Mark Belanger

From BR Bullpen

Mark Henry Belanger (Blade)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 170 lb.

Debut August 7, 1965
Final Game October 2, 1982
Born June 8, 1944 in Pittsfield, MA USA
Died October 6, 1998 in New York, NY USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Shortstop Mark Belanger won eight Gold Gloves with the Baltimore Orioles. Belanger was a thin, slick-fielding shortstop who was an integral part of the Orioles' glory years in the late 60s and early 70s. Belanger replaced Luis Aparicio as Orioles shortstop, in what many Orioles' fans thought at the time was a major step down. Although Belanger could not match Aparico's bat, he more than made up for this with his fielding.

Although his legacy will be his outstanding glove, many of the standout memories of Mark Belanger's Orioles career come from his plate appearances. Belanger was generally a weak hitter, but he excelled against certain pitchers, in particular Nolan Ryan. Orioles' Manager Earl Weaver would play hunches with Belanger, and in fact batted him leadoff in the the 5th and final game of the 1970 World Series.

Belanger ended his career by playing one season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After his retirement, he was involved with the Major League Baseball Players Association, first as a union representative, and later as an assistant to Donald Fehr. He died of lung cancer at age 54.

Mark Belanger missed the 1963 due to miltary service, and was also on the military list in July, 1967 and June, 1968.