9. Orioles finishing 28-6 to win the American League East title (1974)
One of the calling cards of some of Earl Weaver’s best clubs was strong finishes after slow starts, and 1974 was perhaps the best example of that as the Orioles stood a very mediocre 63-65 and were eight games back in the division race on Aug. 28 of that season.
A pair of 1-0 wins over the Boston Red Sox on Labor Day propelled the Orioles to five straight shutouts to close within striking distance of first place. The Orioles never looked back in winning 28 of their final 34 games, an incredible .824 winning percentage over roughly a fifth of the season, to take their fifth American League East title in six years.
Continue to next page for No. 8
