Baltimore Orioles Baseball
The Orioles, more affectionately known as the Birds or the O's to the city's serious fans, are Baltimore's Major League Baseball team, playing in the Eastern Division of the American League.
The Baltimore Orioles play ball in Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a natural grass ball park finished in 1992 and named for the original Oriole Park lost to fire back in the 1940's.
Beautiful and scenic Oriole park is located at 333 West Camden Street in Baltimore, just minutes away from many other exciting destinations including Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor, several great museums, diverse restaurants and exciting night life.
Baltimore Orioles Tickets & Park Tours
Purchase tickets to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game in advance online with print-at-home ticketing or in person at the park.
Tours of Oriole park include seeing the Orioles dugout, the Scoreboard Control Room, the Press Level and the exclusive Suite Level. Private tours can be scheduled by for groups of ten or more by calling 410-547-6234.
The History of Baltimore Orioles Baseball
The city of Baltimore has a rich baseball history and has been home to one baseball team or another for over 125 years. The first record of baseball in Baltimore is in 1882, when Harry Vonderhorst sponsored a Baltimore team in the American Association of baseball clubs. In 1894, the Baltimore Orioles won their first professional baseball championship and in 1903 the team moved to New York and eventually became today's NY Yankees.
Baltimore's Claim to the Sultan of Swing
George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up in adversity, playing baseball in school at St. Mary's led him on his path to becoming a great American hero. He was recruited by Jack Dunn, the Baltimore Orioles (then a minor league Red Sox team) owner and manager, when he was just 19 years old. When folks began referring to him as "Jack's newest Babe" the nickname stuck. Babe Ruth played with the Baltimore Orioles for just five short months before the Major League Boston Red Sox purchased his contract.
Baltimore has honored their sultan of swing since 1967, when the community banned together to save the historic birthplace from being demolished. Today the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is once again undergoing renovation and will re-open in April of this year. Located at 216 Emory Street, the museum is just a short walk (following the 60 painted baseballs on the sidewalk) from Camden Station.
Today's Baltimore Orioles
In September of 1953, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore after several dismal seasons and a drop in game attendance. Renamed the Baltimore Orioles, after the black and orange state bird of Maryland, the team didn't perform much better but the O's definitely attracted Baltimore baseball fans.
Things began looking up for the Birds in the late 50's and by 1961 fans were rewarded with seeing Jim Gentile set 11 team records and their Baltimore Orioles finish the season 95-67-1.
Just four years later Frank Robinson joined the Orioles and in 1966 they won their first World Series, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-game sweep. Bitter defeat came in 1969 when the favored Oriole's shockingly lost the World Series to the Mets.
In all, since 1966, the Baltimore Orioles have won:
Three World Series Championships (1966, 1970 and 1983)
Seven American League Pennants (1944, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979 and 1983)
Eight Eastern Division Titles (1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1983 and 1997)
Baltimore Orioles Baseball Hall-of-Famers
Luis Aparicio, Roger Bresnahan, Reggie Jackson, Joe Kelley, George Kell, Joe McGinnity, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Robin Roberts, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Hoyt Wilhelm, all Baltimore Oriole's players, have been inducted into The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Ask any Oriole's fan and they'll tell you that Cal Ripken, Jr. is on his way to Cooperstown as well. His jersey, the one worn in his final game, is already there and so is the lineup card from his 2,130th consecutive game. That game tied Lou Gerhig's previous record for the most consecutive games played. Nicknamed "Iron Man," Calvin Edward Ripken, Jr. went on to play in 2,632 straight games in Major League Baseball. Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, he spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles.
Baseball is America's Favorite Pastime
Baseball, like apple pie, holds a special place in America and a special place in the heart of every Baltimore Orioles player and fan. The game itself is one of strategy and skill, filled with drama and loaded with grandstand moments.
Get in on it!
If you're ever in town to catch a Baltimore Orioles baseball game, be sure to stop by the Sports Legends Museum to see the spectacular Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame exhibit. It's located right at the gateway to the Oriole Park at 301 W. Camden Street.
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