Earl Weaver, the feisty and longtime Orioles’ manager who never met an umpire he didn’t want to scream at or kick dirt on, died late Friday at the age of 82. The Orioles confirmed his death yesterday.
Weaver, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996, died while on a Caribbean cruise connected with the Orioles, the team he managed from 1968-82 and again from 1985-86.
Weaver led the Orioles to four World Series in his 17 major league seasons, winning in 1970. He was in the losing dugout when the Mets shocked the world by beating his heavily favored Orioles in 1969.
His .583 winning percentage ranks fifth among managers who served 10 or more seasons in the 20th century. Known for his hair-trigger temper and love of a good argument, Weaver was ejected more than 90 times by umpires, including in both games of a doubleheader.
He would often turn his hat backward, and get as close as he could to yell directly into an umpire’s face to argue a call or a rule — explaining if he bumped an ump with the bill of his cap he would get a suspension. Once the inevitable ejection came, Weaver would often kick dirt on home plate or, more likely, on the umpire’s shoes.
His ejections were overshadowed by his five 100-win seasons, six AL East titles and just one losing season. Weaver finished with a 1,480-1,060 record and was named manager of the year three times.
Dick Gordon, his marketing manager, said Weaver’s wife, Marianna, told him Weaver went back to his cabin after dinner and began choking between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Friday night. Gordon said a cause of death has not been determined.
“It’s a sad day. Earl was a terrific manager,” Orioles vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a statement. “The simplicity and clarity of his leadership and his passion for baseball was unmatched. … He leaves a terrific legacy of winning baseball with the Orioles.”
The chain-smoking Weaver, who played in the Cardinals’ system for 13 years but never reached the majors as a player, placed a premium on pitching, defense and the three-run homer. He hated sacrifice bunts with a passion, reasoning there were only 27 outs in a game and none should be given away.
He was often seen smoking in the runway that led from the dugout to the team’s clubhouse and entertained writers before and after games with colorful quotes and his deep and abiding love for the game.
Once, born-again outfielder Pat Kelly told Weaver how great it was to walk with Jesus. Weaver responded, “Pat, I’d rather have you walk with the bases loaded.”