Steve Stone’s Dream-Like 25-7 Season

When the Baltimore Orioles signed Steve Stone , 31, as a free agent in November 1978, they expected he would be the No. 5 starter in a four-man rotation that consisted of Jim Palmer, Mike Flanagan, Scott McGregor and Dennis Martinez.

The 5-foot-10 right-hander had compiled an unimpressive 78-79 career record after nine seasons with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and two stints with the Chicago White Sox.

After a slow start in 1979 and several shouting matches with manager Earl Weaver about his role, Stone saw more action in the latter part of the season due to injuries to the other starters.  He was a pleasant surprise as he hurled 186 innings and posted an 11-7 record in 32 starts, third highest on the team. He didn’t lose a game after July 10, going 5-0 in 13 starts.

Weaver believed Stone could be a winner despite his slow start.  Stone admitted that he needed to convince himself that he was better than a .500 pitcher.  Pitching coach Ray Miller worked with him to quicken his pace and not to throw all of his pitches–curveball, fastball, slider and forkball–early in the game.

No one, however, could have predicted Stone’s 1980 stellar performance when he went 25-7 and started the All-Star Game for the American League squad.

Because of Dennis Martinez’s sore deltoid muscle, Stone began the season in the rotation. In early April, Weaver said, “Stone was our insurance policy and it was one of the best acquisitions we ever made.”

Stone started the season 2-3, but then hit his stride.  Relying heavily on his curveball, he reeled off 14 consecutive wins from May 9 through July 26. As his confidence soared and the wins mounted, he admitted he felt “untouchable.”

With a 12-3 record, he got the nod from Earl Weaver, who was managing the AL, to start the All-Star Game in Los Angeles on July 8. Stone faced nine batters and retired them in order. Stone sent Davey Lopes, Reggie Smith, Dave Parker, Steve Garvey, Johnny Bench, Dave Kingman, Ken Reitz, Bill Russell and Bob Welch back to the dugout. He struck out Parker, Kingman and Welch. The American League, however, lost the game, 4-2.

In late July, Stone sported a 16-3 record and was in the Cy Young Award conversation.  Unaccustomed to the spotlight, he said, “I didn’t sell my soul to the devil, but I’m having a hard time of convincing my parents of it.”

Although his winning streak was snapped on July 31 with a 3-1 loss to Texas, Stone still had good stuff.  He tossed back-to-back two-hitters on August 14 against the Yankees and August 19 against California to lift his record to 20-4.

He finished the season 25-7, but the season was bittersweet.  Even though the Orioles won 100 games, they finished second to the New York Yankees. From July 22, 1979, to the end of the 1980 season, Stone posted a 30-7 record for the Orioles.

His 25 victories was a rare plateau, usually reserved for pitching greats such as Juan Marichal, Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax and Steve Carlton.

Stone also set personal bests in starts (37), complete games (9), innings pitched (250.2) won/loss percentage (.781) and strikeouts (149).

It was, according to Stone, “a dream season.”

In November, the right-hander was named the AL Cy Young Award winner, edging out Oakland’s Mike Norris (22-9, 2.53 ERA).  He collected a $10,000 contract-stipulated bonus from the Orioles, one that no one thought he had a chance of earning.

“If you don’t quit, you always have a chance of turning it around,” he told Jim Henneman of the Evening Sun . Stone considered his success an inspiration for “Everyman,” those who never thought success was possible.

Looking ahead to 1981, Stone said, “I fully intend to start 35-40 games next season.”

His optimism, however, was scuttled by elbow problems. Stone reported to spring training with an inflamed tendon that limited his ability to throw curves, his bread-and-butter pitch. He threw about 75 curve balls a game in 1980 and pitched more innings than ever. His elbow never recovered.

Stone spent much of the 1981 season on the disabled list.  He compiled a 2-3 record in the first month and a half. A two-month players’ strike on June 12 shortened the season, erasing 38% of the games. Once the Orioles returned to action, Stone posted a 2-4 mark to conclude with a disappointing 4-7 record.

Feeling the Orioles had lost confidence in him, Stone requested to be traded three times after the 1981 season.  General manager Hank Peters refused, saying the right-hander had little trade value.

More bad news arrived during spring training in 1982. Stone developed a sore arm and flew from Miami to Baltimore to be examined by the team doctor. He re-injured his arm when he returned to spring training and was placed on the 21-day disabled list on March 25.

The outlook was bleak as he failed to take the mound in the first six weeks of the season. On June 1, Stone, 34, announced he was retiring from baseball because of tendinitis in his right elbow and shoulder.

In the emotional press conference, Stone said the 1980 season was “the culmination of everything I’d ever dreamed or hoped for.”

All the curve balls and increased workload had overtaxed his arm. He quoted veteran curveballer Bert Blyleven, who said, “When you throw that many curveballs, you’re borrowing from tomorrow’s pitches.”

When a reporter asked Stone if it was worth it, he replied, “Every bit of it.”

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