3. Paul Blair catches the final out to sweep the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series
From back-to-back homers by Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson and 6 2/3 shutout innings by Moe Drabowsky in Game 1 to three consecutive shutouts thrown by Jim Palmer, Wally Bunker, and Dave McNally to close out the series, there were plenty of highlights in the Orioles’ improbable four-game sweep of the favorite Los Angeles Dodgers.
Amazingly, Baltimore scored three runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1, which would surpass the total scored by the Dodgers in the entire series. The Orioles beat Don Drysdale twice and Sandy Koufax once as the future Hall of Fame pitchers couldn’t match what Baltimore offered on the hill over the four games.
The 1966 World Series began an 18-year run in which the Orioles were considered the best team in baseball while collecting three World Series titles and six American League pennants. And as center fielder Paul Blair caught the final out of Game 4, third baseman Brooks Robinson provided one of the iconic images in franchise history as he leaped in excitement toward the winning pitcher McNally.
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