Bluefield Orioles
From BR Bullpen
- Location: Bluefield, WV
- League: Appalachian League 1958-present
- Affiliation: Baltimore Orioles 1958-present
- Ballpark: Bowen Field
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 is the longest current affiliation of any minor league team. Cal Ripken Jr. made his pro debut with the 1978 Bluefield Orioles.
[edit] Year-by-Year Record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | 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 | none League Champs |
| 1963 | 45-24 | 1st | Billy Hunter | none 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 | none 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 | none 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 | none League Champs |
| 1983 | 33-38 | 5th | Greg Biagini | none |
| 1984 | 32-38 | 6th | Greg Biagini | |
| 1985 | 36-34 | 4th | Mike Verdi | none |
| 1986 | 39-29 | 3rd | Glenn Gulliver | |
| 1987 | 37-32 | 4th | Jim Pamlayne | |
| 1988 | 24-47 | 10th | Glenn Gulliver | |
| 1989 | 27-41 | 10th | Mike Young | |
| 1990 | 38-32 | 4th | Gus Gil | none |
| 1991 | 36-31 | 5th (t) | Gus Gil | |
| 1992 | 37-25 | 2nd | Mike O'Berry | League Champs |
| 1993 | 44-24 | 1st (t) | Andy Etchebarren | |
| 1994 | 39-29 | 3rd | Andy Etchebarren | |
| 1995 | 49-16 | 1st | Andy Etchebarren | Lost League Finals |
| 1996 | 42-26 | 2nd (t) | Bobby Dickerson | League Champs |
| 1997 | 40-29 | 2nd | Bobby Dickerson | League Champs |
| 1998 | 33-34 | 5th | Andy Etchebarren | |
| 1999 | 25-43 | 8th | Duffy Dyer | |
| 2000 | 31-32 | 7th | Duffy Dyer | |
| 2001 | 33-33 | 4th | Joe Almaraz | League Champs |
| 2002 | 45-23 | 1st | Bien Figueroa | Lost League Finals |
| 2003 | 23-40 | 9th | Don Buford | |
| 2004 | 28-39 | 8th | Gary Kendall | |
| 2005 | 31-36 | 5th | Jesus Alfaro | |
| 2006 | 31-37 | 8th | Gary Allenson | |
| 2007 | 32-36 | 6th | Alex Arias |
[edit] Further Reading
- Thomas Boswell: "Rookies in God's Country", in How Life Imitates the World Series, Penguin Books, New York, 1982, pp. 120-126.
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