- Cal Ripken is the franchise leader in bWAR with 95.9.
- Baltimore has won six pennants and three World Series.
- Six Orioles have their numbers retired.
With 31 former players in the Hall of Fame, there are lots of candidates to be named the best Baltimore Orioles players of all time. The Orioles have developed some generational talents, often bolstering their MLB odds of winning the World Series.
Several active Orioles have a chance at working their way onto this list. My five greatest Orioles ever are all retired, however, which is perhaps unsurprising for a franchise that has not reached the World Series since 1983.
Best Baltimore Orioles Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Orioles Years |
| 1 | Cal Ripken Jr. | Shortstop | 1981-2001 |
| 2 | Jim Palmer | Starting Pitcher | 1965-1984 |
| 3 | Brooks Robinson | Third Baseman | 1955-1977 |
| 4 | Eddie Murray | First Baseman | 1977-1988, 1996 |
| 5 | Frank Robinson | Right Fielder | 1966-1971 |
1. Cal Ripken
Cal Ripken’s place in the top spot requires no explanation. A two-time MVP, World Series champion, and 19-time All-Star, Ripken leads the Orioles in a raft of categories, including games played, bWAR, hits, doubles and home runs.
#OTD in 2001: Cal Ripken Jr. goes deep and wins the MVP in his 19th and final #AllStarGame! pic.twitter.com/jHDT6McyN7
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 10, 2019
While it’s his durability and record games played streak that is so often brought up, it can be easy to forget just how good a hitter Ripken was at his peak. The Maryland native had three seasons with an OPS+ of 144 or better and led the majors in total bases in his second MVP season in 1991.
2. Jim Palmer
Brooks Robinson has the edge over Jim Palmer in bWAR, but Palmer’s spectacular peak earns him the two spot. He won three Cy Young awards in four years in the 1970s and was integral in three World Series-winning teams, pitching to a 2.61 postseason ERA for his career.
He had three other top-three Cy Young finishes and an outrageous 211 complete games. Between 1969 and 1978, Palmer’s ERA+ was 126 or better in all but one season, and he had three campaigns above 150.
3. Brooks Robinson
Generally considered the greatest defensive third baseman of all time, Brooks Robinson amassed 16 Gold Gloves and 18 All-Star selections. He won MVP in 1964 and was named World Series MVP six years later.
A two-time World Series champion with almost 80 bWAR, there’s a case to be made to place Robinson above Palmer. Robinson, though, had just a 105 career OPS+ and only posted an OPS north of .800 on two occasions.
It’s a matter of personal preference whether Palmer or Robinson follow Ripken – I lean towards Palmer’s elite production.
4. Eddie Murray
After winning Rookie of the Year in 1977, Eddie Murray had five top-five MVP finishes as an Oriole. He was runner-up in 1982 and 1983. The switch-hitting first baseman was named an All-Star in seven of his 11 seasons with Baltimore.
Ripken is the only player with more homers in franchise history. Murray is fourth in hits, fourth in games played, and third in offensive bWAR. He leads all Orioles in adjusted batting runs, intentional walks and win probability added.
The Orioles were in the depths of a rebuild by the time Murray was traded to the Dodgers in 1988. He returned to the Orioles via trade in 1996 for a short stint, which ended with an ALCS loss to the Yankees.
5. Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson doesn’t have the counting stats of other Orioles. This pick is all about his peak performance. Robinson won a Triple Crown as an Oriole and had three top-three MVP finishes, including winning the award in 1966.
Frank Robinson and Willie Mays. pic.twitter.com/d3nIPTiRGJ
— Baseball In Pics (@baseballinpix) October 16, 2023
He backed that up by winning a World Series and World Series MVP later that year. Robinson’s 169 OPS+ with Baltimore is by far the best in franchise history.
Despite ranking 18th in bWAR, it was impossible to overlook The Judge.