The 1969 Orioles upped their mark to 16-7 by the conclusion of the season’s opening month. In a late-April three-day stretch, Baltimore faced two of the game’s best pitchers. On April 21, Baltimore got two against Cleveland ace Sam McDowell before blowing it open in its final two turns at bat. Jim Palmer limited the Indians to just four hits, upping his record to 3-0 on the young season as the O’s won, 11-0.

Again at home, against the defending World Champion Detroit Tigers, it was Denny McClain who would oppose the Birds. Last year’s 31-game winner gave up two in the bottom of the second, countering Detroit’s pair in the top half of the frame against Mike Cuellar.

The game remained tied into extra innings, but Baltimore broke through against McClain in the 10th. Mark Belanger’s single to right field scored Elrod Hendricks, providing Cuellar with his first win as a member of the Orioles.

That game would turn out to be a pitching showdown between the two who would share the Cy Young Award in 1969. While McClain would win 24 in 1969, Cuellar overcame an early 0-2 start to go 23-11 and a 2.38 ERA.

A slow starter on offense was first baseman Boog Powell.  He hit just .228 with only two home runs and 13 RBIs. However, his best months of the season – one in which he would finish second in the MVP balloting – were just around the corner.

In front of Powell in the order was Frank Robinson, who, conversely, ended April with 10 home runs and .368 average.

He went 6-for-8 and drove in eight runs in a doubleheader sweep against the visiting New York Yankees.

As a team, the Orioles were 16-7 with a three-and-a-half game edge on Boston as the calendar turned to May.

– Brian Wright, Special to Baseball Digest