Keith Lupton, former general manager of three O's minor league teams, dies at 73

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

April 13, 2015, 9:36am

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Keith Lupton, a man that was instrumental in the start-up and operation of three Orioles minor league franchises, died Sunday. He was 73.

Keith was well-known to long-time employees in the Orioles player development department and was a minor league executive that won General Manger of the Year honors in the South Atlantic, Carolina and Eastern leagues.

Most recently, he was involved with two independent Atlantic League teams, the Lancaster Barnstormers and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. (In the photo to the right, Lupton is at the far right on the day the Blue Crabs honored their one millionth fan.)

Lupton was the first general manager of the Single-A Frederick Keys from 1989-93 until he helped start the Double-A Bowie Baysox franchise. Three years later, in 1996, he was there at the start again, this time with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.

He won General Manager of the Year honors four times - with Frederick in 1990 and 92, with Bowie in 1993 and with with Delmarva in 1997.

Personally, I first got to know Keith in the 1980s when I was with WFMD Radio in Frederick and he was with the Hagerstown Suns. He was a brilliant executive, very talented and always there to greet you with a warm smile and friendly handshake. And then help you with absolutely anything and everything you needed. I think he was that way with everyone.

I'll have more on Keith's passing in the next day or two.

* Photo courtest of Southern Maryland Blue Crabs