Biggest plays in Baltimore Orioles history
Major League Baseball history is built on moments — swings, pitches, and split-second plays that reshaped seasons and, in some cases, entire franchises. From walk-off home runs in winner-take-all games to clutch hits under October pressure, the biggest plays often came when the stakes were highest. identified the most impactful plays in Baltimore Orioles history using data from . Plays were ranked by their Championship Win Probability Added (cWPA), a metric that measures how much a single play changed a team's odds of winning the World Series.
#10. October 17, 1979 (WS Gm 7)
- Score: down 2-1 (8th inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: BB
- Play Description: Walk; M. Belanger to 2B
- cWPA: 9.33%
#9. October 13, 1979 (WS Gm 4)
- Score: down 6-3 (8th inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: 2B
- Play Description: Double to RF; K. Garcia Scores; E. Murray Scores; D. DeCinces to 3B
- cWPA: 9.72%
#8. October 16, 1971 (WS Gm 6)
- Score: tied 2-2 (10th inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: Out
- Play Description: *WALK-OFF*:Flyball: CF/Sacrifice Fly (Short CF); F. Robinson Scores
- cWPA: 9.80%
#7. October 09, 1971 (WS Gm 1)
- Score: down 3-1 (3rd inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: HR
- Play Description: Home Run (Deep LF-CF); M. Belanger Scores; D. Buford Scores
- cWPA: 9.81%
#6. October 08, 1983 (ALCS Gm 4)
- Score: tied 0-0 (10th inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: CWS
- Event: HR
- Play Description: Home Run
- cWPA: 10.21%
#5. October 16, 1971 (WS Gm 6)
- Score: tied 2-2 (10th inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: 1B
- Play Description: Single to CF; F. Robinson to 3B
- cWPA: 10.34%
#4. October 17, 1979 (WS Gm 7)
- Score: tied 0-0 (3rd inning, 0 outs)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: HR
- Play Description: Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF)
- cWPA: 11.44%
#3. October 17, 1971 (WS Gm 7)
- Score: down 2-0 (8th inning, 0 outs)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: 1B
- Play Description: Single to CF; E. Hendricks to 2B
- cWPA: 12.26%
#2. October 13, 1979 (WS Gm 4)
- Score: down 6-5 (8th inning, 1 out)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: 2B
- Play Description: Double to RF (Deep RF Line); D. DeCinces Scores; J. Lowenstein Scores; B. Smith to 3B
- cWPA: 13.05%
#1. October 16, 1971 (WS Gm 6)
- Score: down 2-1 (7th inning, 2 outs)
- Opponent: PIT
- Event: 1B
- Play Description: Single to LF; M. Belanger Scores; D. Buford to 2B
- cWPA: 13.29%
