Baltimore Orioles All-Time Best Rule 5 Draft Picks
By Ben Palmer
1. Paul Blair – Selected from the New York Mets in 1962
At best, most teams hope for a role player from the Rule 5 Draft. Rarely do you ever get a really good player, and even rarer is it that you get an All-Star.
The Orioles got that rare player in 1962 with Paul Blair. Blair struggled during his time with the Mets and even struggled at first with the Orioles, but once he came into his own, he became a major part of the Orioles roster.
Blair’s best season came in 1969 when he batted .285/.327/.477 with 26 HRs, 102 R, 76 RBIs, and 20 SBs, earning him his first of two All-Star selections.
After 13 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Blair finished with two All-Star appearances, two World Series rings, and eight Gold Glove awards.
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Blair was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1984 and is, without a doubt, one of the most valuable players in the history of the Orioles franchise.