Everybody likes the stars in Birdland, as every team’s fans like their team’s stars. When I was growing up, you didn’t need to have a reason to like Cal Ripken Jr. or Brady Anderson or Mike Mussina. They were the best Orioles. Of course you liked them. Today it’s Adam Jones and Manny Machado, among others, carrying on that popularity.
It’s great to have all of them as part of the franchise’s history. But that’s not who I’m interested in today. It’s time to find out about some less-heralded players, perhaps even some maligned players.