Category: Celebrities

Almost every team in Major League Baseball has signed a player to a contract that they would come to regret for years. From the Mets still paying for Bobby Bonilla well after his retirement to Washington Nationals giving $175 million to an already-injured Steven Strasburg, there has been a lot of overpays in baseball history.

The Baltimore Orioles are no stranger to these types of deals, either. While some of the other teams in the division like the Yankees or Red Sox are more known for being free agent destinations, there are some Orioles signings that have been head-scratching in retrospect. Here are the five worst contracts that the O’s have given out.

5. Brian Roberts

When there’s a beloved player in the franchise that has been there for years, you tend to do whatever you can to keep them happy and have them stick around. That’s what the Orioles did for second baseman Brian Roberts in 2010. Leading up to that point, Roberts was a two-time All-Star who could hit for average and routinely flashed the leather.

The only problem, though, was that Roberts was already 32 years old by the time the 2010 season came around, but the Orioles gave him a four-year contract worth $40 million. Over those four years, Roberts played in fewer than 200 games, including one season with just 17 games. After his contract, Roberts finished his career with the Yankees to nullify being a potential Orioles lifer.

4. Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez spent much of his career with the Colorado Rockies where he defied the odds by being a good pitcher at Coors Field, posting a 3.66 earned run average and a 56-45 record in five-plus seasons. Jimenez was dealt to the Cleveland Indians where he remained through the 2013 season before the Orioles signed the former All-Star to a four-year deal worth $50 million.

Jimenez struggled right out of the gate, posting a 6-9 record with a 4.81 ERA, but would have a bit of a rebound in his second year. Over the final two seasons of his contract, though, things fell apart quickly and he combined to go 14-23 with an ERA over 6. Jimenez’s career was finished as soon as his contract was following the 2017 season.

3. Sidney Ponson

Sidney Ponson is one of those stories of what could have been in Major League Baseball. He started his career with the Orioles in 1998, and the Aruban was a fine pitcher that finished the 2003 season with a 14-6 record and 3.77 earned run average. During that season, however, Ponson was traded to the Giants before becoming a free agent.

Ponson returned to Baltimore as the team offered him $22.5 million over three years, but he would only last for two trouble-filled years. Ponson had several run-ins with the law, including two arrests for driving under the influence. When he was on the field, Ponson posted a record of 18-26 during those two years and an ERA close to 6 before the Orioles cut their losses.

2. Albert Belle

Albert Belle was known for being a bit of a hothead, but an overall great player during his time with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. A five-time Silver Slugger Award winner and All-Star, Belle had actually signed a five-year deal with the White Sox but it was nullified after two due to a stipulation about his salary.

When Belle became a free agent, the Orioles gave him $65 million for five years. Just like he did in Chicago, though, Belle lasted for just two seasons. Though he was solid in those two years, Belle’s degenerating hip cost him the remainder of his career after 2000 and he missed the final three seasons of the contract before heading into retirement. Had he continued to produce the way he did at the start of his deal, Belle would have been worth it.

1. Chris Davis

After starting his career as a slugger for the Texas Rangers where he hit 42 home runs, Chris Davis was traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the middle of the 2011 season for Koji Uehara. Davis had a strong rest of the season over 31 games and then put together an All-Star campaign in 2013 with 53 home runs and 138 runs batted in.

Davis saw a huge drop in his batting average the next year but rebounded nicely in 2015 to earn himself a seven-year contract with Baltimore for $161 million. Much of the contract was deferred, and Davis was done by the end of the 2020 season and at his worst was batting just .168 over a full season.

There have been hundreds of players that have been able to say they played with the Baltimore Orioles. From legends like Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray to Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer, there hasn’t been a shortage of franchise greats. 

There have also been some legendary players that you may have completely forgotten wore an Orioles jersey at one point, though. Here are five forgotten Orioles that made their way to the Hall of Fame.

5. Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz may go down as one of the most underrated players of the 21st century. After beginning his career with the Brewers, Cruz spent the bulk of his career playing with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners from 2006 to 2018. For one year (2014) in between, though, Cruz became a member of the Baltimore Orioles after becoming a free agent.

Cruz had been under investigation for use of performance-enhancing drugs and was looking for a one-year deal with any team willing to take on the risk of having him. Cruz signed with the Orioles, making $8 million in the process. The gamble paid off for the O’s as Cruz was an All-Star in his one season and set a career-high for games played with 159. He’d finish with an impressive .271 batting average, 40 home runs, and 108 runs batted in.

4. Sammy Sosa

You don’t have to go very far down the list of career home run leaders to see Sammy Sosa’s name as he is a member of the rare 600 club, hitting 609 dingers in his career. Sosa, of course, is most known for his days as a Chicago Cub where he led the National League in home runs twice (2000 and 2002).

After more than a decade with the Cubs, the team traded the former franchise cornerstone for Jerry Hairston Jr., Mike Fontenot, and Dave Crouthers. While none of those players really panned out for the Cubs, Sosa didn’t do much for the Orioles, either. Sosa played just one season, hitting a paltry .221 with 14 home runs and 45 runs batted in before he took a year off of baseball and ended his career where it started, with the Texas Rangers.

3. Jim Thome

Another member of the 600 home run club, Jim Thome was a beloved franchise player for the Cleveland Indians from 1991 to 2002 before heading to the Phillies and White Sox for a few years. Thome became a journeyman toward the end of his career, adding stints with the Dodgers and Twins while even returning to Cleveland and Philly.

Thome ended his career with the Orioles, however. The Orioles were in line for a playoff run and wanted to acquire someone that has played in many playoff games, so they dealt for Thome for the final half of 2012. In 28 games with the O’s, Thome hit three home runs while batting .257 as the team made its way to the postseason.

2. Vladimir Guerrero

One of the most unique free-swingers in baseball, Vladimir Guerrero is a Hall of Famer that split the first 14 years of his career between the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Angels. Before his son, Vlad Jr., made it into the league, Guerrero had one year with the Texas Rangers in 2010, and when he became a free agent, he signed with the Orioles for one year and $8 million for the 2011 season.

It would be the final season in Guerrero’s career, and he actually fared quite well at 36 years old. Guerrero had a .290 average while only missing a couple of games, but the power was mostly gone as he hit just 13 home runs at the Orioles but came up short of the playoffs.

1. Reggie Jackson

The man known as “Mr. October” thanks to his time with the New York Yankees was also known for being a mainstay of the Athletics franchise as they moved from Kansas City to Oakland. Jackson wrapped up his career with the Angels and a return to the Athletics but had a short stint between Oakland and New York when he played for the Orioles.

In 1976, Jackson played 134 games for Baltimore where he had a solid season, hitting .277 with 27 home runs and 91 runs batted in while stealing a career-high 28 bases. Jackson became a free agent after a fallout with the front office following the season, though, and signed with the Yankees.

Michiganders love their football, and even more so, arguing about football. There are five universities that are in the FBS division of college football, and all of them are rivals with one another. These five schools are also proud of their stadiums, especially with a certain school in Ann Arbor boasting about its maximum capacity.

When looking at all five of the FBS stadiums in Michigan, how do they stack up against one another? Though some people would disagree, a majority would be willing to admit that the five belong in this particular order.

5. Rynearson Stadium (Eastern Michigan University)

Rynearson Stadium is located in the northern part of EMU’s campus in Ypsilanti, which opened for the first time in September 1969. Since then, there have been a pair of expansions, but the stadium is lacking in upgrades compared to its counterparts, even in the Mid-American Conference. 

Though the stadium itself seats over 30,000 people, Rynearson Stadium has yet to have more than 87 percent of its seats sold for a single game. Many college football fans feel that Rynearson needs a serious facelift to draw in a crowd, with many citing the track that surrounds the field as one of the biggest eyesores.

4. Waldo Stadium (Western Michigan University)

There’s a big jump from number five to number four as many consider Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo to be a perfectly fine venue for football. With a cost of just over $4 million when adjusted to today’s money, Waldo has been open since 1939 and has seen a capacity number jump from 15,000 to its current 30,200.

There have been instances in which Waldo Stadium has gone well over capacity, including a 2000 matchup against Indiana State that drew in over 36,000 people. Of course, Waldo does have one tiny problem due to its elevation. No other part of Kalamazoo is lower than Waldo Stadium, which can result in easy flooding.

3. Kelly/Shorts Stadium (Central Michigan University)

There was once a time when Kelly/Shorts Stadium was lower on the list, but due to upgrades both during and after the Brian Kelly era, the Chippewas’ home stadium in Mount Pleasant climbs up to number three. Opened in 1972, the capacity has increased from 20,000 to over 30,000, breaking the attendance record in 2012 with 35,127 against Michigan State.

The stadium has seen a lot of new amenities added over the years, including new team facilities in the end zones and permanent lighting that make it stand out. Of the three MAC schools in Michigan, CMU’s football stadium stands out as the top.

2. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State University)

Originally named College Field when it first opened up in 1923, Spartan Stadium has seen a lot of changes over the years. This includes massive expansions and renovations, two of which have taken place since 2005. Spartan Stadium’s capacity has increased to over 80,400 during its history and has been home to some of the most memorable games in the state.

The updated press box and luxury suites are a sight to behold, and the seating arrangement makes Spartan Stadium a true home advantage for the boys from East Lansing. The new bells and whistles at Spartan Stadium haven’t gone unnoticed, and it’s only expected to get better as the Big Ten Conference revenue increases.

1. Michigan Stadium (University of Michigan)

We mentioned it earlier, and of course “The Big House” has to be tops in the state due to its size and history alone. Opened in Ann Arbor in 1927 with a capacity of 72,000, Michigan Stadium has undergone a lot of changes that have increased that capacity to 107,601. The record attendance was set against Notre Dame in 2013 with over 115,100 people in the stadium.

Michigan Stadium was built with the idea of potentially needing 150,000 seats, and that may one day be realized. The stadium is built into the ground and is unassuming for fans from the outside, and feels like its own large city when you’ve passed through the gates.

The Indian Premier League certainly isn’t among the oldest professional sports leagues in the world, but it is already one of the most popular. Each year, 10 teams battle it out for the IPL championship and the valuation of the league is now several billion dollars. Along the way, there have been some truly great players, with some establishing themselves as legends.

Out of the many IPL players in the early parts of the league, which ones have been the best? Taking their contributions and production into consideration, there are five players that have separated themselves from the rest of the pack to be considered the best IPL players of all time.

5. Shane Watson

The other non-Indian-born player on the list is Shane Watson, who hails from Ipswich, Australia. Watson is one of the most influential cricket players of all time and spent eight years playing professionally before making his way to the IPL when it began in 2008. Watson started his IPL career with the Rajasthan Royals where he stayed for seven years, and has since played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings during his IPL career.

Watson is tied for third all-time in the IPL with four centuries which spanned from 2008 to 2020 in 141 innings. Watson collected 3,874 runs and 92 wickets, joining just a handful of players to assemble 500 runs and 20 wickets, playing away the milestone. Watson is also one of a select few to record a hat trick.

4. Suresh Raina

A batsman who joined the Indian national team in 2005, Suresh Raina stuck around for 13 years while also having a long career in the IPL. At the advent of the league, Raina joined the Chennai Super Kings where he played until 2015, and rejoined the team in 2018 after spending two years with the Gujarat Lions. 

Raina finds himself close to the top of the leaderboard in many IPL career marks, including runs. In fact, Raina holds the team record for most career runs on two different teams. Raina also set the record for best strike rates in an inning with 1.5 that he set in May 2011. 

3. Dwayne Bravo

One of just two players on the list that were born outside of India, Dwayne Bravo is a native of Trinidad and Tobago, with the all-rounder representing the West Indies. Bravo was around for the start of the IPL, starting with the Mumbai Indians before also playing for the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions. During that time, Bravo also spent time playing professionally outside of India.

Bravo holds the IPL record for most wickets taken at 183, with no other player being particularly close. 33 of those wickets have come against the Mumbai Indians and another 22 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

2. MS Dhoni

The former captain of India’s national team made his international debut in 2004 and played domestically before the formation of the IPL. In 2008, he was part of the first Chennai Super Kings team (squad no. 7) where he remained through 2015. MS Dhoni would return to the team in 2018, and for those two years in between, he was a member of the Rising Pune Supergiant team.

Dhoni is sixth-all time in the list of most career sixes with 229, which he did in 206 innings. He also dominates a couple of career records, recording 170 dismissals and 131 catches to go along with 39 career stumpings. 

1. Virat Kohli

At the top of just about everybody’s list for best IPL player of all time is Virat Kohli, the New Dehli-born legend who came into the professional ranks at the right time. Kohli was beginning to hit his prime when the IPL was formed, and he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore at their inception and has remained with the team ever since.

Kohli holds the IPL record for the most runs in his career and has feasted on teams like Rising Pune Supergiant and the Delhi Capitals, holding the record for most runs against both franchises. Kohli has a career-high of 108, which occurred on May 7, 2016, against RPS, and he’s third all-time in half-centuries with 44.

The Baltimore Orioles have a long history that dates back to the late 19th century, and though the franchise has just three World Series titles, they have also had some of the best players in Major League Baseball. In terms of the best Orioles players of all time, you can probably guess who number one is, but where do the rest rank? Here are our picks for the five greatest Orioles in franchise history.

5. George Sisler

Starting the top five is George Sisler, who began his career way back in 1915 and held the American League record for hits in a season for a very long time before Ichiro Suzuki set the new standard in the 2000s. Sisler played with the Orioles before their move to Baltimore, spending 12 seasons with what was then the St. Louis Browns.

During his career with the franchise, Sisler posted a .344 batting average with 93 home runs and 962 runs batted in, collecting an MVP Award in 1922. Sisler won two batting titles and was a master of stolen bases, swiping a career-high 51 bags during his MVP season. Sisler was even the Browns’ manager for three seasons and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

4. Eddie Murray

“Steady” Eddie Murray is one of just a handful of players that’s hit 500 home runs while recording 3,000 career hits. Murray had two stints with the Orioles, starting his career in Baltimore from 1977 to 1988 and returning for the 1996 season. Murray was a seven-time All-Star with the Orioles and took home the Rookie of the Year Award with a .283 batting average and 27 home runs.

In his overall Orioles career, Murray slugged 363 home runs and knocked in 1,224 runs with a .294 batting average. Murray was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 in his first year on the ballot. He has also been inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame and has his jersey number 33 retired by the franchise.

3. Jim Palmer

The only pitcher on the list is Jim palmer, who spent his entire career with the Orioles between 1968 and 1984, only taking off the 1968 season. Palmer was named an American League All-Star six times during his career, winning four Gold Gloves and learning the league in wins for three years in a row between 1975 and 1977.

The crown jewel of Palmer’s career is being a three-time AL Cy Young Award winner, taking home the title in 1973, 1975, and 1976. After retiring in 1984, Palmer was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1990 and had his number 22 jersey retired as he was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame.

2. Brooks Robinson

There’s a reason Brooks Robinson was known as the “Human Vacuum Cleaner” thanks to his tremendous defensive play that won him 16 Gold Glove Awards, the most by a non-pitcher in baseball history. Robinson played his entire career with the Orioles that spanned from 1955 to 1977 and included a long list of non-Gold Glove Awards, too.

Robinson was named to the American League All-Star Team 18 times during his career and won the MVP Award in 1964 thanks to a .317 batting average, 28 home runs, and 118 runs batted in. Like the others on the list, Robinson was a first-ballot Hall of Famer and was inducted in 1983, and the number five jersey is retired in his honor.

1. Cal Ripken Jr.

It’s probably no surprise that the number one player on the list is Cal Ripken Jr., who will always be known for his consecutive games played record that’s almost guaranteed to never be broken. Ripken played all 21 of his Major League Baseball seasons with the Orioles, and the former Rookie of the Year was named to the American League All-Star Team 19 times.

Ripken was an eight-time Silver Slugger winner for being one of the best-hitting shortstops of all time, while also winning a pair of Gold Glove Awards. Ripken won two MVP Awards, the first coming in 1983 and the second in 1991. Ripken was nearly a unanimous Hall of Fame entry on his first time on the ballot in 2007 and no Oriole will wear number eight again.

There are certain sports uniforms that are seen as iconic since they haven’t changed with each passing generation. Teams in the NFL like the Jacksonville Jaguars or Atlanta Falcons seem to have a new uniform every year, but then there are teams like the New York Giants or Pittsburgh Steelers that remain largely unchanged.

Out of all of those classic uniforms, many consider the Chicago Bears to have the best of the bunch. While some minor details might change every few years or so, the overall concept remains the same. Let’s take a look at the Bears uniform, how it came to be, and some details that are still included as part of the uniform today.

The Staley Days

The early days of organized professional football didn’t offer a lot of variations between teams. Back when they first started, the Bears were known as the Decatur Staleys and their uniforms featured red jerseys with gold highlights for a few years before the iconic blue and orange colors became a staple.

The original Staleys uniforms featured three vertical stripes at the front of the jersey which was popular back then before switching to numbers upon becoming the Bears. In fact, the franchise was the first to feature jersey numbers.\

The Sleeves

Those that are watching the Chicago Bears play for the first time might ask why the Bears play with the letters “GSH” on their sleeves. While there have been memorial patches for plenty of NFL teams, the “GSH” on the Bears uniform is permanent and has been there since 1984. That was the first full season following the death of George Stanley “Papa Bear” Halas.

Halas wasn’t just the owner of the team but was also the founder. On top of that, Halas coached the team from their time in Decatur starting in 1920 all the way until 1967 with a few brief breaks in the action including World War II. The eight-time NFL champion will forever be etched onto the Bears uniforms with the “GSH” initials.

The Wings

The winged helmet in football is something that dates back to the early 1930s, and these days is more synonymous with the University of Michigan Wolverines football team. During the early days of the winged helmet concept, though, the Chicago Bears were among the pioneers with two seasons bearing the pattern.

Leather helmets were still in use by football teams during that time, and the Bears wanted to add some color to stand out. Though the concept was ultimately abandoned after a couple of years, the Bears throwback uniforms do feature the winged helmets.

The Helmet Logo

Though advertisements as part of sports uniforms are much more common these days, the Chicago Bears were one of the first teams to feature advertising. That was before they were the Bears, though. During the time of the Decatur Staleys, the team had the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company logo for a year.

Since the early 1960s, though, the Bears have had the iconic ‘C’ logo on their helmets. The wishbone-style letter has a bit of an underbite, which has irked some people, though the origins are a bit difficult to find for historians. The logo is most synonymous with the Bears, but is also used by the Cincinnati Reds and had already been used by several colleges before the Bears got their hands (or paws) on it.

The Alternates

Just like every other franchise in the NFL, the Chicago Bears have experimented with a lot of alternate uniforms over the years. In addition to their Staleys throwbacks, the Bears have used orange as the primary jersey color for many of the alternates. The helmets, outside of the winged helmet, have largely remained untouched until 2022.

That was when the Bears debuted an orange alternate helmet for the first time, catching a lot of attention. For the most part, though, the uniforms have remained true to their classic look or have thrown back to the early 20th century look.