For the record, Mark Belanger died in 1998 at the age of 54. He couldn't hit a lick but between Brooks on one side and Johnson or Grich on the other, not much got through that infield. I'm not an O's fan really, but it is true they were a model franchise for probably 30 years. I grew up in SE PA and used to hear the Birds games on WBAL -- Chuck Thompson (who also died not that long ago) and Frank Messer and Bill O'Donnell doing the games. Ess-Kay Quality Meats and Utz Potato Chips and National Bo were the sponsors. Many fond memories of Memorial Stadium for this Yankee fan (except for finding a place to park, that is.) I thought that was a wonderful park, but it has been so overshadowed by Camden Yards that people forget what a nice, low-key, homey place to play it was. Does anybody else out there remember Dugout Chatter with Jim West?
Grich was part of one of the best AAA teams ever here in 1971.
I bummed 5 bucks off him at Silver Stadium the night he was inducted into the Red Wings Hall of Fame circa 1989!
Remember the eye black he always wore?