From a press release distributed by the Baltimore Orioles this morning…
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Mike Mussina and Rich Dauer elected to Orioles Hall of Fame
Walter Youse named Herb Armstrong Award winner
Former Orioles pitcher MIKE MUSSINA has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame, the team announced today. Former O’s second baseman RICH DAUER will also be enshrined as a selection of the Veteran’s Committee, and longtime Orioles scout WALTER YOUSE will be inducted posthumously as this year’s Herb Armstrong Award winner.
Mussina spent the first 10 of his 18 major league seasons with the Orioles from 1991-2000, going 147-81 with a 3.53 ERA in 288 starts. He ranks among the club’s all-time leaders in wins (3rd), strikeouts (2nd), starts (5th), innings (6th), shutouts (8th) and complete games (10th). Mussina led the Orioles in ERA eight times and in victories and innings pitched six times each in his 10 seasons with the club.
The right-hander won at least 10 games in 17 consecutive seasons, an American League record. He won 18 or more games six times, four of those with Baltimore. Only six pitchers in ML history with as many wins as Mussina have a better winning percentage, and he is one of only nine pitchers in major league history to win 100 or more games with two teams. He ranks 19th all-time in major league history in strikeouts, 31st in winning percentage, and 33rd in wins and games started.
During his time with the Orioles, Mussina led the American League in win/loss percentage (1992); wins, shutouts and walks per nine innings (all in 1995); starts (1996); and innings pitched (2000). He won seven Gold Gloves, four of them as an Oriole, and finished in the top six of Cy Young Award voting nine times, seven with Baltimore. He was named to five American League All-Star teams, all with the Orioles.
Mussina threw three one-hitters for the Orioles and struck out 15 batters in a game three times during his Baltimore career. In the 1997 post-season, he went 2-0 in four starts with a 1.24 ERA, allowing one run on four hits in 15.0 innings over two ALCS starts.
A native of Montoursville, PA, Mussina was the Orioles’ first round selection (20th overall pick) out of Stanford University in the 1990 First Year Player Draft.
Dauer will be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee. The second baseman spent his entire 10-year major league career with the Orioles from 1976-85, batting .257 in 1140 games with the club and ranks among the top 15 players in club history in games played, hits and doubles. Dauer played in two World Series with the Orioles, in 1979 and 1983.
Dauer holds two American League single season fielding records for a second baseman, playing 86 consecutive errorless games and 425 straight errorless chances, both of which he set in 1978. He led all AL second basemen in fielding percentage in 1981 and had the fewest errors among qualifying second basemen three times. Dauer’s .987 career fielding percentage ranks 12th all-time and was the highest among those who played during his career, 1976-85.
Currently third base coach for the Colorado Rockies, Dauer was the Orioles’ first round pick (24th overall) in the 1974 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern California. He is one of the few players to win both a College World Series and MLB World Series.
Youse will be honored posthumously as the recipient of the Herb Armstrong Award, given to non-uniformed personnel who have made significant contributions to the ballclub and the game of baseball. Known as the “Babe Ruth of Amateur Baseball,” Youse made his mark both as a scout for the Orioles and a coach of numerous amateur teams in the Baltimore area.
A former semi-pro centerfielder, Youse joined the Orioles in 1956 as a part-time scout. He was promoted to full-time scout in 1958 and from 1969-74 served as the team’s Eastern Regional Scouting Supervisor.
Youse’s first signee with the Orioles was Cal Ripken, Sr. He also signed Steve Barber, Tom Phoebus, Dave Leonhard, Larry Haney, Barry Shetrone, John Miller, Jesse Jefferson and Johnny Oates for Baltimore. Youse also worked as an area and special assignment scout for the Angels (1975-77) and Brewers (1977-2001), tutoring, among others, Dan Duquette while with Milwaukee. He also signed B.J. Surhoff as the number one overall pick in the 1985 draft for the Brewers.
Youse coached the renowned Leone’s, Johnny’s, Corrigan’s, Maryland Orioles teams from 1956-2001. His under-20 teams won 46 consecutive Baltimore City titles and a record 20 All-American Amateur Baseball Association titles and produced more than 45 major league players, including Hall of Famers Al Kaline and Reggie Jackson. Youse passed away April 15, 2002 at the age of 88. The team was renamed Youse’s Maryland Orioles in his honor prior to the 2002 season.
Mussina, Dauer and Youse will be honored at a luncheon sponsored by the Oriole Advocates, founders of the Orioles Hall of Fame, on Friday, August 24. Tickets for the luncheon are available by calling 410-247-2703. Tickets for the induction ceremony and the Orioles-Blue Jays game on Saturday, August 25 are available at www.orioles.com or by calling 1-888-848-BIRD
