Bluefield Orioles

• Location: Bluefield, WV
• League: Appalachian League 1958-2010
• Affiliation: Baltimore Orioles 1958-2010
• Ballpark: Bowen Field
• Notable Alumni: Don Baylor, Mark Belanger, Mike Boddicker, Dean Chance, Doug DeCinces, Bobby Grich, Sparky Lyle, Eddie Murray, Boog Powell, Cal Ripken Jr.

Team History

The Bluefield Orioles began play as a Baltimore Orioles farm team in the Appalachian League in 1958. In 1957, the league's inaugural year, the team was known as the Bluefield Dodgers. Their affiliation with the O's was the longest current affiliation of any minor league team for a number of years. Cal Ripken Jr. made his pro debut with the 1978 Bluefield Orioles. During the 2010 season it was announced the Orioles would not return in 2011. They were replaced by the Toronto Blue Jays and the newly named Bluefield Blue Jays.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Hitting Coach	Pitching Coach	Coach	Playoffs
1958	21-51	5th	Barney Lutz (8-21) / Fred Hofmann (interim) / Bob Hooper				none
1959	37-32	4th	Bob Hooper				none
1960	35-22	3rd	Barney Lutz				none
1961	34-34	4th	Dee Phillips / Walter Youse / Joe Cusick / Buddy Bates				none
1962	47-23	1st	Billy Hunter				League Champs
1963	45-24	1st	Billy Hunter				League Champs
1964	27-44	4th	Jim Frey				none
1965	31-38	5th	Jim Frey				none
1966	38-33	3rd	Joe Altobelli				none
1967	42-25	1st	Joe Altobelli				League Champs
1968	23-49	4th	Ken Rowe				none
1969	33-36	5th	Jackie Ferrell				none
1970	38-21	1st	Ray Malgradi				none
1971	42-27	1st	Jimmie Schaffer				League Champs
1972	36-32	5th	George Farson				none
1973	37-33	4th	George Farson				none
1974	37-32	3rd	Bobby Malkmus				none
1975	26-43	8th	Paul Flesner				none
1976	42-28	2nd	Ben Hines				none
1977	29-40	5th	Junior Miner				none
1978	29-40	6th	Junior Miner				none
1979	33-35	4th	Junior Miner				none
1980	29-39	5th	Grady Little				none
1981	36-34	3rd	Lance Nichols				none
1982	47-22	1st	John Hart				League Champs
1983	33-38	5th	Greg Biagini		Dom Chiti		none
1984	32-38	6th	Greg Biagini		Dom Chiti		none
1985	36-34	4th	Mike Verdi				none
1986	39-29	3rd	Glenn Gulliver				none
1987	37-32	4th	Jim Pamlanye				none
1988	24-47	10th	Glenn Gulliver				none
1989	27-41	10th	Mike Young		Chet Nichols		none
1990	38-32	4th	Gus Gil		Larry McCall		none
1991	36-31	5th (t)	Gus Gil	Mike Tullier	Chris Lein		none
1992	37-25	2nd	Mike O'Berry	Len Johnston	Charlie Puleo		League Champs
1993	44-24	1st (t)	Andy Etchebarren	Len Johnston	Jeff Morris		none
1994	39-29	3rd	Andy Etchebarren	Len Johnston	Charlie Puleo		none
1995	49-16	1st	Andy Etchebarren	Tommy Shields			Lost League Finals
1996	42-26	2nd (t)	Bobby Dickerson	Dan Simonds	Charlie Puleo		League Champs
1997	40-29	2nd	Bobby Dickerson			Jerry Greeley	League Champs
1998	33-34	5th	Andy Etchebarren	Len Johnston	Charlie Puleo	Jerry Greeley	none
1999	25-43	8th	Duffy Dyer	Len Johnston	Charlie Puleo		none
2000	31-32	7th	Duffy Dyer	Gary Kendall	Bob Lacey		none
2001	33-33	4th	Joe Almaraz	Gary Kendall	Blaise Ilsley		League Champs
2002	45-23	1st	Bien Figueroa				Lost League Finals
2003	23-40	9th	Don Buford	Hensley Meulens	Andre Rabouin		none
2004	28-39	8th	Gary Kendall	Hensley Meulens	Larry Jaster		none
2005	31-36	5th	Jesus Alfaro		Larry Jaster	Jerry Greeley	none
2006	31-37	8th	Gary Allenson	Dave Cash	Larry Jaster	Jerry Greeley	none
2007	32-36	6th	Alex Arias	Jim Saul	Troy Mattes	Jerry Greeley	none
2008	29-36	8th	Orlando Gomez	Jim Saul	Troy Mattes	Jerry Greeley	none
2009	33-35	5th	Einar Diaz	Jim Saul	Troy Mattes	Jerry Greeley	none
2010	23-45	10th	Einar Diaz	Rich Morales	Larry McCall	Jerry Greeley	none

Further Reading

• Thomas Boswell: "Rookies in God's Country", in How Life Imitates the World Series, Penguin Books, New York, 1982, pp. 120-126.