Current Collection - 1966

Just one card so far from 1966, the year of the Orioles first World Series victory. The card is of pitcher Steve Barber and tells us that "The lefty finished the '65 season with a flourish, winning 9 of his last 11 starts." In that year, the card adds, "Steve pitched three three-hitters." At the time, Steve was the only Oriole pitcher who had won 20 games. This is illustrated on the back of the card, with a a cartoon of a pitcher straining to push a baseball twice his size, with the number 20 on it.

I do have another card, depicting the 1966 Series, a Fleer '71 perhaps, not sure. On the front is a cartoon of the Oriole bird zipping in a pitch, with a big 0.50 ERA - that what they finished the '66 Series with - dominating the face of the ball.

Cards on the wish list, at least of the starting lineup, key reserves and core pitching, to fill two 9-sleeve sheets perfectly:

C - Andy Etchebarren
1B - Boog Powell
2B - Davey Johnson
SS - Luis Aparacio
3B - Brooks Robinson
LF - Curt Blefary
CF - Paul Blair
RF - Frank Robinson

Key reserves:

OF - Russ Synder
OF - Sam Bowens
IF - Bob Johnson

Pitching:

SP - Dave McNally
SP - Jim Palmer
SP - Wally Bunker
RP - Stu Miller
RP/SP - Eddie Watt
RP - Moe Drabowsky

How about Moe Drabowsky's performance in the first game of the 1966 World Series, relieving McNally in the third inning and going on to complete the game, giving up one hit(?) and striking out 11 batters, using mostly fast balls - a strategy O's pitchers would use - exceptionally well - the rest of the series.