Three more Orioles enter the closer conversation

In yesterday's article that mentioned some of the top Orioles closers since the franchise's move from St. Louis, I omitted a guy who saved 24 games in 1978 and 21 more in 1979 while making his only All-Star team.

He also made Earl Weaver smoke as if the future Hall of Fame manager was electing a pope.

Don Stanhouse registered a 2.89 ERA in '78, but he also had a 1.500 WHIP, blew seven save opportunities and averaged an anxiety-inducing 6.3 walks and only 5.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

But his bushy hair was a fabulous shade of orange.

The man was born to be an Oriole.

Stanhouse didn't surrender a home run in 74 2/3 innings. It was one of the oddest statistical seasons that I've seen from a pitcher.

The former ninth overall draft pick of the Athletics in 1969 had six blown saves in '79, but he was credited with wins in four of those games. He had a 2.85 ERA and 1.376 WHIP and again averaged 6.3 walks per nine innings.

The playoffs were tough on Stanhouse, who allowed two earned runs (three total) and five hits in three innings against the Angels in the American League Championship Series and three runs and six hits in two innings in the World Series.

Stanhouse signed with the Dodgers as a free agent following the '79 season. The Orioles signed him in April 1982 and released him three months later after he made 17 appearances and surrendered 16 runs with 15 walks in 26 2/3 innings.

Over a span of 10 major league seasons, Stanhouse averaged 5.4 walks per nine innings but only 0.6 home runs. He also was part of some interesting trades, going to the Rangers in 1972 for Denny McLain and the Expos in '74 for Willie Davis.

The Orioles acquired Stanhouse, pitcher Joe Kerrigan and outfielder Gary Roenicke from the Expos in December 1977 for pitchers Rudy May, Bryn Smith and Randy Miller.

Stan the Man Unusual is one of the more popular characters in Orioles history and certainly enjoyed his share of successes over two seasons as closer. He could quiet rallies, but he couldn't calm the nerves of the people who watched.

In another trade that gave the Orioles a late-inning reliever, they sent outfielder John Shelby and pitcher Brad Havens to the Dodgers in May 1987 for closer Tom Niedenfuer, who recorded 13 and 18 saves over his two seasons and combined for a 4.20 ERA and 1.392 WHIP in 111 1/3 innings.

His indelible moments came with the Dodgers and the decisive home runs surrendered to the Cardinals' Ozzie Smith and Jack Clark in back-to-back games in the 1985 National League Championship Series.

Nothing that dramatic with the Orioles.

My most vivid memory of Niedenfuer beyond watching those playoff disasters on television is introducing myself to his wife, actress Judy Landers, in the stands after a game at Memorial Stadium. They've been married since 1987.

On this night, I was the one walking down the aisle.

I told her that I was a big fan - a bit of an exaggeration that had little to do with her acting ability. She was polite and thanked me.

Tune into "The Love Boat" on one of those nostalgia cable channels and you've got a 50-50 shot at seeing her.

I don't know anything about Doug Jones' family life, but he was an All-Star with the Indians from 1988-90, the Astros in 1992 and the Phillies in 1994.

The Orioles were late to that party, too. They signed him as a free agent in April 1995 and he was 0-4 with 22 saves, a 5.01 ERA and 1.521 WHIP in 52 appearances.

Jones rebounded with the Brewers in 1997, notching 36 saves with a 2.02 ERA and 0.884 WHIP in 75 games. He finished 20th in Most Valuable Player voting.

My most vivid memory of Jones, beyond the mustache, was an August night at Camden Yards when he failed to record an out in the ninth inning against the Blue Jays in a game that the Orioles led 10-6. He surrendered six runs, including three on a homer by No. 9 hitter Domingo Cedeño.

The crowd booed Jones vigorously as he walked off the field. Jones tipped his cap and then jawed at a fan who apparently stated his case in four-letter words.

Jones described the exchange as "frustration meeting frustration." He also said that he would have booed after such a dismal performance, "but it would have looked kind of silly, me booing myself at that point."

It was a non-save situation for Jones, who was 19-for-22 heading into the game when given the opportunity. He didn't know exactly what the one fan yelled to him, "but it wasn't, 'I'd like to have you over to dinner.' It was derogatory. He gestured obscenely."

A group of high school students joined in and Jones saluted the crowd - by using all of his fingers to grab the bill of his cap.

So it could have been a lot worse.