1996 Baltimore Orioles

1996 Baltimore Orioles / Franchise: Baltimore Orioles / BR Team Page

Record: 88-74, Finished 2nd in AL Eastern Division (1996 AL)

• Wild Card Clinched: September 27, 1996, At Toronto Blue Jays

Managed by Davey Johnson

Coaches: Pat Dobson, Rick Down, Andy Etchebarren, Elrod Hendricks, Sam Perlozzo and John Stearns

Ballpark: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1996 Baltimore Orioles set an all-time major league record by hitting 257 homers as a team. This record did not last long, as it was beaten by the Seattle Mariners who hit 264 the next year. This was a the heart of a high-slugging era, and the Mariners' mark was not expected to last long either, but it still stood two decades later. The big home run hitters on the Orioles were Brady Anderson, who had a completely uncharacteristic year by hitting 50 long balls (it was more than twice as many as the 24 he hit in his next best season), Rafael Palmeiro (39), Bobby Bonilla (28), Cal Ripken (26), Chris Hoiles (25), Roberto Alomar (22), and B.J. Surhoff (21), giving them power all the way up and down the line-up.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Roberto Alomar, Brady Anderson and Cal Ripken
• Gold Glove: Roberto Alomar (2B) and Mike Mussina (P)
• Silver Slugger Award: Roberto Alomar (2B)

Further Reading

• Mark Maske "ORIOLES LOSE, BUT CLINCH A TIE FOR WILD CARD", Washington Post, September 28, 1996

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