Throughout the history of the Baltimore Orioles franchise, the number 23 jersey has been worn by some of the team’s most talented and memorable players. From Hall of Famers to All-Stars, number 23 has been a staple on the backs of Orioles greats for over half a century.Tracing the lineage of players who have donned the number 23 for the O’s provides an insightful walk through the organization’s rich history.
The Early Years (1954-1970)
In the early years of the franchise after their move from St. Louis to Baltimore in 1954, the number 23 was worn by several lesser-known players. Outfielder Jim Fridley was the first to wear 23 for the O’s in 1954 and 1955. For the next decade, a handful of other role players wore the number for a season or two each, including pitcher Milt Pappas, infielder Ron Hansen, and outfielder Dave Nicholson. None of these early number 23s made a huge impact or spent more than a couple seasons with the team.
Don Buford (1968-1972)
The first player of significance to don number 23 for an extended period was outfielder Don Buford. He wore the number from 1968-1972 during his second stint with the team. Buford played a key role on the Orioles squad that went to three straight World Series from 1969-1971. In 1969, he led the American League with a .395 on-base percentage as the table below illustrates:
Year | OBP |
---|---|
1969 | .395 |
Buford was an All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and Silver Slugger winner during his time in Baltimore wearing number 23. He set the standard for excellence associated with the jersey number.
Lee May (1972-1980)
After Buford’s departure, number 23 went to another All-Star slugger, first baseman Lee May. Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Astros in 1972, May manned first base at Memorial Stadium for the next eight seasons. The three-time All-Star consistently posted big RBI numbers in the heart of the lineup, driving in at least 75 runs in every season with the O’s. May averaged 25 home runs and 93 RBIs per year with Baltimore, including an American League best 109 in 1975. He represented the Orioles in the All-Star Game in 1973, 1975, and 1976. While not in the Hall of Fame like some other Orioles, May put up some prodigious offensive numbers during his stint in the number 23.
Lee May Stats
Year | HR | RBI |
---|---|---|
1973 | 26 | 94 |
1974 | 19 | 69 |
1975 | 25 | 109 |
1976 | 25 | 105 |
1977 | 21 | 79 |
1978 | 21 | 87 |
1979 | 18 | 75 |
1980 | 14 | 40 |
Cal Ripken Jr. (1981-2001)
Without question the most famous player to wear 23 for the Baltimore Orioles is Cal Ripken Jr. The Iron Man donned the number for his entire record-breaking 21 season career from 1981-2001. A lifelong Oriole, Ripken is one of the greatest players in franchise history. Wearing number 23, he accomplished the following accolades:
- 2x AL MVP (1983, 1991)
- 19x MLB All-Star
- 1982 AL Rookie of the Year
- 1983 World Series Champion
- 2,632 consecutive games played
- 3,184 career hits
- 431 career home runs
- 19x Gold Glove winner
- Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame (2007)
In addition, Ripken holds the MLB record for most seasons played with one franchise (21) and most consecutive innings played (8,243). He truly became the face of the Orioles franchise while wearing number 23 and an all-time legend in the history of baseball. His number was retired by the Orioles in 2001.
Cal Ripken Jr’s Career Stats
Year | BA | HR | RBI |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | .287 | 28 | 93 |
1982 | .264 | 28 | 93 |
1983 | .318 | 27 | 102 |
1984 | .304 | 27 | 86 |
1985 | .282 | 26 | 110 |
1986 | .282 | 14 | 81 |
1987 | .252 | 27 | 98 |
1988 | .264 | 23 | 81 |
1989 | .257 | 16 | 77 |
1990 | .250 | 21 | 84 |
1991 | .323 | 34 | 114 |
1992 | .251 | 14 | 72 |
1993 | .257 | 24 | 110 |
1994 | .315 | 13 | 75 |
1995 | .262 | 17 | 88 |
1996 | .278 | 26 | 102 |
1997 | .270 | 17 | 84 |
1998 | .278 | 14 | 61 |
1999 | .340 | 18 | 103 |
2000 | .239 | 11 | 49 |
2001 | .256 | 15 | 57 |
Recent Years (2003-Present)
After Ripken’s retirement, number 23 has been worn by a handful of different Orioles with varying degrees of success. Outfielder Tim Raines Jr. wore it in 2003 followed by versatile utility player Luis Lopez from 2004-2005. Reliever Jorge Julio donned the jersey in 2006. Outfielder Nick Markakis sported number 23 for two seasons from 2007-2008 before switching to number 21. Josh Bell wore the number briefly in 2010. Nolan Reimold wore 23 as an outfielder from 2009-2014. Most recently, Joey Rickard wore the number in 2016 and 2017. While a few decent players have worn 23 over the past couple decades, no one has come close to Ripken’s legacy. The number is still most closely associated with Cal to Orioles fans.
Conclusion
Throughout the 65 year history of the Baltimore Orioles, a few standout players have had the privilege of wearing the number 23 jersey. Don Buford, Lee May, and Cal Ripken Jr each left an indelible mark on the franchise wearing 23. However, Ripken stands head and shoulders above the rest in talent, accomplishment, and longevity during his 21 seasons in the number. Number 23 and Ripken are synonymous in the minds of Orioles fans. While others have donned the 23 since Ripken’s retirement, it seems unlikely anyone will ever match his feats or legendary status in Baltimore. Short of a number retirement across the whole league, number 23 will always belong to Cal in the hearts of O’s fans.