During the Orioles Magic years of the late ’70s and early ’80s, every guy on the O’s roster seemed to play just a little over their heads, coming through in the clutch with a big hit, home run, or spectacular play in the field.

No one more so than John Lowenstein, Baltimore’s beloved “Brother Lo.”

Remember the 10th-inning, pinch-hit, walk-off, three-run HR against the California Angels in Game 1 of the ALCS at Memorial Stadium after Jim Palmer had battled Nolan Ryan to a 3-3 draw? How could you forget—the place went
bonkers.

In those days, the
Earl of Baltimore got extraordinary mileage out of Lowenstein and platoon partner Gary Roenicke in leftfield. Otherwise average players, the left-handed swinging Lowenstein and right-handed, hard-hitting Roenicke combined for 171 home runs and 574 RBI in the seven seasons they played together for the Orioles. In their first season platooning in left, they combined for 36 home runs and 98 RBI, helping the O’s win the aforementioned 1979 American League pennant.

So, it was fitting yesterday that Orioles announced that the pair would be inducted into the team’s
Hall of Fame together. They’ll be honored at a luncheon at Oriole Park on Friday, Aug. 14 at noon, and then during on-field ceremony prior to the Orioles game against the Oakland A’s later that evening.

Unfortunately, the O’s also announced, Lowenstein won’t be able to attend the events because of a prior commitment. We don’t know why there was a failure to find a date suitable for both the organization and Lowenstein, but we do know the outspoken,
colorful spirit of Brother Lo will be sorely missed at Camden Yards that night.

And we certainly don’t want to shortchange the contributions of the other Orioles player, Melvin Mora, who is getting inducted as well. Mora played nine and a half seasons with the O’s from 2000-2009—during some lean years—compiling a .280 batting average and 158 home runs. His 808 games played at third base are second to Brooks Robinson on the club’s all-time list and he’s among the club’s career leaders in doubles (8th, 252), RBI (8th, 662), home runs (10th, 158), runs (10th, 709), total bases (10th, 2,073), hits (11th, 1,323), walks (11th, 465), games played (12th, 1,256) and at-bats (12th, 4,733).

In 2004, Mora, a two-time All-Star, set the O’s single-season record with a .340 batting average, while also posting a career-high 27 home runs and 104 RBI.

Long-time scout Fred Uhlman Sr. will also be inducted as this year’s Herb Armstrong Award winner. Before retiring earlier this season, Uhlman spent 46 years in professional scouting, including the last three decades with the O’s. He joined the Orioles as scouting director in 1985. Uhlman, the O’s noted in a press release, established the Orioles’ first baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, and also was responsible for signing Jeff Ballard, Steve Finley, Gregg Olson, Arthur Rhodes and David Segui, among other players.

Big congrats to the whole quartet.

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With the O’s winning five straight last week and vaulting to the top of the American League East standings, there were no shortage of great performances over the past seven days. So we named two players this week as our first-ever Orioles Co-Studs of the Week—both share the same first name and have come off the bench to deliver in the clutch this year.

Stud of the Week for May 5-May 11:
Steve Pearce and Steve Clevenger

The line:
Still listed as a left fielder on the O’s roster, Pearce filled in for injured Chris Davis last week and delivered a “Crush”-worthy three home runs. Clavenger, toiling behind the plate in place of injured Matt Wieters, batted .333 in four games. With Wieters now going on the disabled list with a strained elbow, we’re happy we’ve got Clavenger, a Mount St. Joseph’s grad, to step in.

Studliest moment:
Pearce’s third homer in four games helped lead the O’s to a 4-3 win over the Astros for their fourth-straight victory. Clevenger ripped a game-winning, 10-inning double into the right field corner Saturday night, capping a rain-soaked, come-from-behind win—and earning a celebratory pie in the face from Adam Jones (above photo) as he was interviewed on his hometown O’s baseball network.

The clincher:
The throwback Oriole teams of late ’70s and early ’80s always had role players and guys coming off the bench to deliver in the clutch. With the O’s suffering a spate of injuries at the start of the season, but nonetheless playing winning ball—they’re harkening back to the Oriole Magic days of John Lowenstein and Benny Ayala.

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