Top 5 debut seasons in Orioles history

It’s difficult to make a better first impression than the one Frank Robinson made for the Orioles, who were looking for a difference-maker in the winter of 1965 to catapult their emerging team to the next level. What they got was an icon, a singular figure who would go on to change the entire trajectory of the franchise.

To this day, Robinson’s MVP campaign in 1966 remains on the short list of best debut seasons in Major League history. So, spoiler alert: It also tops the Orioles' franchise list in this regard. The more interesting arguments involve others who have made lesser -- though still substantial -- impacts immediately upon arriving in Baltimore, whether it be via promotion, trade or free agency.

NOTE: All WAR numbers below come via Baseball Reference. Additionally, debut seasons must entail the first season a player played in a game for Baltimore -- e.g., even though Gunnar Henderson was considered a rookie in 2023, his 2023 season is not eligible to show up here, since he did play with the Orioles in 2022 briefly.

1. Frank Robinson, 1966
Key stats: .316/.410/.637, 122 runs, 182 hits, 49 HRs, 122 RBIs, 367 total bases, 198 OPS+, 7.7 WAR

Acquired from the Reds in the lopsided deal for right-hander Milt Pappas, Robinson wasted little time. He won the AL Triple Crown in 1966, pacing the league in runs, on-base percentage, slugging and total bases as well as hitting, homers and RBIs. He led the Orioles to their first World Series, earning MVP honors in their sweep over the Dodgers that October. He was also the unanimous selection for AL MVP.

Robinson went on to star for six seasons and reach three more World Series with Baltimore, eventually entering the Hall of Fame as an Oriole. But he never replicated that otherworldly 1966 campaign. Few have, especially in their debut season.

2. Miguel Tejada, 2004
Key stats: .311/.360/.534, 203 hits, 107 runs, 34 HRs, 150 RBIs, 349 total bases, 131 OPS+, 7.4 WAR

Two years removed from a MVP season with the A’s, Tejada was as advertised upon arriving in Baltimore on a club-record six-year, $72 million free-agent contract in 2004. His first summer with the Orioles produced video game numbers, a Home Run Derby title and a club-record 150 RBIs, a total eclipsed only by one big leaguer -- Alex Rodriguez in 2007 -- since. Tejada earned All-Star and Silver Slugger honors and placed fifth in MVP voting for his introductory campaign, easily the best debut season by an infielder in O’s history.

3. Mike Cuellar, 1969
Key stats: 23-11, 2.38 ERA, 149 ERA+, 1.005 WHIP, 182 SO, 79 BB in 290 2/3 IP, 4.4 WAR

An All-Star with the Astros a few years earlier, Cuellar was 32 and coming off a down year when the Orioles acquired the left-hander from Houston for Curt Blefary and Enzo Hernandez in December 1968. All Cuellar needed was a change of scenery. He enjoyed a career year once in Baltimore’s vaulted rotation, claiming a share of the AL Cy Young Award and helping the O’s get to within one game of a World Series championship. He was excellent in that postseason as well, posting a 1.50 ERA across three starts.

4. Eddie Murray, 1977
Key stats: .283/.333/.470, 81 runs, 173 hits, 29 doubles, 27 HRs, 88 RBIs, 123 OPS+, 287 total bases, 3.2 WAR

Of the seven AL Rookie of the Year winners in Orioles history, five -- Ron Hansen, Al Bumbry, Cal Ripken Jr., Gregg Olson and Henderson -- won their hardware the year after their MLB debuts, disqualifying them for this list. Curt Blefary and Murray were the exceptions in this regard, with the latter making the 1977 Orioles out of Spring Training at age 21 and appearing in 160 games for the 97-win club that season. The steady, middle-of-the-order production was a harbinger of things to come for the future Hall of Famer, and it was enough to edge out A’s outfielder Mitchell Page for AL Rookie of the Year honors.

5. Adley Rutschman, 2022
Key stats: .254/.362/.445, 70 runs, 101 hits, 35 doubles, 13 HRs, 42 RBIs, 131 OPS+, 177 total bases, 5.4 WAR

Unlike Murray, Rutschman didn't bring home a Rookie of the Year award to Baltimore -- that's what being a rookie at the same time as Julio Rodríguez will do for you. But like Murray, what made Rutschman's rookie season particularly impressive was that it was also the first season in which he appeared in any MLB games. And like Murray, Rutschman made it immediately clear that he would be a pillar for the Orioles to build around. The catcher didn't appear in any games until May 21, being limited to 113 games on the year as a result, but that was still more than enough time for him to make a major impact on both sides of the ball. As a matter of fact, his 5.4 WAR set a still-standing AL/NL record for most by a rookie who played in 120 or fewer games that year (barely ahead of the 5.2 from Atlanta's Michael Harris II in the same year).