Jan 19, 2013

Former Oriole manager and Baseball Hall of Famer Earl Weaver died on Friday while on an Orioles-themed cruise. He was 82. We look back at Weaver’s legacy, from his time as manager to how he remained involved with the Orioles today.

: Orioles manager Earl Weaver holds the pennant trophy in the locker room after the final game of the 1970 World Series. (Lloyd Pearson/Baltimore Sun photo)

: Oct 14, 1969 : “I don’t agree.” That seems to be the gist of what Orioles manager Earl Weaver is saying to home plate umpire Larry Napp as he disputes an obstruction call during the fourth inning of Tuesday’s World Series game. (AP file photo)

: Feb. 18, 1971: Manager Earl Weaver looks over his pitchers and catchers as they warm up on the first day of spring training. (file photo)

: Sept. 17, 1971: Orioles manager, Earl Weaver, argues with umpire Marty Springstead during O’s Yankees game. (Lloyd Pearson/Baltimore Sun photo)

: March 3, 1973: Earl Weaver watches 1st regular batting practice at spring training. (file photo)

: July 1980: Earl Weaver argues a call with an umpire. He was later ejected from the game. (file photo)

: October 1979: Mike Flanagan and Earl Weaver after Flanagan’s winning effort in the first game of the World Series in 1979. (AP file photo)

: 1980 file photo of Earl Weaver. (file photo)

: August 1982: Earl Weaver had a difference of opinion with home plate umpire Ken Kaiser in the third inning. Weaver was irate at ball and strike calls by the umpire, who took exception to the manager’s questioning.

: A tearful Earl Weaver, headed into retirement, ponders the last regular-season game against the Brewers in 1982. He would return as Orioles manager for the 1985 and 1986 seasons and enter the Hall of Fame in 1996. (Baltimore Sun photo)

: Sept. 5, 1995: Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. signs the “first pitch” ball thrown out by Earl Weaver. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun photo)Sept. 5, 1995: Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. signs the “first pitch” ball thrown out by Earl Weaver. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun photo)

: March 6, 1996: Weaver puts on his new Hall of Fame jersey one day after he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

: April 4, 2011: Many have remarked on the physical similarities between current manager Buck Showalter and Earl Weaver. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun photo)

: April 4, 2011: Weaver throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Orioles home opener against the Detroit Tigers. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun photo)

: Mar. 3, 2012: Retired Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver visits the team during an intersquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun photo)

: Aug. 11, 2012: Former Oriole first baseman Eddie Murray embraces his old manager Earl Weaver during a pre-game ceremony following the unveiling of a statue bearing his likeness at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun photo)

: June 30, 2012: Weaver waves to the crowds during the pre-game ceremony on the day his statue was unveiled. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun photo)

: June 30, 2012: Former Orioles manager Earl Weaver throws out the first pitch during a pre-game ceremony on the day his statue was unveiled. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun photo)

: June 30, 2012: Earl Weaver’s statue in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun photo)

: July 14, 2012: Earl Weaver stands in front of his statue at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun photo)

: From left, Orioles Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Earl Weaver, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer stand together outside Camden Yards as Brooks Robinson’s sculpture is unveiled (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun Photo)

Earl Weaver penned his own epitaph.

“On my tombstone just write, ‘The sorest loser that ever lived,’ ” he once said.

Weaver, the Orioles’ irascible, chain-smoking, umpire-baiting manager who led the team to four American League pennants and the 1970 world championship in his 17 years here, died Friday night while on an Orioles-themed cruise.

The Hall of Famer was 82.

Read the full story.

2 Comments

Stephen C. Gates
Jan 21, 2013 @ 23:59:10

For many years – from the time Baltimore was in the ’70 series with the favored Big Red Machine – I listened to my beloved Orioles with my ear up to the radio every chance I could (even keeping score). As a western-NY native who grew up just a few miles from their farm club’s stadium in Rochester, it was a real treat to be able to see the Big Bad Birds on television (and I NEVER missed them – esp. on Sat. afternoons with Curt Gowdy). But Bill O’Donnell and Chuck Thompson were very skillful “seeing eye announcers” over the airwaves, and WBAL’s strong signal (and “Oriole Baseball” jingle) coasted 333 miles just fine. Skipper Earl Weaver – to me – was as beloved a character as any player on the field in these waning days of “old school baseball”. You might say he was the “10th man” for the Orioles lineup. I must have seen and heard him get ejected from a game almost 3 dozen times, and each time he fired up his players and coaches. Exerting that much energy and feistiness into the game’s strategy and calls surely motivated the Orioles players to be an indomitable force in their league. When the ’71 season was cut short by 4 games, the O’s had ONLY won 101(!) so far. In his first 3 full seasons, Earl led the Birds to 318 victories, a record that will never be broken (even though it should have been 321 or so – an average of 107 wins per year!). I loved my team so much that I actually moved to Balto. in ’82, and attended the “Duke of Earl” ceremony at Memorial Stadium in 1983. Colorful Earl gave his heart and soul to the club he dearly loved, and we diehard O’s fans loved him for it. The greatest ballplayer that ever lived (a Balto. native) may have worn #3 on his back, but the greatest manager that ever lived wore #4. R.I.P. dear friend; we will surely miss you…

StevoFlorida
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:46:03

Since back when being a junior Oriole in the late ’60’s til now; Us Balmers have never had to face a heavy sadness quite this prideful-and sad, since irsay drove away in the bus,
From me:: R.I.P. and thanks for the fun Earl; ‘ain’t the beer cold?”

Remembering former Orioles manager Earl Weaver

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