Where are they now? 1983 Orioles

The Orioles are one step away from the World Series, a journey that continues on Friday night in Baltimore with Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Orioles, airing on TBS. Except for the Mariners, who have never been to a World Series, these are the two current AL teams that have gone the longest since their last Series appearance (the Brewers, who played in the 1982 Fall Classic, would be included if the franchise hadn't moved to the National League in 1998).

The Orioles won the 1983 World Series, and the Royals took the title two years later in 1985 -- and neither has been back since. The 1983 Orioles squad, which beat the White Sox in the best-of-five ALCS and then the Phillies in five games in the World Series, was led by Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., who now works as an analyst for TBS. But there were many other stellar players -- and some key role players, too -- on that team. Where are they now?

We're glad you asked.

Benny Ayala, OF: Ayala got only one at-bat for the Orioles during the 1983 World Series, but he made it count. He singled to tie Game 3 and came around to score the go-ahead run. He now promotes youth baseball in his native Puerto Rico.

Mike Boddicker, SP: Boddicker pitched in Game 2 of both the ALCS and World Series with the Orioles trailing 1-0 in the series, and both times he won to even things up. His shutout in Game 2 of the ALCS earned him Most Valuable Player honors for that round. He lives in Overland Park, Kan.

Al Bumbry, CF: Bumbry had a strong season for the Orioles in '83, batting .275 and batting leadoff in four of the five World Series games. He resides in Maryland, where he helps O's Minor Leaguers with outfield defense and baserunning and does community work for the club.

Todd Cruz, 3B: Cruz caught on with the Orioles midway through '83 and played in 177 games for them during his final two seasons in the Majors. Along with catcher Rick Dempsey and second baseman Rich Dauer, Cruz helped make up "The Three Stooges" at the bottom of the O's order. He died of a heart attack in 2008 at age 52.

Rich Dauer, 2B: Dauer started in 131 games in '83, all but five of them at second base. He currently is the manager of Double-A San Antonio in the Padres organization.

Storm Davis, SP: A second-year pitcher, Davis started Game 4 of the World Series, earning the win that put the Orioles up three games to one on the Phillies. Davis is the pitching coach for Double-A Tennessee in the Cubs organization.

Rick Dempsey, C: Better known for his defense, Dempsey solidified his status as a fan favorite by going 5-for-13 with four doubles and a home run on his way to winning Most Valuable Player honors in the World Series. He is an analyst on O's Xtra on MASN, which televises Orioles games.

Jim Dwyer, OF: Dwyer primarily was a pinch-hitter for the Orioles in '83, belting eight home runs in 196 at-bats. He homered in Game 1 of the World Series, a 2-1 loss. He's the hitting coach at Class A Advanced Fort Myers in the Twins organization.

Mike Flanagan, SP: Flanagan was one of two Cy Young Award winners on the Orioles pitching staff, having won the award in 1979. He went 12-4 and posted a 3.30 ERA in 125 1/3 innings in 1983 and later became the Orioles' general manager and a television broadcaster. Flanagan, a much-beloved, longtime member of the organization, committed suicide in 2011. He was 59.

Dan Ford, OF: Ford platooned in right field for the '83 Orioles and hit a home run off Phillies starting pitcher Steve Carlton in Game 3 of the World Series, a 3-2 Orioles win. He's an entrepreneur and horse breeder in Benton, La.

Tito Landrum, OF: Landrum was such a late addition to the Orioles' postseason roster -- he was acquired from St. Louis on Aug. 31 -- that fellow outfielder John Lowenstein wasn't even sure of Landrum's first name when the outfielder hit a 10th-inning home run to break a scoreless tie in the decisive Game 4 of the ALCS against the White Sox. Landrum is a personal trainer who lives in the Los Angeles area.

John Lowenstein, OF: The Orioles' starting left fielder for much of the season, Lowenstein played in four games during the World Series and batted .385 with a 1.077 OPS. He splits his time living on a ranch in Wyoming and at his home in Las Vegas.

Dennis Martinez, SP: Martinez struggled in 1983, going 7-16 with a 5.53 ERA just two years after leading the Majors with 14 wins and finishing fifth in AL Cy Young Award voting in the strike-shortened 1981 season. He didn't pitch in the '83 postseason. He is retired and lives in Miami.

Tippy Martinez, RP: Martinez was one of the Orioles' best relievers in 1983 and earned two saves in the World Series. Earlier, during the regular season, the left-hander famously picked off the side. He is retired and does community work for the Orioles.

Scott McGregor, SP: McGregor got the ball for Game 1 of the 1983 World Series and took the Orioles' only loss. Four games later, he was back on the mound for Game 5, pitching a five-hit, complete-game shutout as Baltimore won its most recent championship. McGregor is still in the organization as the pitching rehabilitation coordinator in Sarasota, Fla.

Eddie Murray, 1B: The switch-hitting Murray, a future Hall of Famer, hit 33 home runs and was runner-up to Ripken for AL MVP. It was the third of five straight seasons in which he finished in the top five of MVP voting. He lives in Los Angeles, where he finished his career with the Dodgers in 1997.

Joe Nolan, C: The Orioles' backup catcher, Nolan played twice during the World Series and drew one walk in three plate appearances. He owns an executive blinds business in St. Louis.

Jim Palmer, SP: Yet another future Hall of Famer, Palmer was the wily veteran of the pitching staff. He was at the tail end of his career, posting a 4.23 ERA in 76 2/3 innings during his penultimate season in the Majors, but he did pitch two shutout innings of relief and was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the Series. The three-time Cy Young Award winner provides color commentary for O's broadcasts on MASN.

Cal Ripken Jr., SS: The 1983 season was only Ripken's second full year in the Majors and still it goes down as one of his finest campaigns. The shortstop led the Majors in hits and doubles, posted an OPS of .888 and won his first AL MVP Award. He'll be back in Baltimore for the city's first ALCS since he led the Orioles there in '97, this time as an analyst for TBS.

Gary Roenicke, OF: Roenicke platooned with Ayala and Lowenstein during the regular season and went hitless in seven at-bats during the World Series. His brother Ron is the Brewers' manager and his son Josh is a pitcher in the Rockies organization. Gary resides in Rough and Ready, Calif., and is a scout for the Orioles.

Lenn Sakata, 2B: Sakata primarily served as the backup second baseman, but is most famous for the one game in his career he spent behind the plate. Baltimore replaced both catchers during a rally on Aug. 24, which left Sakata to go behind the plate. Martinez picked off the side in the 10th inning and Sakata hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the frame. Sakata is the manager of Class A Advanced San Jose in the Giants organization.

John Shelby, OF: Shelby was typically used as a defensive replacement and his defense let him play in all five games of the World Series. He is an uncle of Pirates outfielder Josh Harrison and works as an assistant hitting coach for the Brewers.

Ken Singleton, DH: Singleton was the star designated hitter for the Orioles, but at that time the DH was used in the World Series in alternate years rather than in all games played in AL ballparks. This was a year without one, so Singleton only got a two plate appearances as a pinch-hitter during the Series. He is currently a commentator and play-by-play man on Yankees broadcasts for YES.

Sammy Stewart, RP: Stewart got his most action of the postseason during the World Series, hurling five scoreless innings in three appearances. He spent time in prison on drug charges and now is a motivational speaker on the dangers of drug use.

Tim Stoddard, RP: Stoddard didn't pitch during the 1983 World Series, but he became the only player to win both a World Series and an NCAA basketball championship -- he was a starting forward on the 1973-74 North Carolina State championship team. Stoddard is the pitching coach at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.