The Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame recognizes significant figures in the history of this proud organization. Each year, the selection committee meets to consider new members for selection. This year, the committee is welcoming in three significant figures from the rich history of Baltimore baseball. The 2012 class will include pitcher Mike Mussina, second baseman Rich Dauer, and long-time scout Walter Youse.
The three selections mark different periods and elements of the Orioles family. Mike Mussina should have been a lock to make this list. Mussina is probably the second most prominent right-handed pitcher in the history of the organization. Jim Palmer will always be number one in the hearts of the fan base, but Mussina comes in a close second. Sadly, he left for the New York Yankees after a contract impasse with the Orioles.
There are those in the Baltimore community that wonder what reception the man nicknamed Moose will get. He spent 10 sensational seasons hurling the ball for the Orioles, leading us as close to a World Series as anyone since 1983. He pitched the crucial games, and often shut down the best lineups that the game had to offer. Some fans are stating that they will "boo" him on Aug. 25, when the team welcomes him in to the Hall of Fame. That would be an absolute disservice to a man that was a consummate Oriole.
Some people seem to have an extremely short memory. Mussina wanted to finish his career as an Oriole, and stated that on several occasions. The man was a number one pitcher in every sense of the word. However, Peter Angelos did not see it that way and decided to let Mussina try the open market. If fans want to blame someone for Mussina walking, they should look at the guy who owns the team.
Rich Dauer was the working class hero of the Baltimore Orioles. He played his entire career with Baltimore, winning a World Series ring in 1983. Dauer played on teams that featured popular names like Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, but did not seem to care that he was an afterthought. His whole makeup was about getting the job done and winning games. When the team needed a clutch hit or a sacrifice, Rich was the guy that got it done.
He was also without equal in the field. Dauer still holds the AL single-season fielding records for second basemen with 86 consecutive error-less games and 425 straight error-less chances. Both of those feats occurred in 1978, and helped to give Baltimore the confidence to make it to the World Series the next season. He was a key component on the 1983 team that last won a championship for Baltimore.
Walter Youse is not a name that a lot of Baltimore fans will recognize, but he holds a distinctive place in the history of the organization. Youse earned election as the Herb Armstrong Award winner in 2012. The award goes to non-uniformed personnel who have made significant contributions to the ballclub and the game of baseball.
Youse has a rich history within the game of baseball. He served as a baseball scout and amateur coach during his long career. He managed several famous teams on the amateur level. During his time, he helped to produce guys like Al Kaline and Reggie Jackson.
When Youse passed away in 2002, he was the winningest amateur baseball coach in the history of the state of Maryland. In terms of his Baltimore contributions, he was the skipper of the Orioles' Rookie League affiliate in Bluefield. He later served as the organization's scouting supervisor in the east and mid-Atlantic regions.
Though a Washington native, John Atchison grew up a fan of the Baltimore Orioles. Many think he should now become a Nationals supporter, but he says the Black and Orange is where he will stay! Follow him on Twitter @John_Atchison.
Source: masnsports.com/school_of_roch
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