Over the years, the Orioles have made some trades they would like to forget, but 56 years ago the Orioles made a trade that, in my opinion, might be the best in franchise history.
On Dec 9, 1965 the Orioles acquired Frank Robinson in a trade from the Cincinnati Reds. The Orioles would win their 1st World Series the next year and Frank would win the MVP and the Triple Crown.
So who did the Orioles give up to get a future HOFer and franchise changer?
If you said pitchers Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun, along with Of Dick Simpson you would technically be correct.
It's interesting to note that Baldschun and Simpson never unpacked their bags in Baltimore.
The trade actually started a week earlier (Dec 2) when the Orioles traded Norm Siebern to the California Angels for Simpson.
On Dec 6, Jack Baldschun was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for Jackie Brandt and Darold Knowles.
These two often forgotten moves, set up the trade with the Cincinnati Reds for the Orioles to receive Frank Robinson. So I guess the real answer would be that ....
The Orioles traded
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FOR Future Hall of Famer
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Still a pretty good deal