Baltimore Orioles Top 5 All-Time Leaders in Career Stolen Bases
By Ben Palmer
5. Mark Belanger/Luis Aparicio – 166 stolen bases
Tied for number five on the list are two shortstops: Mark Belanger and Luis Aparicio with 166 career stolen bases.
Belanger played with the Baltimore Orioles from 1965 to 1981, playing his final season in 1982 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He consistently stole bases in the double digits, but never had an eye popping season.
His best year with the team was the year he earned is one All-Star appearance, in 1976, when he slashed .270/.336/.326 with one home run, 66 runs, 40 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases.
Belanger was never much of an offensive threat aside from his speed, but he was incredible in the field, earning eight Gold Glove awards during his time in Baltimore. He set franchise records in assists, double plays, and career games, records that were all later broken by Cal Ripken Jr.
As for Aparicio, he played with the Orioles from 1963 to 1967 coming from the Chicago White Sox in a trade that sent him and Al Smith to Baltimore for Hoyt Wilhelm, Ron Hansen, Dave Nicholson and Pete Ward.
Aparicio had a dispute with the White Sox management who wanted to reduce his pay after he showed up overweight and had a poor year. He refused and demanded to be traded. Fortunately for the Orioles, he returned to form and played well.
Aparicio was always a great base stealer, and currently ranks at No. 38 on the all-time stolen base leaderboard. His best year with the Orioles came in 1964 when he slashed .266/.324/.363 with 10 home runs, 93 runs, 37 RBIs, and 57 stolen bases.
Over his career, he earned 13 All-Star bids, nine Gold Gloves, the AL Rookie of the Year award, and has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.