In 1989, Gregg Olson was the first rookie ever chosen to be Most Valuable Oriole. Have you ever been curious about the Most Valuable Orioles throughout history? Each year since 1954, the local sports media types have selected one standout player from the most recently concluded season. However, the comprehensive list doesn't seem to be easily found online. Fortunately, I recently received a 1984 game program from my uncle, and it included a year-by-year recap of the team's fortunes...complete with notations of the MVOs! So here are as many of the 56 MVO selections as I have unearthed, presented in order. If a player is a multiple-time winner, it will be noted after his position. I did as much digging as I could, but there are still six from 1984 through 1997 who are M.I.A. If anyone knows about the missing half-dozen, let me know. At least two of them are Eddie Murray; he's credited online as a seven-time MVO. Take this knowledge and use it well.UPDATED 10/13: Big thanks to reader HandyAndy, who filled in the blanks for me!
1954: Chuck Diering, CF (.258 AVG, .349 OBP)
1955: Dave Philley, RF (.299 AVG, .367 OBP)
1956: Bob Nieman, LF (.322 AVG, .940 OPS, 12 HR, 64 RBI)
1957: Billy Gardner, 2B (.262, 36 2B)
1958: Gus Triandos, C (30 HR, 79 RBI)
1959: Gene Woodling, OF (.300 AVG, .402 OBP, 14 HR, 77 RBI)
1960: Brooks Robinson, 3B (.294, 27 2B, 14 HR, 88 RBI)
1961: Jim Gentile, 1B (.302 AVG, 1.069 OPS, 46 HR, 141 RBI)
1962: Brooks Robinson, 3B, 2x (.303, 29 2B, 23 HR, 86 RBI)
1963: Stu Miller, RP (2.24 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 27 SV)
1964: Brooks Robinson, 3B, 3x (.317, 35 2B, 28 HR, 118 RBI)
1965: Stu Miller, RP, 2x (14-7, 1.89 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 24 SV)
1966: Frank Robinson, RF (.316 AVG, 1.047 OPS, 34 2B, 49 HR, 122 RBI)
1967: Frank Robinson, RF, 2x (.311 AVG, .403 OBP, 30 HR, 94 RBI)
1968: Dave McNally, SP (22-10, 1.95 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 18 CG)
1969: Boog Powell, 1B (.304, 37 HR, 121 RBI)
1970: Boog Powell, 1B, 2x (.297 AVG, .412 OBP, 35 HR, 114 RBI)
1971: (tie) Brooks Robinson, 3B, 4x (.272, 20 HR, 92 RBI)
Frank Robinson, RF, 3x (.281, 28 HR, 99 RBI)
1972: Jim Palmer, SP (21-10, 2.07 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 18 CG)
1973: Jim Palmer, SP, 2x (22-9, 2.40 ERA, 19 CG)
1974: (tie) Paul Blair, CF (.261, 27 2B, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 27 SB, Gold Glove)
Mike Cuellar, SP (22-10, 3.11 ERA, 20 CG)
1975: Ken Singleton, RF (.300 AVG, .415 OBP, 37 2B, 15 HR, 55 RBI)
1976: Lee May, 1B (.258, 25 HR, 109 RBI)
1977: Ken Singleton, RF, 2x (.328 AVG, .438 OBP!, 24 HR, 99 RBI)
1978: Eddie Murray, 1B (.285, 32 2B, 27 HR, 95 RBI)
1979: Ken Singleton, RF, 3x (.295 AVG, .405 OBP, 35 HR, 111 RBI)
1980: Al Bumbry, CF (.318 AVG, .392 OBP, 29 2B, 118 R, 44 SB)
1981: Eddie Murray, 1B, 2x (.294, 22 HR, 78 RBI in 99 G)
1982: Eddie Murray, 1B, 3x (.316 AVG, .391 OBP, 30 2B, 32 HR, 110 RBI)
1983: (tie) Eddie Murray, 1B, 4x (.306 AVG, .393 OBP, 30 2B, 33 HR, 111 RBI)
Cal Ripken, SS (.318, 47 2B, 27 HR, 102 RBI)
1984: Eddie Murray, 1B, 5x (.306 AVG, .410 OBP, 29 HR, 110 RBI)
1985: Eddie Murray, 1B, 6x (.297 AVG, .383 OBP, 37 2B, 31 HR, 124 RBI)
1986: Don Aase, RP (6-7, 2.98 ERA, 34 SV)
1987: Larry Sheets, OF (.316, 31 HR, 94 RBI)
1988: (tie) Eddie Murray, 1B, 7x (.306 AVG, .393 OBP, 30 2B, 33 HR, 111 RBI)
Cal Ripken, SS, 2x (.318, 47 2B, 27 HR, 102 RBI)
1989: Gregg Olson, RP (5-2, 1.69 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 27 SV)
1990: Cal Ripken, SS, 3x (.250 AVG, .341 OBP, 28 2B, 21 HR, 84 RBI)
1991: Cal Ripken, SS, 4x (.323, 46 2B, 34 HR, 114 RBI)
1992: Mike Devereaux, CF (.276, 29 2B, 11 3B, 24 HR, 107 RBI)
1993: Chris Hoiles, C (.310 AVG, 1.001 OPS, 29 HR, 82 RBI)
1994: No selection (Boo, Bud!)
1995: Rafael Palmeiro, 1B (.310, 30 2B, 39 HR, 104 RBI)
1996: Rafael Palmeiro, 1B, 2x (.289, 40 2B, 39 HR, 142 RBI)
1997: Randy Myers, RP (2-3, 1.51 ERA, 45 SV)
1998: Rafael Palmeiro, 1B, 3x (.296, 36 2B, 43 HR, 121 RBI)
1999: B. J. Surhoff, LF (.308, 38 2B, 28 HR, 107 RBI)
2000: Delino DeShields, 2B (.296, 43 2B, 10 HR, 86 RBI, 37 SB)
2001: Jeff Conine, 1B (.311 AVG, .386 OBP, 14 HR, 97 RBI)
2002: Rodrigo Lopez, SP (15-9, 3.57 ERA)
2003: Jay Gibbons, RF (.277, 39 2B, 23 HR, 100 RBI)
2004: Miguel Tejada, SS (.311, 40 2B, 34 HR, 150 RBI)
2005: Brian Roberts, 2B (.314 AVG, .387 OBP, 45 2B, 18 HR, 73 RBI, 27 SB)
2006: Miguel Tejada, SS, 2x (.330, 37 2B, 24 HR, 100 RBI)
2007: Nick Markakis, RF (.300, 43 2B, 23 HR, 112 RBI)
2008: Aubrey Huff, DH (.304, 48 2B, 32 HR, 108 RBI)
2009: Brian Roberts, 2B, 2x (.283, 56 2B, 16 HR, 79 RBI, 30 SB)
