Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Chapter 1 "Bullet Bob" Heads North: Bob Turley (1954) 1
Chapter 2 The Early Days: Joe Durham (1954; 1957) 5
Chapter 3 The First Bonus Baby: Billy O'Dell (1954-1959) 10
Chapter 4 The O's First Slugger: Gus Triandos (1955-1962) 14
Chapter 5 The Human Highlight Reel: Brooks Robinson (1955-1977) 19
Chapter 6 The Rope: Bob Boyd (1956-1960) 27
Chapter 7 Sixteen Innings Later, a Victor: Jerry Walker (1957-1960) 30
Chapter 8 The Reluctant Cincinnati Kid: Milt Pappas (1957-1965) 35
Chapter 9 The Flake: Jackie Brandt (1960-1965) 39
Chapter 10 The Diamond in the Rough: Jim Gentile (1960-1963) 43
Chapter 11 A Lust for Life: Boog Powell (1961-1974) 47
Chapter 12 The Turkey: Dick Hall (1961-1966; 1969-1971) 54
Chapter 13 Old Man: Robin Roberts (1962-1965) 59
Chapter 14 A Character Actor: Bob Johnson (1963-1967) 63
Chapter 15 Center of Attention: Paul Blair (1964-1976) 67
Chapter 16 Earl's Best Bud: Jim Palmer (1965-1984) 72
Chapter 17 The Prankster: Moe Drabowsky (1966-1968; 1970) 81
Chapter 18 A Game of Firsts: Eddie Watt (1966-1973) 88
Chapter 19 The Steaming Teapot: Earl Weaver (1968-1982; 1985-1986) 92
Chapter 20 Good in a Pinch: Terry Crowley (1969-1973; 1976-1982) 101
Chapter 21 Taking Orders from Jim: Al Bumbry (1972-1984) 105
Chapter 22 The Hitting Whiz: Ken Singleton (1975-1984) 110
Chapter 23 The Call: Mike Flanagan (1975-1987; 1991-1992) 118
Chapter 24 No. 1 Pick: Rich Dauer (1976-1985) 124
Chapter 25 Baltimore's Own "Babe Ruth": Rick Dempsey (1976-1986; 1992)… 128
Chapter 26 A Game for the Record Books: Tippy Martinez (1976-1986) 135
Chapter 27 A Tip of the Cap to the Skipper: Steve Stone (1979-1981) 143
Chapter 28 Playing with Scissors: Mike Boddicker (1980-1988) 150
Chapter 29 A True Oriole: Cal Ripken Jr. (1981-2001) 154
Chapter 30 Tee Bone: John Shelby (1981-1987) 164
Chapter 31 Traded for Himself: Tito Landrum (1983; 1988) 170
Chapter 32 Soft-Tossing Lefty: Jeff Ballard (1987-1991) 173
Chapter 33 All in the Family: Bill Ripken (1987-1992; 1996) 179
Chapter 34 Wrasslin' Gators and Ripkens: Ben McDonald (1989-1995) 184
Chapter 35 Eight Steps to the Plate: Jack Voigt (1992-1995) 189
Chapter 36 The Moose: Mike Mussina (1991-2000) 196
Chapter 37 The First 25 Years at Camden Yards: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly 200
Chapter 38 A New Beginning 209
Epilogue 217