Moments after the Ravens earned a 21-0 victory over the Titans, coach John Harbaugh received a congratulatory text from former Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
The two had become close over the years, trading encouraging words over the high and lows of their respective seasons.
The Orioles broke a franchise record with 115 losses in 2018 and the team did not renew Showalter’s contract.
Over the years, though, Showalter often asked the local media about the latest Ravens news in his pregame press conference, and looked forward to watching their games.
On Sept. 11, 2014, Showalter had just settled down to watch the Ravens and Steelers on Thursday night before getting a phone call informing him that Chris Davis was being suspended 25 games for testing positive for amphetamines associated with the drug Adderall.
“It was tough. Put a little damper on the Ravens game, that’s for sure,” Showalter said at the time. “You’ve got to learn to deal with the problems and the challenges along the way, and if they’re self-inflicted, there’s no woe-is-me. And this is self-inflicted.”
In the MLB offseason, Showalter sometimes stood on the Ravens sidelines to a huge ovation. He developed a close bond with the team.
“We’ve gotten to be good friends over the course of the last eight years – play golf, doing a lot of things together,” Harbaugh said. “I really, really admire him and respect him. I’ve learned so much from him over the years as a coach and a leader and relating to players and all the different things that come up.”
Showalter will best be remembered for changing the culture of the moribund franchise when he arrived in 2010.
In 2012, the Orioles went 93-69, snapping a string of 14 consecutive losing seasons. Showalter also led the team to three playoff appearances, including a spot in the AL Championship Series in 2014.
Harbaugh simply wanted to pay tribute to his friend.
“I just want to acknowledge that and what a great job he did in Baltimore and how amazing he’s been for the fans, for sports fans in Baltimore, how much I’ve enjoyed watching his teams play and what a great job he’s done for the Orioles,” he said. “So, I just wanted to say that and put that out there, because he hit me last night about our team, and I always enjoyed talking to him.”
