Al Bumbry
A Vietnam War veteran turned sparkplug leadoff hitter, he brought speed and grit to the heart of the Baltimore Orioles' championship era.
Born 1947 (age 79)·American baseball player·Birthday: April 21·Baby Boomers
Biography
Al Bumbry's path to the major leagues was anything but ordinary. Before stepping onto the diamond, he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, where his courage earned him a Bronze Star. That same fortitude defined his baseball career. Joining the Baltimore Orioles in 1972, the compact outfielder quickly made his mark, using blazing speed to win the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1973. For over a decade, Bumbry was the table-setter at the top of a formidable Orioles lineup, his slap hits and stolen bases fueling the offense. He was a central figure in the club's 1983 World Series championship, providing veteran leadership to a pitching-dominated squad. After his playing days, he remained a beloved figure in Baltimore, his legacy one of resilience and consistent excellence.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Al was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1973 with the Baltimore Orioles.
- Was a starting outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles team that won the 1983 World Series.
- Inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame for his lasting impact on the franchise.
- Awarded the Bronze Star for his service as a soldier in the Vietnam War.
Did You Know?
He is one of the few Major League Baseball players to have received a Bronze Star for military service.
He led the American League in triples in 1973 with 11.
His nickname was 'Bumblebee', a play on his last name and his small, fast playing style.
He recorded over 1,400 hits and 254 stolen bases during his 14-year career.
“You learn to focus under pressure, whether it's in a firefight or with the bases loaded.”
