Baltimore Orioles: The Five Best Home Run Hitters of All-Time
The Baltimore Orioles have one of the deepest and most notable histories in baseball and the list of the Orioles top home run hitters of all-time hold multiple Hall of Fame players.
From the debut of the Baltimore Orioles in 1954 to their first world series championship in 1966 and again in 1970 and 1983, the franchise has four players with at least 200 home runs (Chris Davis‘ 199 home runs, soon to be the fifth player). Two players with over 300 home runs, and one Hall of Famer with a grand 431 home runs.
In 2016, the Baltimore Orioles array of power hitters unleashed a total of 253 home runs, challenging the 1997 Seattle Mariners all-time single-season home run record of 264. The Orioles have landed in the top five for home runs by a team six consecutive seasons, dating back to 2011.
The following list is based off the most feared and powerful home run hitters in Baltimore Orioles history, not the amount of career home runs by a player.
Let’s examine the top five best home run hitters in Baltimore Orioles history.
5. Chris Davis, 1B
Following his first full season with the Orioles in 2012 where he smacked 33 home runs, Chris Davis made a name for himself in 2013 where he hit a franchise best 53 home runs in a single season. The only other Oriole to hit at least 50 home runs in a season was in 1996 when Brady Anderson struck 50 dingers. Davis dominated right-handed pitchers in the 2013 season, bashing 40 of his 53 home runs against righties compared to just 13 against left-handed pitchers.
In a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 20th, 2014, Davis became the 20th Oriole to hit three home runs in a single game. His three round tripper’s against the Pirates was not the first time he’s hit three homers in a game. Davis’ first three home run game came against the Blue Jays during his first year with the Orioles. Crush Davis joins Hall of Famer Eddie Murray and power hitter Boog Powell as the only three players in franchise history to homer three times in different games.
Since 2013, the Texas native has been one of the league’s most feared home run hitters. Davis led the league in home runs in 2013 and 2015, including a top three finish in 2016. The Oriole slugger has finished in the top-10 for home runs in the American League every year since being on the Orioles. Since joining the Orioles in 2012, Davis has shattered 199 home runs, eighth best in Orioles’ history.
Despite leading the league in strikeouts the past two seasons, Davis’ home run power is still there. The 30-year-old has launched a home run shot to Eutaw Street a record eight times. According to Orioles.com, Davis’ longest home run on Eutaw Street came in a loss against the Cleveland Indians on June 30, 2012, where he launched a home run off Josh Tomlin that traveled 431 feet.