Remembering the Orioles’ 1970 World Series title: O’s top Royals again on Frank Robinson’s walk-off homer
This season marks the 50th anniversary of the Orioles’ 1970 World Series championship, the franchise’s second title in five seasons and first under legendary manager Earl Weaver. To celebrate the occasion, The Baltimore Sun is sharing its most memorable stories from that campaign throughout the year.
May 8, 1970
BIRDS DOWN ROYALS ON FRANK’S HIT
Orioles Prevail 7-6 On Robinson’s Homer with 2 Out In 9th
By Jim Elliot
Frank Robinson, the American League’s leading hitter with a .369 average, crushed a three-run homer with two out in the ninth last night at the Stadium to bring the Orioles from the brink of defeat to a 7-to-6 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.
Terry Crowley drew a pinch-hit walk with one away in the ninth. Merv Rettenmund drew another with two away, and then Robinson connected on relief pitcher Moe Drabowsky’s first pitch for a blast 425 feet over the fence in center field.
The victory, before a crowd of 5,036 which went wild as Robinson circled the bases, gave the Orioles a sweep of the three-game series with the Royals and a 17th straight triumph over the Kansas City nine, counting the last 11 meetings of 1969.
For the Royals, Bob Oliver was the big man, driving in four runs with a double, single and homer, his sixth of the year and fourth against the Orioles.
Oliver’s homer was good for two runs in the seventh, and seemed good for a 6-4 triumph until Robinson’s wallop.
Second Blast
Frank’s homer was the second of two three-run Oriole wallops. Boog Powell crushed one an equal distance in the first inning off Dave Morehead, who went 6 1/4 u2154 innings before Drabowsky came on.
Powell’s homer helped give Eddie Watt a victory in his first decision of the year. Watt was the fifth pitcher succeeding starter Mike Cuellar, Jim Hardin, Marcelino Lopez and Dick Hall.
Watt went the last two innings, allowing one of Kansas City’s 12 hits while the Orioles were collecting 10.
Powell added two singles to his homer. Frank Robinson also had a single. Mark Belanger got a single and double and Don Buford had two singles. Belanger doubled a run across in the fifth.
It appeared that Cuellar might not survive the first inning. But the Royals were able to score only one run despite three hits, a walk and a balk.
Pat Kelly topped a ball to the right side for a leadoff single, went to second when Cuellar dropped the ball for a balk, and raced home on Paul Schaal’s single past second.
Amos Otis fouled out to Boog Powell before Oliver chased Schaal to third with a double into the left-field corner. Lou Piniella was ordered intentionally walked, filling the bases. Then Cuellar fanned Mike Fiore and got Luis Alcaraz on a liner to short.
Boog Unloads
The Orioles went ahead 3-1 in their first when Don Buford and Frank Robinson singled and Powell plowed his three-run homer over the fence in center, the ball clearing the hedge on one big hop.
Things were quiet until the Royal fourth, which Piniella opened with a single to hit safely in his 13th straight game. Fiore singled Piniella to third and Piniella scored as Alcarez forced Fiore.
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