Page "Baltimore Orioles" Paragraph 25

In 1971, the Orioles won another division title thanks to four 20-game winners on their pitching staff ( Cuellar, Jim Palmer, Pat Dobson, and Dave McNally ).

After defeating the young Oakland A's in the ALCS, the Orioles would lose a heartbreaking seven-game World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Orioles would miss the playoffs in 1972, but rebounded to win the division in 1973 and 1974.

Each time, they would lose to Oakland in the ALCS.

During this stretch, the Orioles began to phase out their veteran infield by replacing Davey Johnson and Brooks Robinson with younger stars Bobby Grich and Doug DeCinces, respectively.

Johnson would be dealt along with Johnny Oates to the Atlanta Braves for catcher and 1971 National League Rookie of the Year Earl Williams.

Although Williams would hit 63 home runs in two seasons with Atlanta, he would only hit 36 homers in two seasons with the Orioles.