Probably not a day goes by in the spring and summer months that it's not uttered in a Baltimore bar or living room, in the stands or the broadcast booth at Camden Yards.
An opposing pitcher sets the Orioles down in order or an opposing batter smashes a double to the gap and someone, somewhere declares it to whoever will listen: "Man, that guy just kills the Orioles."
You'll likely hear it tonight, when the ultimate Orioles-killing pitcher takes the mound. This time it'll be true.
No pitcher with more than 20 decisions against the Orioles has a better winning percentage in the modern franchise's history than Houston left-hander Andy Pettitte.
In the nine seasons he pitched for the New York Yankees, Pettitte faced the Orioles 28 times. He was an amazing 20-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 168 innings. Only one active pitcher has more wins against the Orioles than Pettitte. That's his teammate, Roger Clemens, who mercifully won't pitch in the Astros' three-game series at Camden Yards.
Clemens is 22-12 with a 3.44 ERA in 49 Orioles games (322 innings). His winning percentage, .647, is second all time.
"They played on such good teams and we were struggling, too. They beat up on us pretty good, especially in '01 and '02," said Orioles first baseman Jay Gibbons. "Plus, they're pretty darn good pitchers."
The only other active pitcher as rough on the Orioles is left-hander Jamie Moyer, who has bedazzled his former club with an assortment of junk for years. Moyer (15-3, 3.06 ERA in 26 games) matches Pettitte's .833 winning percentage, but has had more no-decisions in two fewer starts.
If Pettitte is the current Orioles killer, who is the champ of yesteryear? Bullpen coach and de facto team historian Elrod Hendricks takes a great guess: Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter, who won 224 games for the Kansas City/Oakland A's and the Yankees.
"Hunter had his great years against us," Hendricks said. "It seemed like he had a knack of finding a way to beat us. But he beat everyone else, too."
Hunter is second on the all-time Orioles-beating list with 26 wins. He also has the most losses (24) and decisions (50). But the all-time wins leader is another Hall of Famer, Yankees left-hander Whitey Ford, who was 30-16 against the Orioles.
Only one of the wins leaders, active or all time, finished in the top five for ERA against the Orioles (140-inning minimum), Detroit Tigers left-hander Mickey Lolich. Current Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre leads with a 2.33 ERA. Only former Kansas City Royals left-hander Larry Gura (13-8, 2.53 ERA) finished in the top five in ERA and winning percentage.
