J.J. Hardy and Mike Devereaux on the O's Hall of Fame

Former Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy remembered being a part of the group of players that turned the Orioles from losers into winners and returned the club to the playoffs. Former outfielder Mike Devereaux remembered his great 1992 season and being a part of the first team to play at Camden Yards.

The former O's duo has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame.

They are joined by radio broadcaster Joe Angel, who will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. The trio will be honored along with the 2020 "Wild Bill Hagy Award" winner, Mo Gaba, during an on-field ceremony prior to the Aug. 7 game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards.

HARDY

Hardy had an interesting take during a Zoom interview today with O's media when asked about the Orioles' current rebuilding efforts.

"For me, I guess I feel a little bit responsible for it," he said. "Because I was fortunate enough to play in Baltimore for seven years where it was like a win-now team. You know, Andy MacPhail and Dan Duquette doing everything they possibly could to get the best team on the field to try and win right there. So, we were trading away some prospects that turned out to be pretty good in order to get, maybe, a rental player for two months. So, too bad we weren't able to take it all the way and win the World Series. It's partly our fault for being a good, competitive team for six years."

During his seven seasons with the Orioles, ending in 2017, Hardy won three Gold Gloves (2012-2014) and was on three playoff teams.

"In 2012, going to the postseason and being one of the first wild card teams to do that, it was a pretty special year for us," he said. "You know extra-innings wins and the one-run wins that year. But 2014, for sure, felt like a year we were going to do that (win the World Series). And just happened to run into a tough team that was hot at the time.

"Just seeing the way the fans reacted in 2014 gives me an idea of what it will be like when Baltimore turns it around and gets back into the postseason. Because that was, by far, the loudest I've heard any stadium get. You can just tell how the fans will be in Baltimore when you have a good team.

"I felt an instant connection with Baltimore, the fans and everyone. I knew from the start that I was hoping I could finish my career there. And was super fortunate that I was able to play seven years, and a fun seven years at that."

Hardy was the starting shortstop for the American League in the 2013 All-Star game. He ranks among the top 25 players in club history in games played, hits, doubles, and home runs. And he was part of the group of Orioles that ended a 14-year run of losing seasons in 2012.

"Before I signed that first extension, that was kind of what I saw," Hardy said. "Was a bunch of really good players and the potential to turn that team around a little bit. And that is why I wanted to stay. I definitely saw a lot of great players, and part of me being here today is because of all of them."

Hardy's noted for many good things in his time with the Orioles, but chief among them is being the guy to score the winning run on the Delmon Young double in the 2014 playoffs against Detroit.

He said that was among his best moments in Baltimore, along with also being a part of opening days at the ballpark.

"I think, and I'm not on any social media or anything, but get a lot of people that will forward me clips of that moment through Twitter, Instagram or something like that," Hardy said. "And I think the Orioles are still posting that every once in a while. What a great moment. I get reminded of it quite a bit. And I think every opening day running down that orange carpet was really cool, in front of 45,000 fans screaming."

Hardy, always prepared, has already thought about his speech.

"When I was informed this was going to happen, I got on YouTube to see if I could see any of those moments. I saw B-Rob (Brian Roberts) in 2019. The Orioles do it right. It's a pretty special moment. Definitely looking forward to it. And I'm going to start working on my speech right now."

DEVEREAUX

Devereaux spent seven of his 12 big league seasons with the Orioles, 1989-94 and 1996. The center fielder was voted Most Valuable Oriole in 1992 after leading the team in 10 offensive categories. He is one of three Orioles to finish a season with 10 or more doubles, triples, and home runs (1991 and 1992), and the only one to do so twice.

His first O's manager was Frank Robinson.

"He was definitely one of my idols," said Devereaux. "Coming over to Baltimore knowing I would be managed by Frank Robinson, a Hall of Famer, was very special to me. The things he had gone through in the game of baseball, he knew everything about the game. And he was definitely someone I could learn about this game from. It showed through that first season we had there. The previous year (1988) they lost the first 21 games of the season. People asked me, 'Why are you coming to the worst team in baseball.' I asked myself how could this be the worst team, we hadn't started the season yet. And it came down to one of the best years the Orioles had had.

"Coming up with the Dodgers and being traded to Baltimore, I didn't know much about the Orioles. Because growing up in Wyoming the only baseball games we saw were the playoffs and the World Series. And so I didn't know much, except Cal Ripken, of course. Then being a part of the organization for seven years and what the community has shown me, and then to get this honor here is very special. I was speechless. I never saw it coming.

"The Orioles have always been a part of my life since playing there. I've always been an Oriole at heart. I played with four other teams and people ask me, it's always been the Orioles for me."

Devereaux remembered his first look at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

"I remember coming into that stadium in 1992, coming up from Florida and looking and being absolutely amazed at the construction of that stadium. And even though with Memorial (Stadium) we'd bring in 33,000 a game. But at Camden Yards it sold out every single day. Just always a joy to come to that place and play."

A member of four teams during his major league career, Devereaux remembered playoff appearances, and that year when the Orioles just missed.

"It was us and Toronto (in 1989) at the end of the season and we needed to win two of three to win the American League East. And we lost the first two," he recalled. "And Baltimore threw us a parade after that. And I loved the city, loved the parade, but I was like 'We didn't even win.' Just imagine what would have happened if we won.

"In 1996 we beat Cleveland and then went up against the Yankees. That one kid, Jeffrey Maier - I'm still not too happy about him - caught that ball. That was a very crucial game for us. That would have kept us rolling.

"It's hard to win a World Series. Everything has to go right, and it's tough when you lose. You work so hard all season to get to that point. That is why you see grown men cry when they don't win. Because you worked so hard. But I think once Baltimore gets there the city is going to go wild. They are a great city for baseball."

Angel spent 19 seasons over three stints as an Orioles radio broadcaster before retiring following the 2018 season. Overall, he spent 42 years with six clubs calling big league games.

Gaba, the 14-year-old superfan who lost his eyesight and fought four diagnoses of cancer, is the second recipient of "The Wild Bill Hagy Award." He passed away on the night of his election.

Ticket information will be shared at a later date.

A complete list of members of the Orioles Hall of Fame and Herb Armstrong Award recipients can be found at Orioles.com/HallOfFame.

Your 2021 Orioles Hall of Famers!

J.J., Devo, and Joe Angel will be inducted in a ceremony on August 7, which will also honor 2020 inductee Mo Gaba. pic.twitter.com/fLVzPni6gJ

-- Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) March 26, 2021