He was nicknamed "the Blade," and Mark Belanger was the most exciting defensive shortstop of his time. Presented is a 1977 Mark Belanger Baltimore Orioles signed game used jersey. Belanger played 18 Major League seasons, from 1965-82, with his first 17 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and a final season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Belanger hit .228 lifetime in the Major Leagues, and he earned his fame with his defense. At 6'1" and only 170 pounds, his Blade nickname came from his thin frame. Mark was on the World Champion 1970 Orioles, and he was an 8-time Gold Glove recipient. He was a 3-time AL leader in both assists and fielding percentage. In the 1977 season in which Belanger wore this game used jersey, he batted .206 and won a Gold Glove. The gray polyester blend jersey has black and orange trim. There is a Wilson manufacturer's tag showing size 40 in the neck. Across the chest is Orioles in orange, sewn-on script with black trim. Under the Orioles' name of the front is 7 in an orange sewn-on numerals with black trim. Seven silver-gray buttons go down the front. On the back nameplate is BELANGER, sewn-on with orange lettering and black trim. On the left outside tail is a tag, handwritten by an unknown hand in black fine tip marker, that shows 77 for year and "2" for set. On the left front tail. Belanger signed and inscribed the jersey, using a blue fine tip marker, as "Mark Belanger #7." The jersey exhibits great wear, with a number of stains on the front and back that appear to be from some combination of tobacco, dirt and coffee. It is known that Belanger used to break in his two new gloves that he used each year with spit and coffee, so that may account for some of the stains. The Belanger signature and inscription, coupled with the jersey's great wear and Belanger's defensive acclaim, make the jersey a valued collectible.