Former Orioles CF Paul Blair says you can't win without defense.mov

[dzanier]

In addition to being a good hitter Blair was a SUPERLATIVE defensive player. No player has ever been voted into the HOF primarily because of his defense. Even Ozzie Smith was a pretty good offensive player in addition to being a standout fielder. But just on defense alone Blair could've gotten in. He was so good that late in career in 77 & 78, when he was like 34 or 35, he was still the primary late inning defensive replacement for the Yankees. He played a lot in 77 & 78 for being a reserve.

[1414yanks]

The best outfielder of all time in my book. No one played centerfield more shallow than Blair, and yet he never let a ball go over his head either. He was so fine and so graceful, making even the toughest catches look easy. A picher's best friend = Paul L.D. Blair. There never was, and there never will be a better outfielder.

[Scoclamor]

That catch Blair made in game 4 of 1966 World Series will never be forgotten!

[McGlasshole]

Nor will the game winning HR he hit in the 1-0 win in Game #3.

[Scoclamor]

@McGlasshole F Robinson added a homerun in the next game of Don Drysdale for another 1-0 victory and a series sweep!

[McGlasshole]

@Scoclamor - Yup! Frank sure did! Palmer, Bunker and McNally tossed three straight shutouts to close out the sweep. The Dodgers scored two runs of McNally in the opener, but that was it for the series. We can never forget the amazing 6.2 inning relief stint of Moe Drabowsky in Game #1, fanning 11 batters in the 5-2 Oriole win.

[tuckahoeneck]

Blair is so right. Defense is paramount. The Baltimore Orioles of those days were defensive kings. The best defensive champions in baseball history. Damn they were great.

[Wamz1978]

"Motormouth" was one of the greatest defensive outfielders to ever play