Orioles Hall of Famer Dick Hall passes away at age 92

Dick Hall, who spent nine of his 19 seasons in the majors as an Orioles relief pitcher and earned election into the team’s Hall of Fame, passed away on Sunday, June 18, at the age of 92.

Known for his pinpoint control, Hall went 65-40 with a 2.89 ERA in 342 games over two stints with the Orioles, 1961-66 and 1969-71. He played on two World Series winners and four American League pennant winners. He was elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1989.

With the Orioles, he issued only 80 unintentional walks in 770.0 innings pitched.

The 6-foot-6 Hall began his career as an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952 but became a two-way player in 1955. He moved to the mound full-time two years later before being traded to the Kansas City Athletics in 1960 at the age of 29. He was traded to the Orioles at the start of the 1961 season.

Nicknamed “Turkey” for his unusual pitching motion and delivery, he became a dependable reliever for the Orioles with a .904 WHIP and 60 saves over his nine seasons.

After being traded to the Phillies in December 1966, he returned to the Orioles as a free agent in 1969 and finished his career in Baltimore in 1971.

Hall did not appear in the Orioles’ 1966 World Series but compiled a 2-1 record over five post-season games from 1969-71, pitching 8.2 innings while allowing only one unearned run.

For his career, Hall went 93-75 with a 3.32 ERA in 495 games pitched.

A graduate of Swarthmore College and member of its athletic hall of fame, Hall worked part-time as an accountant during his playing career and retired from full-time work as a CPA in 2001. He continued to take part in Orioles’ alumni and community relations activities until the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hall and his wife of 67 years, the former Maria Elena Nieto, lived in Timonium, MD, since the early 1960s. They met while Dick was playing winter ball in Mazatlan, Mexico. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Norma, Martha, and Helen; a son, David; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.