Please can we take a minute to appreciate how good this logo is?
Ok, commence reading about the “O’s” or as they say in Maryland – “O’s Hon”
Why are the called the Orioles?
When the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954, the franchise was rebranded with the same nickname of the Baltimore team that dominated the old National League in the late 1890s.
That team, which featured the likes of Wee Willie Keeler and John McGraw, was named after the state bird of Maryland. The orange and black colours of the male Oriole bird resembled the colours on the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore.
Check out this guy below:
Why am I excited to see their city?
To be honest, there’s not a lot in Baltimore I’m excited to see outside of their ballpark Camden Yards – another very very attractive and classic ballpark, and also the harbour views which will probably remind me of home.
Apart from this, I am hoping I can find the place where they make my favourite seasoning – none other than OLD BAY!! mmmmmmmmmmmm
What is a tradition at their ballpark?
One interesting tradition that the Orioles undertake, is following the singing of “Take me out to the ball game” in the seventh inning stretch, the team plays the song “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – a bit odd when Baltimore is a reasonably sized city right?
The reason for this is because 1975 General Manager Frank Cashen suggested the team play some pop music to engage the younger fans.
Sure enough it worked, but someone in the Orioles office forgot that pop music only lasts a few weeks, and thus “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” stills plays to this day as tradition (here we got my man John Denver’s redition)
BONUS UN-TRADITION
Whilst you-tubing, I also found this song. Labelling it a must watch so get in the spirit – if it’s not a tradition, it damn well should be!
Who is a famous fan?
Oh man, this is too easy of a layup for me. I could go with Maryland’s second finest export (after Old Bay) Olympian Michael Phelps, or awesome actor Edward Norton, but instead, I’ll go with one of the greatest characters and scenes in TV history Elaine Benes (of Seinfeld fame).
Must watch clip below:
A fun/weird fact about the Orioles?
Politics and sports should never mix right? Well tell that to the Orioles who were somewhat trailblazers when it came to US-Cuba relations.
The team split a home-and-home series in a pair of exhibition games against the Cuban National Team, which included a 12-6 loss at Camden Yards on May 3 1999.
Isn’t that nice????
Thirty before 30 