Major League Baseball

1970 Orioles lament current state of franchise

Published Jun. 26, 2010 6:15 p.m. ET

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There once was a time when the Baltimore Orioles counted successive 100-win seasons and consecutive World Series appearances.

These days, the once-proud franchise is mired in a streak of another kind: 12 straight years with a losing record.

It is a fact not lost on members of the 1970 World Series championship team who visited Camden Yards on Saturday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their accomplishment.

What went wrong?

``I don't really have an answer for that,'' said Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver, who took Baltimore to the World Series every year from 1969-71.

Paul Blair has a pointed opinion, though.

``We do not have the leadership or the coaches that we need to make this a better organization,'' said Blair, an outfielder on the 1970 team. ``There's no structure here, no leadership here. Until we get that, we're going to continue to struggle.''

Frank Robinson won two World Series rings with the Orioles, in 1966 and 1970. He also managed the team from 1988-91.

``It saddens me. I don't feel good about it because I've always taken a lot of pride in wearing this uniform and always will,'' Robinson said.

It's enough to make an Orioles fan long for yesteryear. Boog Powell was a first baseman during Baltimore's heyday. Now he owns a barbecue stand on Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall at Camden Yards.

``When I'm up there hawking my roast beef, people are coming up and saying, 'Why don't you make a comeback?''' Powell said. ``I say, `I can still hit. Can you run for me?'''

The Orioles currently own the worst record in the majors leagues. But in 1969 they won 109 games, in 1970 they won 108 and in 1971 they went 101-57. They are one of only five major league teams to put together three straight 100-win seasons.

``This is one of the best teams ever put together in the history of baseball,'' Weaver declared.

Baltimore was stunned by the New York Mets in the 1969 World Series, beat the Cincinnati Reds in 1970 and lost to Pittsburgh the following year.

Blair called the 1969 Orioles ``the best team ever assembled. I still can't believe they beat us. If we'd have played them 100 games, we would have won 90.''

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