It’s been a long time since we’ve connected with former Orioles third baseman Doug DeCinces but this tribute to Brooks Robinson, homage to that night in 1979 against the Tigers and the joys of being a part of the Roar From 34 and Memorial Stadium on those summer nights was special. Let the “Godfather” of Orioles Magic reminisce about what it meant to wear a Baltimore Orioles jersey and represent the team in the community at Nestor’s Eastwood Little League banquet on Dundalk Avenue 48 years ago.
Nestor Aparicio and Doug DeCinces reminisce about their experiences with the Baltimore Orioles, focusing on the 1979 team and the “Oriole Magic.” DeCinces shares stories from his early career, including attending his Little League opener with Don Drysdale and Willie Mays, and the impact of Brooks Robinson on his career. They discuss the importance of community involvement and the current state of the Orioles, highlighting the team’s improved minor league system and the potential for future success. DeCinces also reflects on his philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting cystic fibrosis research.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
Orioles baseball, Doug DeCinces, Brooks Robinson, Oriole magic, 1979 World Series, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, minor league system, Baltimore baseball, Don Baylor, cystic fibrosis, Oriole way, baseball history, player development, community involvement.
SPEAKERS
Doug DeCinces, Nestor Aparicio, Speaker 1
Nestor Aparicio 00:00
Uh, welcome home. We are W, N, S T. Am 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We are Baltimore, positive, hoping that you’re setting a spot on our dial. We’ve got the baseball everywhere. Luke and I are headed to Toronto, Canada to kick things off before the Boston Red Sox come to town. We’re going to be doing the Maryland crab cake tour at fade Lee’s on April the second. Come on out. Say hello. That’s Wednesday. That’s the day of the second Red Sox game with an Alexa de Marquis the big fat crab cakes. I’ll have some shrimp salad, and we will have the magic eight balls to give away. I will be wearing this jersey on opening day. My guest thinks that number 11 was his jersey, because it was it came before him that I would have this jersey. Dr Sensei, where have you been all of my life? I have your jersey somehow from like 1976 so the orange, somehow they put Aparicio name on it. I found it in my size on the internet, 4999 it’s a bargain. How are you? I’m
Doug DeCinces 01:01
doing great. That’s a I love that I had that number because, you know, your dad was my manager and in Venezuela for a year, and I my
Nestor Aparicio 01:11
cousin. But okay, but now I want to know you played for Zulia. Do you play for Agus?
Doug DeCinces 01:16
No, I played for Barcia meadow. Oh, that was the one year he was there at Marquis Beto as a manager.
Speaker 1 01:25
Was 75 432, where are we? 73
Doug DeCinces 01:32
Ray Miller was the assistant manager. Burlson was a shortstop. John Lowenstein was on the team, brother
Nestor Aparicio 01:41
low in Venezuela. Oh, all hell broke loose there. Now, come on,
Doug DeCinces 01:45
he was my roommate. We had some funny times. Oh, how
Nestor Aparicio 01:49
do you are you in touch? Because low keeps in touch with me. He is the biggest celebrity in Baltimore, the because of Angelos in the exit. He’s never appeared. He’s never come up for air. He’s never sure I know he’s out in Vegas because he writes to me on my birthday and tells me he loves me, but I’ve, I haven’t talked to Lowe in 25 years.
Doug DeCinces 02:05
I haven’t talked to him in a long time either. I would love to, yeah, I think the last time I saw him was when I was back in Baltimore for something, maybe 1015 years ago. I know
Nestor Aparicio 02:16
well, he is a legend here from his exploits on home team sports. Doug, how are you? I, you know, I, I’m just trying to reach out to people, and I have this weird history with you, in a way you don’t even know about. In 1977 or 78 I was in Eastwood Little League, and we had a big ass bank with Daniel Dundalk Avenue, the teamsters Hall. And in walks is strapping Doug the senses in a beautiful brown leather bomber. You look like you were ready to go out and paint it up disco style in 7770 but you were wearing my cousin’s jersey. But you were the Oriole that came to our little league bank when I was a boy. I have a picture of you on a Polaroid.
Doug DeCinces 02:54
Really, that’s crazy.
Nestor Aparicio 02:58
Did you do a lot of that? Because players don’t do that anymore. I mean, we love gunner Henderson, but he’s not coming to your little league here. The Orioles did that work in the 70s. I know this to be true because I saw you there. PAL senior was at our church night, at Our Lady of Fatima, we had a Sports Night. I mean, that was a something you did when you were a player.
Doug DeCinces 03:18
Absolutely, you know, the Orioles were really good about that, and I was a strong believer in going out. I mean, heck, I have a story. You’ll love this. I had, believe it or not, Don Drysdale and Willie Mays attend my little league opener, and they spoke at the at the opener. Now think about that those two guys and I sat there and listened, and from that point on, I became, I mean, Don Drysdale was my idol, and of course, Willie Mays. I knew who Willie Mays was, but obviously I really know who he is now, but I just knew him as a villain with the Giants, you know. But a couple weeks later, I’m driving home with my dad after a little league game, and Vince Scully was on the phone on the radio, and he’s talking about a player named dow maxville, and he said he works construction during the off season. And my dad’s a general contractor and has his own business. And I turned to my dad, not forgetting what Don Drysdale told me that day. You know, when he spoke, he goes, if you love it, you can go do it. And I love baseball. And I told my dad. I said, Dad, I know what I’m going to be when I grow up nine years old. And I said, I want to be a professional baseball player in the off season. I’m going to work for you, just like Dell Maxwell. Does you know the I think Maxwell was playing for the Cardinals or something that I’m dating myself, obviously, but I.
Nestor Aparicio 04:59
I had his baseball car. I’m an old baseball guy. Yeah, so
Doug DeCinces 05:05
interesting enough. I’m driving to the 1979 World Series. My dad, I’m driving. My dad sitting next to me, and he turns to me and says, Do you ever remember telling me that you were and I stopped him. I said, got to be a major league baseball player and work for you during the off season. And he goes, how’d you know? That’s what I was going to say. I said, Dad, I’ve never forgot that, and that’s what I did. I went home, you know, at the end of the season to work construction with my dad. And that was a story from Don Drysdale from a little league. So now I’m going to circle back why that’s important, because I never forgot it okay, and I always, even to this day, when I go out and speak, I tell kids, look, not all of you got a chance to make it, but if you, if you believe in yourself and this is what you want to do, go do it. And if it doesn’t work out there, find something else you want to do and believe in it and go do it. And that was kind of my mantra all the way through. I just never forgot that. So going to speak to little leagues was something that I always did, even when I came out and got traded to the angels.
Nestor Aparicio 06:18
See, I see Don Drysdale. I remember like, Wes Parker was on the Brady Bunch in the 60s in LA. What I mean, you really are a child of all of that, of the Dodgers coming to LA in the early part of your childhood. Where was your little league? And What years were that? I mean, Drysdale was they were selling baseball in Southern California then, too, right?
Doug DeCinces 06:38
Yeah, the Dodgers came in 57 I think it was, and this was, I was nine, so it was 1959, and obviously the Dodgers that year later went on to the World Series,
Nestor Aparicio 06:51
little Lou. We almost took it away from him in 59 I remember that.
Doug DeCinces 06:58
But, you know, I, I just it was a thrill for me as a kid. Did you
Nestor Aparicio 07:04
go to a baseball game at the Coliseum? As a boy always, yeah, oh, I went in there for a rams ravens game. You remember Lamar came out there and ran 50 points in those purple jerseys and the Rams wearing those gold jerseys, that one like the only time I’ve ever been in the Coliseum. And obviously you think of the Olympics and the Raiders playing their USC and all that. But as a baseball venue, it’s really hard to look at it and say, the I see the pictures of it in the left field wall looks like it’s about 190 feet, and it looks like you can play all day in right field. But that’s, um, that’s a hell of a memory, because when I walked in there, I felt the 100 Years of it. And I walked in early and it was just, you know, it was a football Monday night. But I was trying to say my cousin hit here in the World Series, in this area of the end zone. That was home plate, you know, yeah.
Doug DeCinces 07:54
And it, you know, you would look at Wally Moon made a career hitting high fly balls to left field. It was incredible. It just hit him over the screen. I think the screen was like 50 feet high and but it was Nana went out to center field. And I can remember Duke Snyder was such a great center fielder. But sometimes he’d run after the balls. It’d be so far out there, it’d be hard to see it, because the field just went straight out, and then they cut across the not quite the end zone, but cut across and put right field over there. So left field was super short, and center and right center was like forever.
Nestor Aparicio 08:33
Oh yeah. I mean, and just looking at a visual of it, any of the black and white pictures is crazy. Dr senses is here number 11 in your program, and out in Southern California, were you with Dodger Stadium? I got to ask, because I have such an affinity of all this. So you’re a kid in Southern California living that California dream, and the Dodgers moved to Dodger Steve, first time you walk into Chavez Ravine. What are you? 1312, 1314, years old? Yeah,
Doug DeCinces 08:59
about that, I just remember one thing that sticks in my mind is that everybody had transistor radios back then, right, okay, and you could hear Vince Kelly talking, and they used to pump the smell of the hot dogs, and you would walk in, and you could hear Vin Scully, and you could smell the hot dogs, and you’re looking down at this beautiful, I mean, it’s a light blue stadium accented, and it’s just spectacular as a kid. And you’re just in awe, just in awe. And I was at a game where one of my later to become one of my teammates. But when Tommy Davis, in the height of his career, slid into second base and broke his ankle, and I never forgot that, Well, lo and behold, I come to the big leagues. You know who is sitting right next to me in the lock? Her is Tommy Davis, designated
Nestor Aparicio 10:02
hitter. Tommy Davis, by the time he got to you right, he was the first, yeah,
Doug DeCinces 10:07
and, you know, and so Tommy kind of mentored me. He, you know. And I remember throwing batting practice to him, and he wanted me to throw everything I had all the time, and I would, you know, and he just kept line drive after line drive. But, you know, those are the memories that that I have is, you know, with the Dodgers and all those different things. And I had a home run when I was playing with the with the Orioles and Frank Tanana, for it was with the angels. You remember, they had frank Tanana and Nolan Ryan, and this is Tanana, and he was lighten it up and hit a home run in the in the ninth inning to beat him. And it was a televised game back then, one of the few televised games that was being televised back to LA. Well, I was thinking, This is great. My folks get to see me and all those kind of things. So they come and get me and say, the angel broadcast wants to interview you. So I go over, and I’m sitting there and quickly, who jumps over the fence to and grabs a microphone and comes to me and says, Alright, Doug, nice job. We’re going to talk. And I’m just in awe. It was Don Drysdale, doing the games for the age, doing the color, and he was going to interview me, and I just went right away. I kind of blanked, and he asked a question. I just said, I’m sorry. I said, I’m sorry, but I’m so happy I hit the home run just to have you come down and interview.
Nestor Aparicio 11:44
Did you say you spoke in my little league banquet? Did you tell
Doug DeCinces 11:47
him? I told him. I said you spoke at my little league. You’re my favorite player. I idolized you. I went to the day you tired your uniform the whole bit, and he’s got so flustered. I said, I’m sorry. Let’s get back to your question. But that’s what I was in the big leagues. Those things as kids never Nestor. They never leave you.
Nestor Aparicio 12:06
Well, there’s only one Oriole that came to my bank when it was you. So you know, for what that’s worth, um, Doug desenses is here. I’m trying to remember why I reached to you. And now I remember when Brooks passed, I reached to some players, you and I fell. It just didn’t happen. I don’t know why it didn’t happen, but that’s really why I reached to you, I think originally. And I don’t think there’s anything about where you’re leaving this, where we can’t talk about Brooks into this, because you talk about this coming up Tommy Davis, where you were. I never gave you that forum to discuss Brooks’s life. And, man, I can’t imagine that. I’ve watched it with Ray Lewis here on the other end. On football, like trying to replace that kind of a player, you don’t really replace that player. We’ve not replaced Cal, you know, 23 years later here, but you and Brooks will always be tied for anybody my age, who who watched it and then you had a hell of a career. But COVID hit behind Brooks. It’s like Scott Roland in in Philly with Mike Schmidt, right? Absolutely,
Doug DeCinces 13:10
absolutely. It’s just, you know, not many guys have been able to go on and have a career after they come in with this, having to replace that superstar and stay in the city. And you know, I mean, when I was replacing Brooks, and I’m sure some older fans, who are, if they’re listening or watching, can remember that they’re probably one of the ones that booed me, because whenever I got called up to go in or start a game, and Brooke, it wasn’t Brooks fans would start chanting, we want Brooks. We want Brooks. Brooks was just, I believe he could have run for mayor and governor at the same time and won both races. I mean, he was the most popular guy and well deserved. I mean, I had a great relationship with Brooks, and despite many people thinking that we were in, you know, angry competition with each other, that was not the case at all, but Brooks was just, yeah. He was just a solid, good person and would do things, and was always so nice to people. And I always remembered that. I always said, you know, took note, those who make it need to be like that. Need to be like Brooks. And it was a model for me. But I look back now and people ask, well, what’s the, you know, what’s the one thing you’re most proud of in your career? And I immediately respond. And so being able to replace Brooks Robinson and being able to have a career afterwards, because far too many guys that I saw in the big leagues that had to come in and replace certain guys you brought. Scott Roland. I mean, they ran him out of Philly, and look what they did. They ran a Hall of Fame Phil straight to St Louis, straight to St Louis, and it was all good. And, you know, in some ways, I felt like when I went to the angels, I felt like, okay, that’s behind me now. And but the fact was, I was proud of myself to be able to, you know, go through it. There’s one time that the fans are booing so bad and everything. Brooke Earl came up to me and he said, I’m gonna take you out of the game. I don’t want to. And I, I looked at him and said, over my dead body, you’re taking me out, you know, because he was afraid that my career was, it was a stepping he thought this was going to be a breaking point in my career. And it was. It was the point where I said, No way. And I, you know, I went out and we lost it. We gave up five runs. Square was but you gave up five runs in the first inning, and I remember diving for a ball down the line with bases load and went off the tip of my glove, and the fans all started chanting, we want Brooks. We want Brooks. I could not do things right, even if, you know, I’m not so sure Brooks would have had but anyway, but you know, and I can remember blanch and the other guys going, Hey, don’t, don’t, you know, don’t listen to that. Don’t listen to that. And it’s
Nestor Aparicio 16:26
funny, because I don’t think of Baltimore fans as being booing fans. Now, as a child at the ballpark, I think it was a little different. I think Camden Yards gentrified. We don’t boo the home team here like the team stunk for the last 30 years. Doug, right? And, and there hasn’t like that feels a little old fashioned in a baseball kind of way. I still hear it New York. Here in Philly, you’ll hear it in certain markets, but Baltimore’s changed in that way, you know. And I, I’m not shy to hear you say that. I know it’s true, but I that wouldn’t happen today. I don’t think, well,
Doug DeCinces 16:56
you know. I mean, I think the people just, you know, they just love the guy. And you know, when you come to the ballpark, you’re paying your money. You want to see Brooks Robinson. You don’t want to see a young kid from California take the field, and if that young kid doesn’t do well, they’re going to boo harder, you know, and it, but it was a reality. And no, a lot of guys didn’t have to go through stuff like that. And I agree when, you know, when I left and came back to Baltimore, when I come back and play, I almost felt like the artist who died in the paintings became famous, yeah, Nestor was like, I felt really appreciated when I came back, because, you know, I played for the Orioles for nine years, and I felt like, you know, I held my own, and we had a lot of successful times and and it was kind of time for, you know, that Edward Bennett Williams, they kind of wanted Cal to play third, but Earl said, No, you’re not trading Doug, because He’s my shortstop. And the owner stepped in and traded me. And Weaver called me and after the trade, and he said he told me the whole story. And he goes, it’s the first time in my career I have an owner coming in telling me who my team is going to be. And he goes, I’m quitting after this year, and that was 1982 and he said, I’m going to, I’m going to go through this year, but I’m retiring because I don’t. I can’t do that anymore. I can’t have an owner tell me whether I’m not going to, you know you’re going to fire me because I’m unsuccessful, but you’re the owner, and you’re telling me who can play on the team. And as history proves, what was it 12 games or 15 games? Cal got moved off a third played short. And history is history. But that
Nestor Aparicio 18:51
was a different time as well. In that gritch, Baylor, Reggie garland just going and then the aging out of McNally Quay are in those guys the money of baseball, and Reggie going to New York, and what happened with with Charlie Finley busting the A’s up and trying to sell off Joe Rudy and all those players, like all of I mean, I was a kid during that period of time, but you went to a space where it was an all star team by the time you had gotten to the California Angels At that point, but that was the angels in Autry were a little late to the party to spend money that was going on with the Yankees and free agency, and the Orioles were not a player in that and certainly the finances of baseball were very different at that period of time. Oh,
Doug DeCinces 19:35
definitely, the financing was incredibly different. TV hadn’t taken off. Media hadn’t taken off like it is today. You know the players today, people say, Oh, my God, these contracts and everything like that. Look, I’m a firm believer the owners. If you become an owner of a baseball team, you’re a smart businessman, because you’ve been very, very successful to be able to get into that position. Question, and these guys aren’t going to write contracts and sign different guys if they don’t feel it’s the right thing for them to do financially and improvement for the team and the fans and everything. And you know, you see, you see some things today that that happen, and you kind of scratch your head, but back then, Nestor, back then I can remember, you know, who’s Ted Turner was signing guys to come to Atlanta. And I was like, going, oh my gosh, they gave that guy that much, you know? And that started telling everybody, Hey, there is more valuable. Their value out there, and players have to go out and seek it. Dr,
Nestor Aparicio 20:45
sensation is our guest long time, Oriole Anaheim or California Angel have have at it. I tried to reach during the Brooks thing, and we wanted to talk about that. Hey, it’s opening day. It’s a big week around here. We’ll have a little fun. Tell some stories. I’ve acquired this orange Aparicio jersey. Now they’re wearing the old whole orange is something you didn’t even wear. It was so ugly in 71 they never brought it back again. They’re bringing it back here in a couple of weeks. Um, the 79 why? They want to look like pumpkins. I don’t you know what’s ugly. Gets pretty again, right? I mean, I guess the 79 Orioles. I must talk to you about the 79 or is this very special team in my life? I was 11 years old. I went to 31 straight Orioles games that year at home before you lost the game. I picked nights where you you won a lot of games that year. And I, I’ve told Steve trout, when I ran into him, he threw a seat six hit shutout. I ran into him at out in Mesa at Spring training in Arizona couple years ago with Rick tellender. And he remember, he says, the best game he ever pitched in his life. Six hit shot out August, the 79 the 79 year, and you and Dennis and Dempsey with the O R i and Wild Bill. I was at all of those games. I was a kid. You signed my glove, my Rawlings. Tom Seaver glove in the summer 79 um, for you, and what you accomplished in baseball 83 here, you weren’t a part of it winning for some of the guys here that were 79 still the summer of love for me, even though it went seven. And, you know, we are family. And Omar Moreno, like all of that, I I still, every time I see purple, I leaven. I don’t like him. I let him know that too. How about, how about the song, we are family. I know, I know I still hate it. It’s been my grandkids,
Doug DeCinces 22:30
Kibby, they’ll put it on just to give they know I hate. Is
Nestor Aparicio 22:35
79 a beautiful memory for you or or ugly. Okay,
Doug DeCinces 22:39
now you know what is a childhood dream come true again, be able to walk up to home plate in your first game in a World Series, and I hit a home run, and it’s like, I mean, I can remember, you know, out there with my neighborhood buddies playing wiffle ball, and we’d all go now batting for such and such of the World Series, you know, we try and smoke a whiffle ball for something, but to be able to do that, I mean, that’s probably the highest point of my entire career. Well,
Nestor Aparicio 23:11
it was, I saw my ticket stops, you know. And you know, everything that went right, everything that went wrong, all these years later, I’m still not over that, just so you know, I you know, and I’m glad that at least it’s a good memory, because I didn’t really want to bring it up, because didn’t have the happiest ending, but I was the happiest at the ballpark in Section 11, out in left field behind Renee or Lowenstein, whoever’s playing that night. And my dad, we got general admission tickets, we went out there, and we really felt like we were part of something that some days I don’t feel like I’m a part of it anymore. Doug, obviously, all these years later, but that there was something really special about that time in Oriole baseball that I that I believe Rubenstein, in the new group, is trying to recapture in some way all those years later, because what was built there Oriole magic as you would know it, and Eckman in the games on the radio and all we’re still eating off of that, as I see it, eating off 79 not 83 not camping yards, not Cal to me, we’re still eating off of that era of baseball and the magic that was born in 79 i
Doug DeCinces 24:14
That’s right. I can’t agree it. I mean, that was so special. I mean, our team felt it was like when we came to the ballpark. We knew we we were gonna, you know, we had every chance to win again. And as a professional, you know, when the game gets towards the end of the game and you’re maybe down one or two runs, we knew what we had. We were, you know, we were a comeback team. We did things that were unusual, but we never beat ourselves. That was a big thing. You know, that’s one of Earl Weaver’s great successes as a manager, fundamental baseball. You never beat yourself. And you know, he grinded that hard and spring training and all during the season, but. The team itself grasped a hold of the fact that this, this game isn’t over till it’s over. And there were numerous times coming back. And once that thing caught Kenny Singleton was having such a tremendous year, you know, and, and Eddie Mary was, you know, I mean, I mean, it was just everything was folding into place. But I think the single thing after, you know that Oriole magic night, when I hit that home run, but Charlie, I
Nestor Aparicio 25:28
was there, double header, tigers, the whole thing I was there, Doug,
Doug DeCinces 25:33
I gotta tell you, the whole I’ll never forget coming out. It’s like 1012, minutes I’m in the clubhouse, and they pulled me back out, and all the fans were still there. Where do you see that today’s game, at least out here California, if it’s the seventh inning and they’re losing by a couple, people start leaving the game. And it’s, it blows me away. It’s like, hey, gosh, that’s, that’s a little bit early. But back then, nobody left their seats. And you know what? You know, the fans I could, you know, I think the fans were just as much as responsible for that, that Oriole magic as the players were, again, we had a special team, and we and we again, never beat ourselves. We had great pitching, great defense and power and timely hitting, but the fans played such an important role of that it was, you know, they felt a part of it. Now, if fans go to the ballpark today and don’t feel a part of the team, or they’re or they feel like they’re going and they’re going to lose no matter what, that’s hard to build. That’s hard to build back to. So one, you got to have players on the field and that can play, and you gotta have guys that have heart and play hard, and fans gotta appreciate that more than anything. They gotta appreciate somebody that’s busting their butt, you know, that’s running out pop flies or, you know, doing everything they can. They’re diving for balls, doing things. It doesn’t mean you’re gonna win, but at least the fans should recognize that the players are giving everything. So why can’t you as a fan,
Nestor Aparicio 27:25
man, you said Eddie Murray, and I was going to do Eddie like the hair on the back of your neck there. There’s nothing. There’s nothing to replicate that and the echo underneath of the mezzanine that would just roar, the roar from 3430 30. Oh,
Doug DeCinces 27:42
well, Bill Hage was crazy. I mean, that was, that was awesome, what he did. But you’re right. I mean, the players like, you know, we talked about John Lowenstein, John Lowenstein and and, and Gary renicky There, there’s there. You know, one day’s plan, next day, not whatever. Those guys were incredible together, and how they played defense, and how they hit for power and drove in runs and, you know, and Alan bumbury in center, with his speed, you know, we, we always had Dempsey behind the plate that could throw anybody out. But, you know, Eddie Murray was, you know, let’s face it, one of the greatest hitters of baseball ever, who else has 3000 hits and 500 home runs as a switch hitter. I mean, pretty special, pretty
Nestor Aparicio 28:36
What about Richie Dower? We lost Richie recently, and I knew Richie just a little bit kind of the way I know you through doing all of this, all these years and and there’s a guy that stuck with the game and almost lost his life a number of years ago. I in recent times it I hate calling all of you. We lose people. I try to call you an opening day. Just get together. But we are losing some folks and pay tribute to rich
Doug DeCinces 29:02
Yes, absolutely. You know, Richie was Southern California kid, went to USC came up he. He was an incredible defensive player. Never made mistakes. You know, timely hitter. I never thought, though, I have to tell you, Richie surprised me. I never thought he’d go on to be a coach as a teammate. I never thought that. And he went on to be a superb coach, really, I mean, a lifer, and did, and I just didn’t know if that was him, you know, because he wasn’t, he was a jokester, but he wasn’t necessarily somebody that was speaking to lead. Does that make sense? He
Nestor Aparicio 29:50
always had that incredible year at triple A, right? I mean, rich and just you had so much talent, right? I mean just sort of not just Brooks aging. Or whatever, but belander grits, just, just a wealth of Oriole way talent. And I think you would say to this day that Oriole way of the early 70s that literally was written down the Oriole way. That’s what you were. I mean, that’s what all of you were. Baylor Coggins bumper, just go through the whole list of all of you that made it
Doug DeCinces 30:21
Yeah, and if you really look what’s very interesting, people need to understand this. How many of those coaches? I mean, for me, I came up in the minor leagues and, you know, I had Joe Alta belly for a couple of years. I had Cal Ripken senior for a couple of years. Cal was, Cal was, like, my baseball dad, really. I mean, we had a very tight relationship, and,
Nestor Aparicio 30:45
you know, so you knew Cal when he was a little boy. Then, yeah, oh yeah,
Doug DeCinces 30:49
what in Asheville, Cal Junior would come when he got out of school and stay with his dad and the family would come as well. My My wife used to drive and drop Cal off at his little league games because VI was busy doing too many other things. But Cal Junior would stand next to me, and you know, and Cal seniors told junior to say, you stay with Doug. You take ground balls with him every day. You just stay with him out there in the field. And he would come and sit next to me at the locker, waiting for me to go back out. You know, he’s 13. I think it was up like that age, and so, you know, I had a tight relationship with the family, with all of them.
Nestor Aparicio 31:36
What’s wonder you’re all so close all the I mean, you know, I mean rich still here, Palmer, just the Oriole family in the Oriole way of that period of time. And the fact that, I mean, I feel like you left earlier than you did, right? I mean, it feels to me like you played an appreciable amount of time in California. Same thing with Baylor and grits. Feels like they were there a long time. It feels like all of you were, you were here longer than all of them were here. And to be a part of, let’s say, Flanagan, McGregor, the trade, all of that that happened. Some guys in and out at various points disappeared, but that core, that Earl Weaver, held together, that a lot of them made it to 83 you weren’t one of them. You were gone by then. But that period, Oriole baseball, we talk about college basketball now, in the portal, guys change every year and stuff. Being an Oriole fan during that period of time wasn’t just about collecting baseball cards and whatnot. It just felt like there was a whole era of knowing all of you for a number of years. There was a real system the Orioles built here.
Doug DeCinces 32:33
I couldn’t agree more. Nestor. I mean, let’s look at the coaching staff. We have Billy Hunter and Jim fry. He had George Bamberger, you had Herms Tourette, you had Billy Hunter, that’s why I said Billy Hunter. Oh, I’m sorry, yeah, Billy Hunter, they
Nestor Aparicio 32:47
all manage though. Hunter managed to Chicago, right? They
Doug DeCinces 32:52
all went on to be successful managers. What does that tell you in baseball, when outsiders see all this talent and these coaching and they go in and grab those coaches to make them managers, because baseball recognized that there was something different in Baltimore and that Oriole way, and they wanted part of it. And so that’s why those guys got hired and went other places, and they managed for a long time. I was really happy to see Ray Miller come back and be a manager. I know he coached and did all these things. He managed in Minnesota for a long time as well. But you know, I mean Jimmy frat, Jim Fry was, I mean, he coached for, he managed for the Cubs and the Royals, and I’m not sure who else But Billy Hunter was Texas, and I’m not sure where else he
Nestor Aparicio 33:48
went. Bamberger was in. Went to Milwaukee, Yep, yeah, yeah.
Doug DeCinces 33:51
And did a phenomenal job with that team. I mean, took him to the World Series. Well, we
Nestor Aparicio 33:57
sent players everywhere too, including you and gritch and Baylor out to California to try to win. And Dr senses is here, I do want to talk to you about current and being an ex player. You’re always a player. You’re out in California. I’ve seen pictures of you and Fred Lynn show up and doing different things in Anaheim, and what’s going on with that franchise there during the Otani era. And obviously Mike Trout, special player as well. You’re still doing things and giving back. You mentioned me before you came on, Don Baylor is a part of something you guys do, but the part of being a former baseball player, not a Hall of Famer, but in a hall of pretty good that you’ve had a life, you know, and you’ve done well for yourself in business, that you can give back and do good things, absolutely,
Doug DeCinces 34:36
you know, again, I’m a firm believer that, just that. You know, maybe I was just raised that way. My folks were involved in philanthropic things and but I’ve always, I’ve always felt like it’s such a gift to to fulfill my childhood dream. I got to give it back. And, you know, Donnie Baylor, I had a golf tournament. It for March of Dimes for 10 years, and then after that, I switched over to what’s called orangewood as a home for abused and neglected children. I had, I ran that for 20 years, and recently, I just finished my 10th year. Unfortunately, I had, I took over with with Bobby grits. We co chaired it, but Donnie Baylor passed away from cancer, but he had a tournament for cystic fibrosis. And lot of people don’t know what cystic fibrosis is, but my grandson was born with cystic fibrosis, and I played in Baylor’s tournament for you know, I don’t know, 20 years something, and then all of a sudden to get the phone call that my grandson has it, and he’s doing great, by the way, now, because of all the funds that have been raised and the medicine that’s been developed, and she’s, you know, it’s a, it’s something that affects their lungs and pancreas, and he’s on a varsity basketball team on modern day out here. I mean, he’s running up and down the court. I mean, phenomenal, but Bobby grish and I took over for Don Baylor when the last we just had our 10th, you know, the 45th annual Don Baylor Memorial classic. We call it now, but you know, that’s that’s a long time. And guys from the Orioles, maybe it was the Oriole way. Maybe it was the fact that you know you were, you were lucky to be there, and you appreciated, and I know the angels battle drastically just to get any of their players to sponsor anything and and I think it’s just the way of today, and I don’t understand it, because I went out looking to say, hey, we need another player to, you know, take over and the angels. We went to the angels and said, Is there somebody that, you know, a player that can, can do this? The answer was, now, nobody’s interested.
Nestor Aparicio 36:58
Well, the alumni, you know, of the Orioles has always been strong, and the Ravens have built their thing here. I think you know about the Colts traditions here, when you showed up here, I’m sure you cross paths with Johnny, you and already Donovan all the time. I think
Doug DeCinces 37:12
Bert Jones, with Burt Jones, was my neighbor. We’re still friends. We talked just the other
Nestor Aparicio 37:16
day one of the greatest guys ever, Burt Jones, right? I mean, you know, but that just you even saying that, it makes everybody here that would hear the smile of that era. But I do think there’s something about Baltimore in that era and in my childhood that led me to own a radio station for 30 years, to pimp these teams and try to make it but, but they don’t care like you cared. And that’s one thing I’m saying to the Rubenstein people. And here’s one thing I’m gonna say, I’m gonna let leave you with this, because you’ve been very generous with your time. And Doug desenses here, everyone love him up the original number 11, not really. He was not the first one, but he wore it better than anybody else. I want to say this to you because I don’t know if you remember this or not, and you’re you can blush if you wish. You can deny it, but it happened when Bob Ehrlich ran for governor the second time. And I am not a Republican, and I am not a Trump supporter, and anybody that listens to this knows this, but I supported Bob early, and he did a Sports Night to raise money out of Martin’s West. And you were a part of it. This isn’t left. Oh 605067, era, and I had just done free the birds on angelos, and at that time, I’m taking heat right from people about this and that and what my intentions were, which were the same, which is fix the team. I’m tired of last place. I’m on the radio every day. I’m running complain. I’m the complaint department here, taking phone calls for the Orioles for for 12 years. So they hated me like all of this. So I do free the birds. And some people came up and said, really nasty thanks to me that had been on Angeles payroll, or this or that, in general, I walk the streets, and I’m proud of I’m more proud of that than anything I’ve ever done 19 years later. But you, and I don’t really know you, but you came up to me at Martin’s West that night, and amongst a bunch of players were a lot of players. I remember Howard Stevenson the Colts there. There were a lot of players supporting Bob Earl like this 20 years ago. And you said to me, keep up the good work. You were the guy that pointed in my chest and said, I saw what you did with Angelo’s. Keep the pressure on him, because this needs to get better here, and they need to be challenged. And Doug, I don’t think I’ve talked to you in 18 or 19 years. I don’t know if you remember that, but that meant a lot to me. That meant a lot to
Doug DeCinces 39:33
me. Oh, thank you. I’m glad it did. Because you know what? You know I have a big part of my life is in Baltimore, and I want the Orioles to do great. I’ve always wanted them to do great, and I was sad to see the attitude and everything and how far they felt. My son played for the Orioles in the minor league. Them, and he got, he was getting called to the big leagues because the starting catcher got hurt, and the backup catcher had a sprained ankle, and he was in double A I happened to be there and and he sat in the clubhouse for three days because, as I found out later, that’s when Ray Miller was a manager. Bruce keyson was the pitching coach, Terry Crowley was the hitting coach, all teammates of mine. I saw
Nestor Aparicio 40:33
crow recently. By the way, they put him in a hall of fame here last year, but I saw crow about three weeks ago. Yeah, that’s
Doug DeCinces 40:38
great. That’s great. He’s still betting, King of Swing. That’s what we called him. But just to see how far it had fallen when the owner stepped in and said, basically told Ray Miller, he said, You guys talked me into spending $48 million on a starting staff. I’ll be damned if I’m going to have a rookie catcher catch him. And my son was coming up at you know, was hitting 320 and had 11 home runs and bunch of RBIs and everything and and rightfully deserved to come up. He sat for three days, never, never left the clubhouse, and they traded for a backup, a like third string backup catcher to come in and catch, because he was a veteran that had a little bit of time. And it was disheartening to see, because if you run a minor league organization like that, where none of the players feel like they got an opportunity, and you don’t have solid coaching, solid things through the whole system, how do you expect to win? It’s very difficult. And if anything, I’ve seen. The greatest turnaround recently is the players that the it’s the players that they they’re bringing up and and for me, I mean, you look at the guys that they’re signing, hold on a second. You’re looking for the guys that they’re signing. And I mean, these guys are great young players. They’re going to make a difference, and hopefully those guys, they set the pace for the whole organization to recognize you work hard, you’re good enough, you’re going to come up here and play, I mean, your shortstop, your second baseman, the futures, your catcher. You know, the pictures that they’re bringing up, these guys are all quality players, and so the system has turned around. From what I see, I’m not there and Nestor, you may know, you probably know a lot more than I do about what’s going on, but in order to be strong, you gotta have that base. One of the reasons the Yankees are so strong is they have a phenomenal minor league system, and they can trade those guys to get what they need to win at the top, without that strength, you don’t, you know you you don’t survive.
Nestor Aparicio 43:14
Doug, I’ve been on the air 34 years now, every year, every spring training, opening day next 34 years, I’ve been doing this professionally, and this is one of a handful of times, not really a handful. It’s the only time in the history of the organization that they can begin the year and make a trade in July, because they have the artillery and they have money, because we’re talking about like, can they sign a ten million relief pitcher right now to augment their pick? We never talk like that for 30 years with Angelo’s at all, and certainly there was nothing to deal from they would get out dealt in July. Money aside, they didn’t have any players to deal now. They have this strength. They had this ability, which is one of the reasons I look they’re starting opening day next week. I don’t think they’re a World Series caliber roster right now. I’m not pitching wise. I think they’re going to need to get help, but I’m also of the mindset and the belief that the owner has the money and the organization has the assets. I haven’t been able to say that out of this microphone since I’ve owned this radio station and I’ve owned it for 27 years.
Doug DeCinces 44:15
Well, I have to say again, I’m not there, but I’m happy about the new ownership. I think it was a much needed change. But when you come in and you know it’s it might be difficult for him to come and make a radical change in his first full year. Might be difficult. He needs to get the lay of the land. He’s gotta trust his baseball people and and you do have talent and it Are you there yet? You know you’re in a tough division. Doesn’t mean you’re not. It doesn’t mean you can’t, but you do have to build from on what you have. And. You don’t go build on what you have then. I mean, look at, look at the Orioles made that trade for Rick Dempsey and and Scotty McGregor and tippy Martinez and a guy named Joe pagan. And they traded Paul Blair and Elrod Hendrix. And Kenny
Nestor Aparicio 45:19
Holzman was in that deal, right? Who? Kenny Holtzman was in that deal? I think, yeah, I was just to say Mike Torres was Torres in that deal too, maybe somewhere. Yeah? Taurus, no,
Doug DeCinces 45:29
I think Mike left as a free agent. Yeah, he left later. Okay, he left as a free agent, but he ended up going, that’s
Nestor Aparicio 45:34
not bad. It’s been 50 years, and we can remember most of
Doug DeCinces 45:37
it well, yeah, but think about that. Dempsey was there forever. McGregor was there forever. Tippy Martinez was there forever. That was a great trade. Was it risky? Because, yes, none of those guys had played. I mean, Dempsey had played a little bit, but Gregor had a little bit of time. And tippy, tippy, you know, showed a lot of promise, and I think that they got that, but that was a smart organizational move, moving. And then, like, you know, we, we traded mcdally and and and Coggins to get to get Kenny Singleton. And what a trade that was. And so I think Don pres was involved in that. I know he’s a Hall of Famer as well for Oriole Hall of Famer, and rightfully so. He’s the one that wrote the book The Oriole way. And I think they need to stay with that. And baseball doesn’t change that much. I think hitters today gotta stop thinking about hitting home runs every swing, and start hitting hitting the ball hard and, you know, and play hard, and I like what I see. I like the guys. I mean, Gunner Henderson’s a great player. I love the third baseman. Why am I drawing blank? He wears my number. Oh, westburg. Westburg. I love him. I watch him play. I watch his approach at home plate. And I’m going, this guy’s, this guy’s gonna be around for a long time with that. So I know he’s got number. I’m not letting
Nestor Aparicio 47:07
you get away with saying it’s your number. It’s our number. Doug, okay, oh, Doug desense, is here. I made him laugh. I’ll let him get back to the good weather out in California.
Doug DeCinces 47:19
Sorry for that. I don’t
Nestor Aparicio 47:24
want to Doug, the senses is is back with us, always a pleasure, and it’s been too long, and I’m appreciative of all the relationship this fun little thing we have where I call you and you get to come on here, talk a little baseball and live some memories with me. Stay safe out there, keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll stay in touch, and maybe we’ll bring you back here for a little, you know, World Series, thing that some October and relive 79 a little bit.
Doug DeCinces 47:47
I would love nothing more. I honestly could. I would love nothing more. Because, you know what, as I said, Baltimore, I have a strong place in my heart for Baltimore. And, you know, I, I think the city and everything that where it’s come and I know it’s fall, falling back a little bit, well, it needs to be brought back up to where it is, because it’s a great place to live.
Nestor Aparicio 48:11
Well, I’m going to find that Polaroid, because I have it. It’s, it’s literally came out of the little camera. It’s, you know, it’s the one you had to wait 30 seconds for it to appear like a ghost. I have it, and I think you may have autographed it, because you could have so I have it, and I promise to send it to you, just to show you how handsome you were back in Dundalk in 1917
Doug DeCinces 48:29
All right, that was a long time ago. I can tell you that. Oh, you
Nestor Aparicio 48:34
know, once handsome always hands up to sense ace, number 11 in your program, number one in your hearts. Joining us from Southern California. We’re getting ready for Oriole baseball. Luke and I are headed to Toronto, Canada. I’ve got my Canada hat out. I got my passport ready to go. I’m ready for opening day, and so is Luke. We’re going to be pizza John’s on Friday with Maryland lottery scratch Austin, the magic eight ball. We’ll also be back on April 2 at fadelies, before the second Oriel game against the Boston Red Sox. As they said in the movies, play ball. I am Nestor. We are W, N, S, T am 1570 Towson, Baltimore. We never stop talking Baltimore baseball great, Doug desenses. We’re Baltimore positive. Stay with us. You.
