# 370 Don Buford

A great complimentary cog for seeming unfaltering Oriole omnipotence....not a star, for the O’s had plenty of those, but a vital piece whose role of leadoff made everybody just a bit better....to be short lived at this point of his career....had a terrible 1972 hitting .206 and was released before 1973 Spring Training...Don’s story begins in Southern California and USC’s baseball program...signed by White Sox as an infielder.....put in four years in the Chi-sox infield with so-so production...trade to Baltimore and immediately relegated to left field...Paid out immediate dividends with 40 point BA jump...racked up BA of .282, .291, .271, .290 in successive years 1968-1971....also led the AL in runs in 1971....Needless to say met the impeccable Oriole standard for fielding prowess... Father of Damon Buford.