Mark Belanger

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Belanger was born on June 8, 1944, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, of French-Canadian and Italian-American descent. He attended Pittsfield High School, where he played baseball and basketball. On the basketball court, he became the school's first 1,000-point scorer, scoring 1,455 points in three years. He led his team to the 1962 Western Massachusetts championship game and a 59-10 record over those three years. He was recruited by the Orioles as an amateur and signed for $35,000 shortly after turning 18. He was then assigned to the Class-D Bluefield Orioles, where he hit .298, while playing shortstop; also playing eight games that season for the Single-A Elmira Pioneers. His manager at Elmira was future Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver, and included future Orioles Andy Etchebarren, Dave McNally and Darold Knowles. He spent 1963 in the U.S. Army Reserve, and returned to the Orioles minor league system in 1964, playing shortstop for the Single-A Aberdeen Pheasants, batting .226, with a .958 fielding percentage. He did go to Orioles spring training in 1963, where Orioles shortstop Ron Hansen gave Belanger fielding advice that would positively affect how Belanger played shortstop going forward. Belanger spent the majority of the 1965 season with now Double-A Elmira, again managed by Weaver, where he had a .968 fielding percentage. He was called up for 11 games with the Orioles, making his debut with the club on August 7, as a pinch runner. In 1966, he played for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, also managed by Weaver, batting .262, with six home runs and a .974 fielding percentage; playing in eight games with the Orioles at the end of the season. He took over as the Orioles' regular shortstop in late from future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio, and held the position f

In Their Own Story

On June 3, 1977, Belanger executed what sportswriter Fred Rothenberg called "one of the strangest triple plays in baseball history." With the bases loaded for the Royals in the ninth inning and Kansas City down 7–5, Pat Kelly caught a fly ball. Runners advanced, but Kelly threw to Belanger, who caught Freddie Patek in a rundown between first and second. As Belanger tagged Patek, Dave Nelson attempted to score from third. Belanger ran toward the third base line, caught up with Nelson ten feet from home plate, and tagged him out to complete the triple play and end the game. Another pivotal moment occurred during the 1970 World Series; in Game 1, with the tying run on first, Belanger caught a line drive to secure a 4–3 victory, later adding an assist to end Game 3. These moments cemented his reputation as a clutch defender who could single-handedly shift momentum.

Reader's Guide

Mark Belanger is a defensive legend. Use him for his elite glove at shortstop, but be aware of his weak bat. He won eight Gold Gloves and set a high standard for fielding. His career batting average is .228, so he is not a hitter to rely on. He is best used in situations where defense is paramount.

Did You Know?

• Belanger won eight Gold Glove Awards between 1969 and 1978.
• He retired with the highest career fielding percentage by an AL shortstop (.977).
• Belanger was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1983.
• He was nicknamed 'The Blade' because of his tall, narrow and angular frame.
• Belanger hit a rare home run in the first American League Championship Series game ever played in 1969.