Roenicke was the righthanded-hitting half of manager
Earl Weaver's outstanding left
field platoon in Baltimore from 1979 to 1985, alternating with
John Lowenstein and
often pinch hitting on days he didn't start. In 1982 Roenicke and Lowenstein combined
for 45 HR and 140 RBI, and in '83 the duo hit 34 HR with 124 RBI, as the Orioles
beat the Phillies in the WS. Roenicke was always content with his role as a semi-regular,
and usually responded when called upon, topping 20 HR in a season twice (despite
never reaching 400 at-bats) and providing solid defensive play in the outfield. In
the 1983 LCS, he scored three times and hit a two-run HR as the Orioles beat Chicago
4-0 in Game Two. By 1986, however, the long-haired veteran role-player had been traded
to the Yankees, and in 1987 he signed with the Braves, who released him outright
in July 1988. His brother Ron was also a ML outfielder.
(SCL)
Gary Roenicke
teams