Celebrating 60: Doug DeCinces handled replacing Brooks Robinson well, has fond memories of Baltimore

As a high school senior growing up in California, Doug DeCinces had dreams of playing Major League Baseball. Then he had a chat with an Orioles scout. "The scout (Al Kubski) told me that I can't run and that I throw like a girl," DeCinces says. "I was shocked, said, 'OK.' I was disappointed. He was a gruff old scout. But I think he wanted to see if I had what it takes to improve. There was no coddling back then." In 1970, when the Orioles drafted and signed DeCinces, he joked with Kubski, "I told him, I guess I can run and I don't throw like a girl." DeCinces played nine seasons with the Orioles, hitting 107 home runs with a .253 average, and is in the team's Hall of Fame. He defines himself as the "sandwich" third baseman, taking over for Brooks Robinson in 1977 and getting traded to the California Angels in 1982 after Cal Ripken Jr. was ready to be on the roster. DeCinces was called up in September 1973 and played third base at Cleveland, Orioles manager Earl Weaver told him to play in on the grass for a possible bunt from Walt "No Neck" Williams. Instead, Williams hit a scorching line drive that hooked at DeCinces' ankles. DeCinces made the catch, but not without a bruised hand. On DeCinces' first night in Baltimore, Orioles first baseman Boog Powell taught him how to eat crabs. "We had a big bushel of crabs and a case of beer," DeCinces says. As a minor-leaguer, DeCinces played shortstop and second base, and then one day, Orioles coaches Billy Hunter and Jim Frey told him he was going to play third. "I said, 'You've got to be kidding me, that's where Brooks Robinson plays,' " DeCinces says. "They said, 'We think you are the guy that can take over for him.' And I said, 'Oh no.' But, I had to deal with it." It wasn't easy replacing a future Hall of Famer. The media reported a rift between DeCinces and Robinson, but it wasn't true. Weaver was constantly pounding on DeCinces to make him tougher, and Orioles fans chanted, "We want Brooks, we want Brooks." Robinson and DeCinces were friends. They used to carpool during spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They read - and laughed at - newspaper reports that said they had a grudge against each other. In fact, DeCinces said he learned footwork technique from Robinson, techniques that he passed on to players like Aaron Boone when coaching at USC. If DeCinces was feeling the expectations of following Robinson, it didn't show at the plate. He hit .259 with 19 home runs in 1977 and followed that with a .286 average and 28 home runs in 1978, his best season with the Orioles. DeCinces is famous for hitting a game-ending home run on June 22, 1979 that is credited with starting "Orioles Magic" that season. The home run, before 35,456 at Memorial Stadium, came off of Detroit's Dave Tobik and scored Eddie Murray to give the Orioles a 6-5 win, starting the Orioles on a run that helped them to 102 wins. "We were a tight group and in close games, we were tough," DeCinces says. "We were behind, but the fans didn't leave and never stopped believing. There was something in the air. I was fortunate enough to hit a home run." He was mobbed by teammates at home plate. After he had gone to the clubhouse, fans wanted a curtain call. DeCinces obliged. "When I stepped out the dugout, no fans had left and they were cheering as loud as they were when the game ended," DeCinces says. "It was unbelievable." In October 1979, the Orioles won the American League pennant against the Angels and lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. DeCinces hit a home run off the Pirates' Bruce Kison in his first World Series at-bat in Game 1 at Memorial Stadium. As he stepped to the plate, his nerves were jumping. He had to step out to calm himself. Then, he hit the home run. "I don't remember touching third and home," DeCinces says. "It was the stuff you dream about as a kid. It was the biggest thrill of my playing career." After the 1981 season, DeCinces, now living in Laguna Beach, Calif., was traded to the Angels for outfielder Dan Ford. Leaving Baltimore wasn't easy. The silver lining was that he was returning to where he grew up. "It was heartbreaking," DeCinces says. "I have great memories in Baltimore. Baltimore was my home."