Customer Reviews

1983 World Series - Baltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Phillies [VHS]

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There was one member of the 1983 Baltimore Orioles who actually played in the 1969 World Series, future Hall of Fame pitcher, Jim Palmer, who got to see how the shoe felt on the other foot. In 1969 the Baltimore Orioles slapped down the upstart New York Mets in Game 1 and then proceeded to drop four short and be on the receiving end of one of the biggest upsets in Series history. In 1983 the Orioles faced the Philadelphia Phillies and discovered that losing the first game at home by one run does not matter if you sweep the next four to win the championship. The reversal was complete for Palmer as well: the Game 3 loser in 1969 he won Game 3 in 1983.

Earl Weaver had retired as Orioles manager after the 1982 season, but Joe Altobelli's Baltimore squad was in the same mode: good pitching and three-run homers. Mike Boddicker, Scott McGregor, Storm Davis and old man Palmer provided the pitching, with future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr. providing the long ball, as did surprise series MVP Rick Dempsey, who set a record for extra base hits in a 5-game series. On the other side were the Philadelphia "Wheeze Kids"; the nickname was a take off on the "Whiz Kids" nickname of the previous Phillies World Series team in 1950. Manager Paul Owenswho had brought together a trio of future Hall of Famers who were all former members of the Big Red Machine: Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Tony Perez. On the mound they had NL Cy Young winner John Denny and another future Hall of Famer in Steve Carlton (Palmer's opponent in Game 3). The result was that the "Wheeze Kids" won one more World Series games than the "Whiz Kids," who lost to the New York Yankees in four straight.

The 1983 World Series was one in which the rosters were more impressive than the actual games. After all, there were seven Hall of Famers running around on the field and they only played five games. Three of the first four games were one run affairs, which made for some drama, but in the last game the Orioles won 5-0 and that was it. If you want to point to any key factor in retrospect it would probably be the fact that Baltimore went with a four-man rotation and Philadelphia countered with a three-man rotation that gave up five runs per game the second time through.

This was the first World Series victory in 13 years for the Orioles, and their third overall, but since they have not been back to the Fall Classic since, this one has to be rather special for Baltimore fans. There are six World Series videotape representing the Birds, and the team split that half-dozen. Still, how can you complain about having videos with Brooks Robinson in action, even in a losing cause?