Earl Weaver, Former Orioles Manager Dies at Age 82
Earl Weaver, known in Baltimore as the ‘Duke of Earl,’ who led the Orioles into the World Series four times, dies at 82.
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Former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver died Friday. He was 82 years old.
The Baltimore Sun cited the team's public relations director, Monica Barlow, as saying Weaver was on a cruise when he passed away Friday night.
"Earl Weaver stands alone as the greatest manager in the history of the Orioles organization and one of the greatest in the history of baseball," said Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos in a statement Saturday morning. "This is a sad day for everyone who knew him and for all Orioles fans. Earl made his passion for the Orioles known both on and off the field. On behalf of the Orioles
, I extend my condolences to his wife, Marianna, and to his family."
Weaver, a brilliant strategist sometimes better known for his fiery temper, guided the Orioles to six AL East titles, four AL pennants and one World Series championship in parts of 17 seasons as skipper. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
After taking over during the 1968 season, Weaver guided an Orioles juggernaut to three straight 100-win seasons and a trio of AL pennants in his first three full seasons. The Mets stunned the Orioles in the 1969 World Series, but the 1970 club beat Cincinnati behind Brooks Robinson's stellar play at third base before the Pirates topped the O's in 1971.
The Orioles lost to Oakland in the 1973 and '74 ALCS before finally reaching the World Series again in 1979, but again the Pirates prevailed in a seven- game series.
Weaver retired after the 1982 season and the Orioles again won the World Series the following year under Joe Altobelli. Weaver returned to the dugout early in the 1985 season and retired for good after the 1986 campaign. Baltimore was 73-89 in '86, marking Weaver's lone losing season with the franchise.
In all, Weaver posted a record of 1,480-1,060, and his .583 winning percentage ranks ninth on the all-time list.
