Ousted Orioles Manager Buck Showalter's Letter To Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD — Recently ousted Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a rough season. With a record of 47-115, it was the worst the team had ever done under the Baltimore Orioles name.

Showalter's firing came as no surprise after the season, but that doesn't mean he's turned bitter. His letter, written for the website BaltimoreBaseball.com, is a heartfelt description of his time in Baltimore, his respect for the city's love for baseball and of the people he misses.

The Baltimore Orioles had record low attendance this season, according to The Baltimore Sun. In addition to Showalter, the Orioles announced that Dan Duquette, executive vice president of baseball operations, would not be returning in 2019.

A few choice quotes are below. Read Buck Showalter's full letter here.

"There’s not a meanness in the fans. One thing they want is for the Orioles to be good...There was a home-field atmosphere. You talk to other players coming in to play there, and baseball was the focus."

"There weren’t a lot of the other bells and whistles. It was pure baseball. The fans would get on the other team, but there wasn’t that real edge to it. The ballpark fit the city and the city fit the ballpark."

"We miss our neighbors, the things that most people do. Each time we were in the playoffs, our neighbors left notes on our gate wishing us luck. They were supportive yet respectful of our privacy, and we’re grateful for that."

"Fans in Baltimore have a long memory. They realize with good times, sometimes come challenging times. It’s not a what have you done for me lately world there all the time. I think they just want to know there’s better days ahead. It’s kind of like life."

See more: Orioles: Contracts Up For Buck Showalter, Dan Duquette

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Article image: Manager Buck Showalter #26 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on following the Orioles 4-0 win over the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)