He was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1979.Īlthough an effective closer, Stanhouse had a reputation of walking batters he was not willing to face. Stanhouse finished 3rd in the American League in both 19 in saves, recording 45 over that span, helping the Orioles capture the American League Championship in 1979. Jim Palmer said that in 1978, he was the Orioles' best relief pitcher. Because of his Harpo Marx hairstyle and pre-game batting practice antics – where his primal scream would entertain early ballpark arrivals – he was quickly labeled Stan the Man Unusual, a pun on the nickname 'Stan the Man' for Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial.

Stanhouse excelled in 1978 when Manager Earl Weaver employed him as a full-time closer. Shuttled back and forth from the bullpen to the starting rotation with the Rangers and Expos, he was acquired along with Joe Kerrigan and Gary Roenicke by the Orioles from Montreal for Rudy May, Randy Miller and Bryn Smith at the Winter Meetings on December 7, 1977. Stanhouse was traded along with Pete Mackanin from the Rangers to the Expos for Willie Davis at the Winter Meetings on December 5, 1974. He played for the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles of the American League and the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. September 24, 1982, for the Baltimore Oriolesĭonald Joseph Stanhouse (born February 12, 1951) is a retired American professional baseball pitcher who had an eight-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1972–1980) with a brief comeback in 1982.

Stan the man baseball