Ravens Insider: Where do Lamar Jackson, Gunnar Henderson seasons rank in Baltimore history?

ExtremeRavens · January 10

The history of Baltimore sports is filled with star players and stellar seasons. But what Baltimore fans witnessed from their superstars in 2024 was historic.

Gunnar Henderson, the fierce and young shortstop of the Orioles, put up one of the greatest seasons in the history of a storied franchise with 17 Hall of Fame players. Lamar Jackson, the athletic and affable quarterback of the Ravens, is in the midst of not just one of the best seasons by a Baltimore athlete, but one of the most impressive campaigns from a signal caller in NFL history.

From Brooks Robinson to Cal Ripken Jr. and Johnny Unitas to Ray Lewis, Charm City isn’t lacking in superstars. With 13 Most Valuable Player Awards between the Colts, Ravens, Orioles and Bullets, Baltimore fans have witnessed their fair share of dominant campaigns.

But for Jackson and Henderson to do so in the same year hasn’t happened in Baltimore in nearly six decades. It was 1967 the last time two bona fide superstars — one Oriole, one Raven/Colt — in the primes of their careers put up excellent seasons like what Baltimore fans witnessed in 2024 with Jackson and Henderson. That year, Unitas won his third and final MVP award, while Robinson put up 7.7 wins above replacement for the third best season of his career.

While Henderson finished fourth in American League MVP voting, his numbers would have been worthy of winning the award in many other seasons. The 23-year-old hit .281 with an .893 OPS and 37 home runs. His 9.1 WAR by Baseball-Reference’s estimation marks the third-best season in Orioles history, behind only Ripken’s two best campaigns.

Jackson might also miss out on winning his third NFL MVP Award despite having numbers good enough to take home the award, as Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen is the betting favorite to win it. The 28-year-old Jackson threw for 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions to lead the Ravens to another AFC North title. He also became the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in the same season. His 119.4 passer rating this season ranks fourth all-time, behind only Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Peyton Manning (2004).

One common thread between Henderson and Jackson is the emotion they show when they fail — the frustration with themselves if they don’t meet their own lofty expectations. That’s perhaps why they’ve both led their teams to consecutive playoff appearances, marking the first time Baltimore’s football and baseball teams have done so since the Colts and Orioles in 1970 and 1971.

“They’re just made a little bit differently,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said in December when asked about Henderson. “There’s no satisfaction. You see when he doesn’t do something well, there’s a little bit of emotion behind it. Because he doesn’t think he should ever make a mistake. That’s what drives him the most. That’s why he is such a good player.”

But where do their 2024 campaigns stack up among the best seasons in Baltimore sports history? Here are 12 of the other best.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made a strong case to win his third NFL MVP Award in 2024. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made a strong case to win his third NFL MVP Award in 2024. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

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Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, 1959

After winning the “Greatest Game Ever Played” over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship, Unitas followed that up with his first of three MVP Awards. He led the Colts to a 9-3 record, passing for a league-high 2,899 yards and 32 touchdowns, and another championship in a rematch with the Giants.

Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry, 1960

Berry led the league in receiving touchdowns with 14 in 12 games in 1959 to finish fifth in MVP voting, but his best season came the next year when he caught 74 passes for 1,298 yards and 10 touchdowns. Extrapolated across a modern 17-game season, Berry’s 1960 season would have amounted to 105 receptions for 1,839 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson, 1964

Robinson had already established himself as a solid hitter and an elite defender, but he emerged as one of baseball’s best players in 1964. He hit .317 with a league-best 118 RBIs, a career-high 28 homers and 8.1 WAR to win his first and only AL MVP Award.

Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson, 1966

Two years after Brooks won the award, Frank did the same in his first season in Baltimore. He won the AL Triple Crown, leading the Junior Circuit in batting average (.316), home runs (49) and RBIs (122) to help lead the Orioles to their first World Series title.

Bullets center Wes Unseld, 1969

Unseld joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies in NBA history to win the MVP Award. Four years before the Bullets moved to Washington, Unseld was named the NBA’s best player, averaging 13.8 points and a whopping 18.2 rebounds per game.

Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer, 1975

Palmer won the AL Cy Young Award three times in a span of four seasons between 1973-76, but his 1975 campaign was his best. He set career highs in wins (23), shutouts (10) and WAR (8.4) as he posted an AL-best 2.09 ERA across 323 innings.

Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., 1983

After winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1982, Ripken was voted as the AL’s best player in 1983 as he helped lead the Orioles to their third and most recent World Series title. Ripken hit .318 and led the AL in runs (121), hits (211), doubles (47) and WAR (8.2).

Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., 1991

The peak of his illustrious career, Ripken posted a whopping 11.5 WAR in 1991 to win his second and final MVP. He hit 34 homers and led the AL in total bases as he hit .323 with a career-best .940 OPS.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, 2000

Lewis has half a dozen seasons that could be classified as his best, but his stardom reached a peak in 2000 when he won his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and led the Ravens to their first Super Bowl title. Lewis tallied 137 tackles, three sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the heart of a defense considered one of the best in NFL history.

Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, 2003

Nine players in NFL history have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, including Lewis in 2003. The bruising running back totaled 2,066 yards — averaging 129.1 per game — and rushed for 14 touchdowns.

Ravens safety Ed Reed, 2004

His first of five All-Pro seasons, Reed won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his third NFL season. He led the league in interceptions (nine) and interception return yards (358) while totaling 78 tackles, 17 passes defended and three forced fumbles. His 106-yard interception return touchdown that year is the second-longest in NFL history, behind only his 107-yarder in 2008.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, 2019

He’s rivaling it this season, but Jackson’s breakout sophomore campaign is one of the best by a quarterback in NFL history. Despite being pegged as a run-first quarterback out of college, Jackson led the league in passing touchdowns (36) and QBR (83.0) to lead the Ravens to a 14-2 record.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.

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