1977 Baltimore Orioles season

The 1977 Baltimore Orioles season was the 77th season in Baltimore Orioles franchise history, the 24th in Baltimore, and the 24th at Memorial Stadium. The Orioles finished tied for second place in the American League East with a record of 97 wins and 64 losses. The Orioles stayed in contention for the division title until an 11–10 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 30."Red Sox Oust Orioles, 11–10, To Stay Alive," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, September 30, 1977. Retrieved April 18 2023. They in turn eliminated the Red Sox 8–7 the following day on October 1."Six Oriole Homers Eliminate Boston at Fenway, 8–7," The New York Times, Sunday, October 2, 1977. Retrieved April 18 2023.

The Orioles entered the campaign with diminished expectations because of the departures of Reggie Jackson, Bobby Grich and Wayne Garland via free agency.Povich, Shirley. "Orioles Seem Destined for Third Place," The Washington Post, Wednesday, March 23, 1977. Retrieved April 18 2023. The team's biggest boost came from Eddie Murray who hit .283 with 27 home runs and 88 runs batted in (RBI) and was named the American League Rookie of the Year on November 21. He also batted .364 with nine homers and 26 RBI during the last 31 games of the season."Eddie Murray Rookie Of Year In AL," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, November 22, 1977. Retrieved April 18 2023.

The Orioles lost a five-inning 4–0 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium on September 15 via forfeit because of third-base umpire Marty Springstead's refusal to have a tarpaulin covering the pitcher's mounds in the home team's bullpen in the left-field corner removed. Out of concern for the safety of his left fielder Andrés Mora, manager Earl Weaver protested Springstead's decision by pulling his team off the field. The forfeit was declared after 15 minutes had elapsed and the Orioles had not returned. Weaver explained, "Mora almost broke his leg on that damn thing yesterday. If that had not happened, I might not have thought of it. If a guy slips out there and hurts his leg, how am I gonna feel?""Orioles Forfeit Game to the Jays in Dispute over Bullpen Mound," United Press International (UPI), Friday, September 16, 1977. Retrieved April 19, 2023. American League president Lee MacPhail upheld the forfeit two days later on September 17. Even though he said that Weaver's concern for his players' safety was "not only understandable, but commendable", MacPhail stated, "There is a basic principle involved here, and that is that someone involved as a competitor cannot be allowed to dictate decisions that must be made by a neutral official."Montgomery, Paul L. "But Baltimore Loses Appeal to League Over Forfeit," The New York Times, Sunday, September 18, 1977. Retrieved April 19, 2023.

The Orioles drew 1,195,769 which at the time was the second-highest home attendance total since the franchise's first season in Baltimore in 1954, surpassed by only 1,203,366 in 1966.Scannell, Nancy. "Orioles Expect Loss At Gate of 150,000, Substantial Deficit," The Washington Post, Sunday, September 10, 1978. Retrieved April 18 2023. A 10–4 defeat to the Red Sox at Memorial Stadium on September 18 drew 51,798, then the largest crowd to attend an Orioles home regular-season game, who paid tribute to Brooks Robinson who had announced his retirement as an active player one month prior on August 21.Montgomery, Paul L. "Red Sox Set Back Orioles, 10–4, As Both End Ungainful Weekend," The New York Times, Monday, September 19, 1977. Retrieved April 19, 2023. The ballclub sustained a net operating loss of $43,846, primarily because of a $499,000 increase in player payroll in the first year of Major League Baseball (MLB) free agency.

Offseason November 1, 1976: Darryl Cias was released by the Orioles.Darryl Cias page at Baseball Reference November 5, 1976: 1976 MLB expansion draft Bob Galasso was selected from the Orioles by the Seattle Mariners.Bob Galasso page at Baseball Reference Dave Pagan was selected from the Orioles by the Seattle Mariners.Dave Pagan page at Baseball Reference December 15, 1976: Bob Babcock was traded by the Orioles to the Texas Rangers for Dave Criscione.Dave Criscione page at Baseball Reference January 11, 1977: John Shelby was drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.John Shelby page at Baseball Reference January 20, 1977: Paul Blair was traded by the Orioles to the New York Yankees for Elliott Maddox and Rick Bladt.Paul Blair page at Baseball Reference February 8, 1977: Billy Smith was signed as a free agent by the Orioles.Billy Smith page at Baseball Reference February 11, 1977: Vic Rodriguez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Orioles.Vic Rodriguez page at Baseball Reference

Regular season BrooksRobinson3BRetired 1977

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions May 26, 1977: Randy Stein was acquired from the Orioles by the New York Yankees.Randy Stein page at Baseball Reference June 13, 1977: Dyar Miller was traded by the Orioles to the California Angels for Dick Drago.Dick Drago page at Baseball Reference July 27, 1977: Ken Rudolph was purchased by the Orioles from the San Francisco Giants.Ken Rudolph page at Baseball Reference September 19, 1977: Nelson Briles was purchased by the Orioles from the Texas Rangers.Nelson Briles transactions at Baseball Reference

Roster 1977 Baltimore Orioles Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches (Pitching) (First base) (Third base) (Bullpen/Third base)

Game log Regular season Past games legend Orioles Win (#bfb) Orioles Loss (#fbb) Game postponed (#bbb) Eliminated from playoff spot (#933) Bold denotes an Orioles pitcher

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || || 8:40p.m. EDT || Yankees || 6–9 || Tidrow (2–1) || D. Martínez (0–1) || Lyle (4) || 3:06 || 17,624 || 7–6 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || || 7:31p.m. EDT || Yankees || 6–2 || May (2–2) || Holtzman (1–1) || — || 2:15 || 12,884 || 8–6 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || || 7:32p.m. EDT || Yankees || 3–4 || Lyle (1–1) || D. Martínez (0–2) || — || 2:51 || 15,647 || 8–7 || L1

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 1–9 || Figueroa (5–2) || Flanagan (1–2) || — || 2:09 || 15,909 || 17–14 || L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 6–5 || D. Martínez (2–2) || Tidrow (2–2) || — || 3:01 || 25,872 || 18–14 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || || 2:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 4–3 || T. Martinez (1–0) || Lyle (2–2) || — || 3:12 || 19,968 || 19–14 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 34 || || 1:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 5–1 || May (5–4) || Hunter (1–3) || — || 2:23 || — || 20–14 || W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || || 3:48p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 2–8 || Guidry (3–0) || McGregor (1–1) || — || 2:19 || 43,285 || 20–15 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || || 5:34p.m. EDT || Royals || 1–4 || Splittorff (3–4) || Grimsley (4–3) || Gura (4) || 2:23 || — || 22–16 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || || 8:25p.m. EDT || Royals || 7–2 || D. Martínez (3–2) || Colburn (5–5) || — || 2:56 || 11,388 || 23–16 || W1

|-style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Royals || 7–6 || Grimsley (6–3) || Bird (2–1) || T. Martinez (1) || 3:00 || 21,878 || 27–20 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || || 6:00p.m. EDT || @ Royals || 5–4 || D. Martínez (4–2) || Colburn (6–6) || — || 2:21 || — || 28–20 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || || 8:56p.m. EDT || @ Royals || 13–14 || Gura (3–1) || Flanagan (1–5) || — || 3:36 || 36,931 || 28–21 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || || 2:30p.m. EDT || @ Royals

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 83 || || 7:37p.m. EDT || Yankees || 5–7 || Gullett (7–3) || May (10–8) || Lyle (14) || 2:52 || 33,738 || 46–375 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 84 || || 7:38p.m. EDT || Yankees || 6–5 || T. Martinez (2–0) || Lyle (7–3) || Drago (4) || 2:34 || 44,193 || 47–37 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 85 || || 2:11p.m. EDT || Yankees || 6–0 || Grimsley (8–4) || Figueroa (8–7) || — || 2:12 || 34,299 || 48–37 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 86 || || 8:39p.m. EDT || Yankees || 4–3 || Flanagan (6–8) || Torrez (8–8) || — || 2:56 || 42,603 || 49–37 || W3 |- bgcolor=#bbcaff | ASG || || 8:15p.m. EDT || 48th All-Star Game in Bronx, NYNL @ AL || 5–7 || – || – || – || 2:34 || 56,683 || – || ASG |-style="background:#fbb;" | 98 || || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Lyle (8–3) || McGregor (1–2) || — || 2:48 || 32,097 || 56–42 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 99 || || 8:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 6–4 || Palmer (12–8) || Hunter (6–5) || T. Martinez (5) || 3:15 || 47,271 || 57–42 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 100 || || 2:00p.m. EDT || @ Yankees || 2–14 || Torrez (9–10) || May (11–9) || — || 2:40 || 40,818 || 57–43 || L1

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 121 || || 8:30p.m. EDT || @ Royals |-style="background:#fbb;" | 122 || || 8:30p.m. EDT || @ Royals |-style="background:#fbb;" | 125 || || 7:38p.m. EDT || Royals |-style="background:#bfb;" | 126 || || 7:33p.m. EDT || Royals |-style="background:#fbb;" | 127 || || 2:08p.m. EDT || Royals

Detailed records

American League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed AL East Baltimore Orioles — — — — — — New York Yankees 4–4 4–3 8–7 66 79 Div Total 4–4 4–3 8–7 66 79 AL West Kansas City Royals 2–4 2–3 4–7 51 57 Div Total 2–4 2–3 4–7 51 57 Season Total 6–8 6–6 12–14 117 136

Month Games Won Lost Win % Total Games Won Lost Win % Home Away Total

Composite Box + 1977 Baltimore Orioles Inning–by–Inning Boxscore Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 R H E Opponents Orioles Sources:

Starting Lineups Regular Season Batting Order

|- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |31 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |32 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |33 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |34 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |35 | ! style=";" |@ NYY

|- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |83 | ! style=";" |NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |84 | ! style=";" |NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |85 | ! style=";" |NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |86 | ! style=";" |NYY |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |98 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |99 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |100 | ! style=";" |@ NYY

Defensive Lineup

| #43May |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |15 | ! style=";" |NYY

| #39McGregor

|- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |31 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |32 | ! style=";" |@ NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |33 | ! style=";" |@ NYY

| #43May |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |35 | ! style=";" |@ NYY

| #39McGregor

|- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |83 | ! style=";" |NYY

| #43May |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |84 | ! style=";" |NYY |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |85 | ! style=";" |NYY

| #48Grimsley |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |86 | ! style=";" |NYY |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |98 | ! style=";" |@ NYY

1977 Baltimore Orioles season

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