Mora, Roenicke, Lowenstein chosen for Orioles HOF (O's lose 7-1)

BOSTON - Third baseman Melvin Mora and outfielders Gary Roenicke and John Lowenstein have been elected into the Orioles Hall of Fame. Roenicke and Lowenstein, the popular platoon duo, will be enshrined as selections of the Veterans Committee.

Long-time Orioles scout Fred Uhlman Sr. will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner.

Mora, Roenicke, and Uhlman will be honored at a luncheon at Camden Yards sponsored by the Oriole Advocates on Friday, Aug. 14 at noon, and again during an on-field ceremony prior to the Orioles game against the Athletics later that evening. Lowenstein will be unable to attend due to a previous engagement.

Rafael Palmeiro appeared on the ballot again this year, but didn't receive enough votes from members of the media, club officials and Oriole Advocates.

Mora played with the Orioles from 2000-09, compiling a .280 average and 158 home runs. His 808 games played at third base are second only to Brooks Robinson on the club's all-time list.

Mora ranks among the club's career leaders in doubles (eighth, 252), RBIs (eighth, 662), home runs (10th, 158), runs (10th, 709), total bases (10th, 2,073), hits (11th, 1,323), walks (11th, 465), games played (12th, 1,256) and at-bats (12th, 4,733).

Acquired from the Mets in July 2000 for shortstop Mike Bordick, Mora started at six different positions in his first four seasons with the Orioles before moving to third base in 2004 and setting the club's single-season record with a .340 average. He also posted career highs in home runs (27) and RBIs (104).

A two-time All-Star, Mora also won a Silver Slugger Award and was twice named American League Player of the Month.

Lowenstein and Roenicke split playing time in left field for the Orioles from 1979-85 and combined for 171 home runs and 574 RBIs in the seven seasons. In their first season platooning in left, they combined for 36 home runs and 98 RBIs, helping the Orioles win the 1979 AL pennant.

Their most productive season came in 1982, when they combined for 45 home runs and drove in 140 runs as the club fell one game short of winning the division title. The following year, they totaled 34 home runs with 124 RBIs as the Orioles won their last World Series.

Lowenstein was a utility player in nine seasons with Cleveland and Texas before the Orioles acquired him on waivers after the 1978 season. He hit .274 with 68 homers and 237 RBIs over seven seasons with the Orioles.

Roenicke was acquired from Montreal in December 1977 and spent eight of his 12 seasons with the Orioles, batting .250 with 103 home runs and 337 RBIs.

Uhlman spent 46 years in professional scouting before retiring this year, including the last three decades with the Orioles. He joined the organization as scouting director in January 1985 and later served as a special assistant and professional scout.

Uhlman established the Orioles' first baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, and also was responsible for signing Jeff Ballard, Steve Finley, Gregg Olson, Arthur Rhodes and David Segui, among others.

Tickets for the Aug. 14 luncheon are available by calling 410-247-2703. Tickets for the induction ceremony and the Orioles-Athletics game are available at www.orioles.com or by calling 1-888-848-BIRD.

Update: The game has been called after a delay of 1 hour, 42 minutes. The Orioles lose 7-1 to the Red Sox.