The baseball world will take a step back for remembrance on Saturday after the death of Hall of Famer and former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver. 

Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun had the report.

According to Monica Barlow, the Orioles’ head of public relations, Weaver died while on a cruise late Friday night. He was 82.

The charismatic and fiery manager led the Orioles for 17 seasons—his only managerial job in the big leagues. He led the team to the World Series in each of his first three full seasons as manager (1969-1971), including the franchise’s second World Series title in 1970.

He continued that success well past those first three years, though, winning six American League East titles, four American League pennants and the lone World Series. His winning percentage (.583) ranks fifth among managers with at least 10 seasons of service (since 1900).

In parts of 17 seasons at the helm, Weaver was known for verbal and physical spats with umpires, giving colorful speeches to both his team and the press and for winning baseball games—a calling card of his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

Weaver was thrown out of 91 games, a major league record at the time until Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves surpassed his mark.

Baltimore had just one losing season (1986) with Weaver as its manager.

Twitter responded lovingly to a man who exuded both excellence and a passion for the game on Saturday morning, but this tweet by Bob Nightengale sums up the feelings of many in the baseball community the best:

Orioles Managing Partner Peter Angelos called Weaver the Orioles’ greatest manager ever in his words of remembrance, according to the Sun report:

“Earl Weaver stands alone as the greatest manager in the history of the Orioles organization and one of the greatest in the history of baseball,” Angelos said. “This is a sad day for everyone who knew him and for all Orioles fans. Earl made his passion for the Orioles known both on and off the field. On behalf of the Orioles, I extend my condolences to his wife, Marianna, and to his family.”

It’s certainly a sad day for Baltimore sports fans, but Weaver has given the baseball community plenty of highlights and accolades to remember him fondly. 

 

Ethan Grant is a member of Bleacher Report’s Breaking News Team.

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