If all goes well, the Orioles will effectively nail down their first American League East division crown in 17 years this coming weekend, in a four game series with the New York Yankees. The series marks the final Baltimore trip for New York shortstop Derek Jeter, who closes a 20-year career when the season ends.
The Yankees, whom many believe have the most traditional uniform in sports with no player names on the back and pinstripes on their home outfit, have broken with tradition for Jeter’s last month. In honor of their longtime captain, the Yankees are wearing a patch with his name and number for the remainder of the season. This sort of thing is usually reserved to commemorate players, managers or team officials who have passed away. But after honoring relief pitcher Mariano Rivera in similar fashion last year, albeit for just a day, the Yankees are feting Jeter.
Meanwhile, as the Jeter train rolls into town, there will be an impromptu tribute Friday to one of Baltimore’s baseball greats, who should have gotten a patch, but didn’t. For Bird watchers of a certain age, there were few better than Paul Blair, who manned center field at Memorial Stadium for 13 of his 17 big league years. Blair was a key part of the Baltimore baseball dynasty that won World Series titles in 1966 and 1970 and American League pennants in 1969 and 1971. Where right fielder Frank Robinson was dominant at the plate, Blair was perhaps the best defender at his post in all of baseball. Blair played the most important outfield position with a kind of machismo, planting himself in shallow ground and daring batters to hit over his head. On the crack of the bat, Blair was off on a tear, occasionally with his black and orange hat flying off his head, but nearly always with the baseball nestled safely in his glove.
For his brilliance, Blair was rewarded with eight Gold Gloves, which are presented annually to the best defensive players at each position in the American and National leagues. Blair won the award each year from 1969 to 1975, and next to Brooks Robinson, he was the best defensive player in Baltimore Orioles history. Paul Blair finished his career with the Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds, but lived in retirement here in Baltimore. He died the day after Christmas while bowling at age 69. His passing should have spurred the Orioles to wear his number 6 on a jersey sleeve patch this season.
Instead, in 2014, the team has honored author Tom Clancy, a former part-owner, who died two months before Blair. With all due respect to Clancy, when the history of Baltimore Orioles baseball is written, Paul Blair will occupy a place of reverence, while Clancy’s contributions will likely be forgotten. Thankfully, writers Rafael Alvarez and Charlie Vascellaro have spearheaded an impromptu salute to Blair for Friday during and between Friday’s day-night doubleheader. The two men are selling commemorative T-shirts and giving out stickers to honor Blair. Proceeds will go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, and Paul Blair will get some of the acclaim he clearly deserves.