Books and articles about Don Buford

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The compact, switch-hitting outfielder-handyman was a key member of the 1969-71 AL champion Orioles. After four years as a regular infielder with the White Sox, he went to Baltimore in the 1968 deal for Luis Aparicio. The 5'7" team player was a top leadoff man, drawing walks, stealing bases, and scoring runs (99 in three consecutive years, leading the AL in '71). He was also the most difficult man in modern baseball history to double up, grounding into only 33 double plays in 4553 at-bats. Buford led off the 1969 WS with a homer off Tom Seaver. After a disappointing 1972 season, he left the Orioles to play in Japan. Known there as "the greatest leadoff man in the world" for his heroics on the Orioles' 1971 tour of Japan, he hit .270 with 65 HR in 1973- 76. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 1, 1966: In his 2nd start, Sam McDowell has to settle for a one-hitter. Don Buford's 3rd-inning double is Chicago's only hit in Cleveland's 1–0 win. McDowell becomes the first pitcher since Whitey Ford (September 1955) to pitch back-to-back one-hitters. » November 29, 1967: The White Sox reacquire SS Luis Aparicio, with OF Russ Snyder and 1B/OF John Matias, from Baltimore for pitchers Bruce Howard and Roger Nelson and IF Don Buford. » April 16, 1969: The Orioles take first place in the American League East with an 11–8 win at Boston, in a game stopped in the last half of the 8th because of rain. Baltimore will remain in 1st place the rest of the season. Billy Conigliaro, playing in place of his brother, smashes a pair of homers for his first ML hits, but Don Buford, Paul Blair and Brooks Robinson answer for the O's. » July 18, 1969: Red Sox pitcher Ray Jarvis drives in two runs and beats the Orioles, 6–1. The only score for the O's is a homer by Don Buford with Dave May on 1B. May holds up to watch Tony Conigliaro fall into the RF stands in a vain attempt to catch the drive and Buford passes May. May scores but Buford is called out and is credited with a single. » October 6, 1969: Baltimore wins the first ALCS as Paul Blair delivers five hits and Don Buford four in an 11–2 win at Minnesota. » October 11, 1969: Don Buford's leadoff home run starts a 4–1 Baltimore win over New York to open the World Series. Mike Cuellar bests Tom Seaver. » April 9, 1970: Baltimore OF Don Buford hits home runs from both sides of the plate during a 13–1 win over Cleveland. He's the first O's player to do it. » April 26, 1970: Don Buford hits a 3-run homer to give Baltimore a 10–9 victory over Kansas City. The Orioles take over first place and will not relinquish that position for the rest of the season. » June 26, 1970: Frank Robinson belts two successive grand slams during a 12–2 Oriole romp over the Senators, just the 7th major leaguer to ever accomplish the feat. Dave McNally, the winning pitcher, Don Buford, and Paul Blair trot home ahead of him on each blow. They will be Robby's only grand slams for the O's. The Orioles will lose C Clay Dalrymple tomorrow when he breaks his ankle in a home plate collision with the Nats Mike Epstein. » July 8, 1970: The Orioles again wait until the late innings to beat New York, this time striking in the 9th inning on a Frank Robinson home run and a two-out single by Don Buford. The O's overcome an 8–6 deficit to win, 9–8. » July 24, 1970: Hall beats Hall as the Orioles reliever Dick Hall tops the Twins Tom Hall, 6–5. Dick singles in the 8th for his first hit of the year and Don Buford follows with a game-winning home run. » August 8, 1970: Milwaukee reliever Dave Baldwin intentionally walks Boog Powell to load the bases and pitch to Don Buford. The Baltimore infielder promptly smacks a grand slam to give the O's a 7–4 victory over Milwaukee. » October 13, 1970: The Orioles win their 3rd straight over the Reds 9–3, with winning pitcher Dave McNally slugging a grand slam off Wayne Granger, the only one by a pitcher in World Series history. Frank Robinson and Don Buford also contribute homers, and 3B Brooks Robinson continues his excellence with the glove, as he makes two spectacular grabs in the field. » February 1, 1973: The Orioles sell OF Don Buford to the Fukuoka Lions in Japan.