After leading the International League with a .336 BA, Dauer replaced Bobby Grich at second base for the Orioles. He never hit up to expectations – .284 in 1980 was his best – but he seldom struck out and was a reliable fielder. His homer in the seventh game of the 1979 WS gave the Orioles a brief lead. He set ML records in 1978 by playing 86 straight errorless games at second and handling 425 chances without an error.