Saturday, January 19, 2013

RIP - Earl Weaver


Hall of Fame Orioles' manager Earl Weaver passed away early this morning of a heart attack at age 82. He was taking part in an Orioles' fantasy cruise in the Caribbean.

Obituary

Weaver never played major-league ball, but played in the minors from 1948-1960, with the Cardinals, Pirates, and Orioles.

He began his managing career as a player-manager from 1956-59, then became a full-time manager in the Orioles' chain in 1961. Weaver took over the Orioles' managing post from Hank Bauer in game #83 of the 1968 season, and stayed on through the 1982 season. The Orioles won the AL pennant in each of Weaver's first 3 full seasons, and won the World Series in 1970. He also won the AL crown in 1979.

After broadcasting the 1983 World Series (where the Orioles beat the Phillies), Weaver returned as O's skipper for 1985 and 1986, before retiring.

His #4 was retired by the Orioles in 1982, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.

2 comments:

Commishbob said...

Very sad day. I just loved Earl Weaver. Every O's fan who was a around during that glorious era loved Earl.

Jim from Downingtown said...

Bob,

I saw on the MLB website the Jimmie Dykes was the Orioles' first manager. My brother and I played on the same age 8-9-10 baseball team as Dykes' grandson Mark Dykes. Mark lived across the street from my grandmother, and word was that Jimmie lived there with them.