Baltimore Sports Then and Now

Curt Motton spent parts of seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, but his biggest moment came in the 1969 ALCS.

Baltimore Sports Then and Now was very sorry to hear of the passing on January 21, 2010 of former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Curt Motton. In parts of seven seasons with the Orioles, Motton played in 268 games and hit .218 with 24 home runs.

Here is a link to a story about his life and death in the Baltimore Sun.

Motton is best remembered by Orioles fans for his game-winning hit in the second game of the 1969 American League Championship Series against the Minnesota Twins. Last September, Baltimore Sports Then and Now posted a feature on his heroics written by Matt Taylor from Roar from 34.

In memory of Motton we again print that feature. Baltimore Sports Then and Now also wants to express our condolences to Motton’s friends and family.

“The pitch was away on the outer part of the plate, and I did something I rarely did – I hit it to right field. I just wanted to make good contact and hoped things worked out.”

-Curt Motton, on his game-winning RBI single in the 1969 ALCS

Curt Motton played some outfield, but really he was a career pinch-hitter.

One of Motton’s most famous pinch hits – an 11th inning RBI single against the Twins forty years ago – carried the Orioles to a 1-0 victory in Game 2 of the 1969 ALCS. The O’s won the series 3-0.

A powerful pull hitter, Motton set what was then a major-league record in 1968 when he hit consecutive pinch-hit home runs. Motton’s power earned him his keep with Earl Weaver; however, his game-winning hit in the ‘69 ALCS was an uncharacteristic opposite-field single.

Read the rest of this entry →

Curt Motton spent parts of seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, but his biggest moment came in the 1969 ALCS.

“The pitch was away on the outer part of the plate, and I did something I rarely did – I hit it to right field. I just wanted to make good contact and hoped things worked out.”

-Curt Motton, on his game-winning RBI single in the 1969 ALCS

Curt Motton played some outfield, but really he was a career pinch-hitter.

One of Motton’s most famous pinch hits – an 11th inning RBI single against the Twins forty years ago – carried the Orioles to a 1-0 victory in Game 2 of the 1969 ALCS. The O’s won the series 3-0.

A powerful pull hitter, Motton set what was then a major-league record in 1968 when he hit consecutive pinch-hit home runs. Motton’s power earned him his keep with Earl Weaver; however, his game-winning hit in the ‘69 ALCS was an uncharacteristic opposite-field single.

Read the rest of this entry →