Baltimore Orioles: The Five Best Home Run Hitters of All-Time
2. Eddie Murray, 1B
On April 7, 1977, 21-year-old Eddie Murray made his major league debut with the Baltimore Orioles in a season where he hit 27 home runs with 88 RBIs and was the recipient of the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
In his first 12 seasons with the Orioles, Murray hit 333 home runs and had at least 20 homers in 11 of his first 12 seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1989. From 1977-1988, the Oriole legend finished in the top 10 in the MLB for home runs eight times, including five top-5 appearances.
Murray’s most magical season with the Orioles was in 1983 when he delivered 33 home runs to lead the Orioles to a division title. The magic didn’t end there for Murray and the Orioles as the team captured its third World Series title in franchise history. En-route to the World Series, Murray hit three postseason home runs. His first came in an ALCS game three rout over the Cleveland Indians. Murray then went on to hit two home runs in game five shutout win over the Philadelphia Phillies to lift the Orioles to a World Series championship.
After being traded in 1989, Murray returned for his 13th season with the Orioles in 1996. The switch-hitting slugger hit his historic 500th home run in the orange and black.
Murray’s 343 home runs rank second all-time only behind the greatest Oriole of all-time, Cal Ripken, Jr.