hershiser || Rhodes (1) || 43,189 || 7–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 12 || Twins || 3–2 || Mussina (3–0) || Robertson || — || 42,602 || 8–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 13 || Twins || 7–6 || Benitez (1–0) || Mahomes || — || 42,644 || 9–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 14 || Twins || 1–4 || Rodriguez || Haynes (0–2) || Stevens || 42,660 || 9–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 16 || Red Sox || 6–1 || Wells (2–0) || Clemens || — || 40,017 || 10–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 17 || Red Sox || 6–5 (12) || Rhodes (2–0) || Maddux || — || 40,258 || 11–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 18 || Red Sox || 7–10 || Moyer || Mussina (3–1) || Slocumb || 47,283 || 11–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 19 || @ Rangers || 7–26 || Cook || Mercker (1–1) || Vosberg || 41,184 || 11–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 20 || @ Rangers || 3–8 || Gross || Haynes (0–3) || — || 45,358 || 11–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 21 || @ Rangers || 6–9 || Oliver || Wells (2–1) || — || 39,456 || 11–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 22 || @ Indians || 3–6 || Nagy || Erickson (1–1) || Mesa || 42,236 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 23 || @ Indians || 8–9 || Ogea || Mussina (3–2) || Mesa || 40,770 || 11–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 24 || @ Royals || 11–8 || Mercker (2–1) || Haney || — || 13,962 || 12–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || April 25 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Rhodes (3–0) || Valera || Myers (5) || 16,090 || 13–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 26 || Rangers || 4–5 || Brandenburg || Wells (2–2) || Henneman || 44,022 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 27 || Rangers || 2–4 || Witt || Erickson (1–2) || Vosberg || 47,311 || 13–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 28 || Rangers || 4–5 (10) || Heredia || McDowell (0–1) || Henneman || 47,327 || 13–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 29 || Rangers || 8–7 || Haynes (1–3) || Helling || Myers (6) || 41,503 || 14–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 30 || Yankees || 10–13 || Nelson || Shepherd (0–1) || Wetteland || 43,117 || 14–12
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 1 || Yankees || 6–11 (15) || Pettitte || Mercker (2–2) || — || 47,472 || 14–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 3 || Brewers || 8–2 || Erickson (2–2) || Bones || — || 41,037 || 15–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 4 || Brewers || 10–5 || Mussina (4–2) || Sparks || — || 44,175 || 16–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 5 || Brewers || 1–13 || McDonald || Haynes (1–4) || — || 46,027 || 16–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 7 || @ White Sox || 2–3 || Fernandez || Wells (2–3) || Hernandez || 16,130 || 16–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 8 || @ White Sox || 2–11 || Baldwin || Erickson (2–3) || — || 14,974 || 16–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 9 || @ White Sox || 6–4 || Mussina (5–2) || Alvarez || Myers (7) || 14,507 || 17–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 10 || @ Brewers || 10–7 (12) || Orosco (2–0) || Garcia || McDowell (1) || 9,520 || 18–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 11 || @ Brewers || 5–3 (10) || Rhodes (4–0) || Potts || Myers (8) || 21,081 || 19–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 12 || @ Brewers || 4–6 || Miranda || Erickson (2–4) || Fetters || 14,333 || 19–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 13 || @ Athletics || 4–3 || Krivda (1–0) || Johns || Myers (9) || 8,204 || 20–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 14 || @ Athletics || 9–1 || Mussina (6–2) || Reyes || — || 8,466 || 21–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 17 || Mariners || 14–13 || Mills (1–0) || Charlton || — || 47,259 || 22–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 18 || Mariners || 3–7 || Milacki || Mercker (2–3) || — || 46,434 || 22–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 19 || Mariners || 8–7 || Mussina (7–2) || Hurtado || Myers (10) || 47,565 || 23–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 20 || Angels || 13–1 || Wells (3–3) || Grimsley || — || 43,492 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 21 || Angels || 2–5 || Boskie || Krivda (1–1) || Percival || 39,974 || 24–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 22 || Angels || 10–5 || Haynes (2–4) || Abbott || McDowell (2) || 45,817 || 25–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 24 || Athletics || 5–4 (10) || McDowell (1–1) || Reyes || — || 45,024 || 26–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 25 || Athletics || 3–6 || Johns || Wells (3–4) || Groom || 47,353 || 26–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 26 || Athletics || 6–1 || Mercker (3–3) || Chouinard || McDowell (3) || 47,401 || 27–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 28 || @ Mariners || 12–8 || Rhodes (5–0) || Guetterman || Haynes (1) || 23,235 || 28–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 29 || @ Mariners || 8–9 || Charlton || Myers (0–1) || — || 20,253 || 28–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 31 || @ Angels || 3–10 || Langston || Wells (3–5) || — || 21,603 || 28–22
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 1 || @ Angels || 3–8 || Boskie || Haynes (2–5) || — || 35,350 || 28–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 2 || @ Angels || 14–1 || Erickson (3–4) || Abbott || — || 33,704 || 29–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 4 || Tigers || 10–7 || Mussina (8–2) || Gohr || Myers (11) || 43,727 || 30–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 5 || Tigers || 6–4 || Rhodes (6–0) || Myers || Myers (12) || 43,087 || 31–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 6 || Tigers || 13–6 || Krivda (2–1) || Lira || — || 46,269 || 32–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 7 || White Sox || 2–8 || Fernandez || Erickson (3–5) || — || 47,209 || 32–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 8 || White Sox || 1–2 || Baldwin || Mercker (3–4) || Hernandez || 47,634 || 32–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 9 || White Sox || 9–12 || Karchner || Mussina (8–3) || Hernandez || 47,352 || 32–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 10 || @ Tigers || 3–8 || Olivares || Wells (3–6) || — || 10,655 || 32–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 11 || @ Tigers || 12–9 || Coppinger (1–0) || Lira || — || 10,874 || 33–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 12 || @ Tigers || 10–7 || Rhodes (7–0) || Lewis || Myers (13) || 12,043 || 34–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 13 || @ Royals || 2–10 || Linton || Mercker (3–5) || — || 20,108 || 34–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 14 || @ Royals || 6–1 || Mussina (9–3) || Gubicza || — || 28,502 || 35–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 15 || @ Royals || 6–7 (16) || Magnante || Krivda (2–2) || — || 24,784 || 35–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 16 || @ Royals || 13–5 || Coppinger (2–0) || Jacome || Mills (1) || 19,437 || 36–29 |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 66 || June 17 || Rangers || 1–1 (6) || || || — || 45,581 || 36–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 18 || Rangers || 0–7 || Oliver || Mercker (3–6) || — || 47,318 || 36–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 19 || Rangers || 2–3 || Witt || Mussina (9–4) || Russell || 45,581 || 36–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 20 || Rangers || 3–2 || Wells (4–6) || Gross || Myers (14) || 21,748 || 37–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 21 || Royals || 9–3 || Rhodes (8–0) || Haney || — || 47,644 || 38–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || June 22 || Royals || 5–3 || Erickson (4–5) || Montgomery || — || 47,534 || 39–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 23 || Royals || 0–4 || Appier || Krivda (2–3) || — || 47,608 || 39–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 24 || @ Rangers || 8–3 || Mussina (10–4) || Witt || — || 39,701 || 40–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 25 || @ Rangers || 2–5 || Gross || Wells (4–7) || Henneman || 41,685 || 40–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 26 || @ Rangers || 5–6 || Cook || Orosco (2–1) || Henneman || 38,984 || 40–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 27 || @ Yankees || 2–3 || Rogers || Erickson (4–6) || Wetteland || 34,161 || 40–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 28 || @ Yankees || 7–4 || Rhodes (9–0) || Rivera || Myers (15) || 43,515 || 41–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 29 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Pettitte || Mussina (10–5) || Wetteland || 45,295 || 41–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 30 || @ Yankees || 9–1 || Wells (5–7) || Mendoza || — || 40,200 || 42–36
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 1 || @ Blue Jays || 7–4 || Coppinger (3–0) || Hentgen || Myers (16) || 43,377 || 43–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"