2001 Baltimore Orioles season
| 2001 Baltimore Orioles | |
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| Major League affiliations | |
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| Location | |
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| Results | |
| Record | 63–98 (.391) |
| Divisional place | 4th |
| Other information | |
| Owner(s) | Peter Angelos |
| General manager(s) | Syd Thrift |
| Manager(s) | Mike Hargrove |
| Local television |
WJZ-TV WNUV Comcast SportsNet (Jim Palmer, Michael Reghi, Mike Flanagan) |
| Local radio |
WBAL (AM) (Fred Manfra, Jim Hunter, Chuck Thompson) |
| < Previous season Next season > | |
The 2001 Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing 4th in the American League East with a record of 63 wins and 98 losses.
In June 2001, Cal Ripken, Jr. announced that he would retire at the end of the season. He was voted the starting third baseman in the All-Star game at Safeco Field on July 10, 2001 in Seattle. In a tribute to Ripken's achievements and stature in the game, shortstop Alex Rodriguez (unknowingly foreshadowing his own future) insisted on exchanging positions with third baseman Ripken for the first inning, so that Ripken could play shortstop as he had for most of his career. In the third inning, Ripken made his first plate appearance and was greeted with a standing ovation. Ripken then homered off the first pitch from Chan Ho Park. Ripken ended up with All-Star MVP honors. He is the only AL player in MLB history with multiple All Star Game MVP Awards (1991 and 2001).
Ripken's #8 was retired by the Baltimore Orioles in a ceremony before the final home game of the 2001 season. Ripken's final game was originally set to be played at Yankee Stadium; however, all Major League Baseball games from September 11 to 17 were postponed due to the terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon. The Orioles were at home during the attacks, so the games missed were added on to the end of the season's schedule, which changed the location of Ripken's final game to Oriole Park, much to the delight of Orioles fans. Cal Ripken ended his career in the on deck circle in the bottom of the ninth inning. Longtime teammate Brady Anderson, also playing in his last game for the Orioles, swung and missed a fastball high and tight on a 3–2 count to end the game. In his final season, Ripken had the lowest zone rating of all major league third basemen (.734).[1]
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