Editor’s note: Throughout this year Press Room Pass will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 baseball season with a variety of stories from the covering personal accomplishments, unique moments, major league expansion and the amazing New York Mets. This is the latest installment of that series.
Time has a way of making baseball players unknown to the next generation.
Today, many younger fans might not recognize the name Curt Motton.
In eight years in the big leagues mostly with the Baltimore Orioles, Motton never appeared in more than 100 games in a season.
Except for part of two seasons, Motton played with the Orioles from 1967 to 1974. He was with the Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels in 1972, while spending time in the minors before returning to the Orioles organization midway into 1973.
For his career, Motton hit 25 homers and drove in 89 runs with a .213 batting average.
In 1969, Motton had the best season of his career as the Orioles won the American League pennant. With six home runs with 21 RBI and a batting average of .303, Motton made his mark as a pinch-hitter.
Perhaps Motton’s most memorable moment came in the second game of the AL Championship Series against the Minnesota Twins on Oct. 5.
The game was scoreless when Motton entered the contest in the bottom of the 11th as a pinch-hitter for Elrod Hendricks.
Ron Perranoski took over on the mound for Twins starter Dave Boswell. Motton ended the with a single to score Boog Powell to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the series.
Homers as Pinch-Hitter
Motton had five pinch-hit homers in his career with two coming in 1969.
The first long ball was a two-run blast off Kansas City’s Jim Rooker in the bottom of the eighth on Aug. 6. Motton’s homer gave the Orioles a 2-1 win over the Royals in Memorial Stadium.
Baltimore was in Oakland for the second home run on Aug. 22. Batting for Jim Palmer in the top of the 10th, Motton smashed solo shot to put the Orioles on top 4-3 before Eddie Watt earned a save in the bottom of the frame.
Best Day
Also in 1969, Motton had his only two-homer game as the Orioles won 10-0 at California on Aug. 22.
Starting the game in left field, Motton tagged Angels starter Rudy May with homers in the second and fourth innings, but he wasn’t finished. Motton finished with four hits as he added a single in the fifth and double in the eighth.
Post-Season
Motton would play in the post-season for the Orioles in 1969, 1971 and in 1974. Although he didn’t play, he was part of the 1970 World Series squad that defeated the Cincinnati Reds in five games.