Baltimore Orioles Top 5 Stolen Base Leaders of All-Time

4. Paul Blair, 167 Stolen Bases

Blair’s time with the Orioles overlapped with Aparicio and Belanger, as his career started in 1965. The long-time Oriole played 13 years in an Orioles’ uniform, with double digits in stolen bases seven times. The 30-year-old center fielder had his best season in 1974 when he stole 27 bases.

Much like Belanger, Blair was known for his defense Blair won eight Gold Gloves, including seven in a row from 1969 to 1975.

Blair was a .254/306/.388 hitter during his career in Baltimore, amassing 126 home runs, 51 triples, 269 doubles, 1426 hits, 737 runs scored and 567 runs batted in during that period.

Blair’s best season as an Oriole came in 1969. The center fielder hit .285/.327/.477 with 26 home runs, 32 doubles, 76 runs batted in, 178 hits and 102 runs scored. Each of those numbers was a career-high, as Blair led the team to the World Series.

But, he struggled mightily in that World Series, hitting .100 with only two hits in 20 at-bats as the Orioles lost to the New York Mets. He rebounded in the World Series the next year, as the Orioles beat the Cincinnati Reds. Blair hit .474 with nine hits in 19 at-bats, three runs batted in and a double.

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Blair consistently was in the top 10 in assists and putouts as a center fielder, showing that he had not only the speed and range but also the arm to be a productive center fielder.

Most Oriole long-time fans say they will never see another Blair in CF in Baltimore, and they are likely right. Blair was indeed an exceptional talent for the Orioles during their success in the late 60s and early 70s.