1963 Topps - Steve Barber

From 1963 to 1984 the Orioles had eleven 20 game winners over a span of 24 years including 13 years in a row, 68’ through 80’. Wow! Eleven pitchers in total winning 20 games or more. 

Palmer with an incredible eight 20 win seasons. Also McNally, Cuellar, Flanagan, McGregor, Pat Dobson, Boddicker, Garland, and Mike Torrez. 

But it was this guy, Steve Barber that accomplished it first. Barber was the first of the modern day Orioles to reach that elusive number. Steve was a hometown guy, growing up just 40 minutes south of Memorial Stadium in Silver Spring, Md. 

Steve played in Baltimore for eight years, with only 2 sub .500 seasons. His best year was 63’ when he went 20-13 with a 2.75 ERA and 11 complete games. A pitcher playing in todays game with those numbers would be the talk of baseball. 

Barber's Orioles Stats:   G: 253   W: 95   L: 75   PCT: .559   ERA: 3.12   SO: 918  IP: 1414

1975 Topps - Earl Williams

Earl Williams is considered by some, to be one of the worst trades in Orioles history. Behind the #1 worst trade, the Glenn Davis for three future all-stars, Finley, Harnish & Schilling trade. But that’s a different story. 

In 1973, despite criticism from multiple Orioles players including Jim Palmer, Baltimore traded away 20 game winner Pat Dobson, along with Davey Johnson, Roric Harrison, and Johnny Oates for sub-par defensive catcher Earl Williams. Granted he was coming off a fairly productive offensive season belting 28 home runs with 87 RBIs. It was a trade backed by then Orioles manager Earl Weaver who was a big fan of the long ball and hoped Earl would bring some of that power to Baltimore. Weaver was quoted as saying, "Get me Earl Williams and we’ll win the pennant”.

In the end Williams played as advertised, poor defense and below average offense. But it would be his reported poor attitude that would end his stay in Baltimore. Arriving late to multiple games, arguing with fans and the "not a team player" tag Williams would never shake.

Earl Williams Orioles Stats:   BA: .245    HR: 36    Hits: 214    RBI: 135    AB: 872

1957 Topps - Dick Williams

Dick Williams had a 13 year playing career debuting with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951. He also played with Boston, Kansas City, Cleveland, and the Orioles. All told he spent 5 years in Baltimore 56’, 57’, 58’, 61’ & 62’, playing every position except shortstop, catcher and pitcher. 

Dick had a respectable playing career but is best known as a hugely successful manager for 21 seasons. In his first year managing the Redsox, he turned around a team that had 8 consecutive loosing seasons to win their first Pennant since 1946 and was named manager of the year. 

He spent two more years in Boston before managing the Oakland Athletics where he would win 2 Pennant and 2 back-to-back World Series. He also managed the Angels, Expos, Mariners and Padres where he won another Pennant in 1984. In 21 years he won 3023 games while loosing 1571 for a .520 winning percentage. He was elected to the Hall Of Fame as a manager in 2008. 

D. Williams Orioles Stats:   BA: .255    HR: 25    Hits: 361    RBI: 128    AB: 1417

1966 Topps - Jim Palmer

You have to wonder if Jim had any idea while posing for this, his first Topps “Rookie” card, (probably taken early spring somewhere in the Grape Fruit League), that by the end of the season he would lead an already established Orioles pitching staff in wins with a 15-10 record and a 3.46 ERA in 30 starts. 

Could he have imagined he’d be the winning pitcher on the day the Orioles clinched the America League Pennant, throwing a 5-hitter against Kansas City?  

Or that he would pitch the second game of the 66’ World Series against Koufax, the most dominating pitcher in baseball, and walk away with a 4 hit shutout winning 6-0?

A Rookie season for the ages to be sure. All this and still to young (20) to buy a beer. 

Palmer's 1966 Stats:   G: 123    W: 15    L: 10    PCT: .600    ERA: 3.46   SO: 147   IP: 208