Baltimore Sports Then and Now

Al Pilarcik

The Baltimore Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week was an early standout for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1950s.

Originally signed by the New York Yankees, Al Pilarcik made his major league debut for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956.

Following the season, Pilarcik joined the Orioles as a “Player to be Named Later” from an earlier trade in which the Athletics had acquired Jim Pisoni.

Read the rest of this entry →

Bob Boyd

The Baltimore Vintage Athlete of the Week is the first in a long line of great first basemen for the Baltimore Orioles.

The first player in the modern history of the Baltimore Orioles to hit over .300 in a season, Bob Boyd was a solid line-drive hitter and defensive standout.
Read the rest of this entry →

Paul Blair

This week the Baltimore Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week is an outfielder that patrolled centerfield with grace while also providing the Orioles with timely hitting for more than a decade.

On a team that built its strength through pitching and defense, Paul Blair fit perfectly. He is one of seven members of the Orioles from that era who won at least three Gold Gloves and is tied with Mark Belanger for the second most in team history.
Read the rest of this entry →

Mike Cuellar

We recognize as the Baltimore Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week one of the key pitchers for the Baltimore Orioles during their championship run of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Sometimes timing is everything. After toiling away in the minors and on primarily losing teams for a decade, a seemingly insignificant trade following the 1968 season proved to be all that Mike Cuellar needed to become one of the top pitchers in baseball.
Read the rest of this entry →

Lenny Moore

In preparation for the start of the NFL season, we recognize as the Baltimore Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Week one of the most exciting players ever to call the city of Baltimore home.

For 12 seasons with the Baltimore Colts, Lenny Moore was one of the most versatile and explosive players in the game.

A double threat as both a runner and receiver, Moore was a perfect offensive compliment to quarterback Johnny Unitas and receiver Raymond Berry.
Read the rest of this entry →

Randy White

In recognition of the start of college football season, we have selected a two-time All-American from the University of Maryland who went on to earn a spot in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames as our Baltimore Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Week.

Randy White actually came to the University of Maryland as a fullback, but as a sophomore new head coach Jerry Claiborne recognized that he had the skills to be a great defensive lineman and quickly moved him to defense.
Read the rest of this entry →