Orioles History

Baltimore Orioles Baseball History

Baltimore Orioles (major leagues), professional baseball team and one of five teams in the East Division of the American League (AL). Starting out as the St. Louis Browns, the franchise moved to Baltimore at the end of the 1953 season and was renamed the Baltimore Orioles after the black-and-orange birds of that name. The team plays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, and wears uniforms of white, orange, and black.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Oriole Park, where the Baltimore Orioles baseball team plays, was built between 1989 and 1992. It was designed like traditional American ballparks, which feature natural grass and allow spectators to sit close to the field. Oriole Park inspired the construction of similar baseball fields in Denver, Cleveland, and Arlington (Texas) during the 1990s.

The Orioles enjoyed their finest stretch from 1964 to 1983, a 20-season span during which they won seven division titles, six pennants, and three World Series championships. Baltimore’s lineups during this period included shortstops Mark Belanger and Cal Ripken, Jr., first basemen Eddie Murray and Boog Powell, pitcher Jim Palmer, third baseman Brooks Robinson, and outfielders Paul Blair and Frank Robinson. During his 17 seasons with the club, Earl Weaver, a two-time AL manager of the year, became one of the most admired managers in AL history for his ability to develop players and build winning teams.

On May 30, 1982, Weaver inserted Cal Ripken, Jr., into the lineup. Ripken was named AL rookie of the year and, the next year, AL most valuable player (MVP). On September 6, 1995, during his 14th season, Ripken played in his 2131st consecutive game, breaking the record set by New York Yankee Lou Gehrig in 1939.

Professional baseball in Baltimore originated in 1872 with the Lord Baltimores of the National Association. Teams called the Orioles played in the National League during the 1890s and in the American League in 1901 and 1902. Standouts on these early Baltimore clubs included perennial .300 hitters Hugh Jennings and Wee Willie Keeler. After the 1902 season the team moved to New York and later became the New York Yankees.

In 1901 the AL’s Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and became the Browns, the predecessor of the modern Baltimore Orioles. After the 1953 season, owner Bill Veeck sold the franchise to a group of Baltimore business people who renamed the club the Orioles. The team struggled until 1960, when slugging first baseman Jim Gentile and all-around talent Brooks Robinson helped propel the Orioles to second place in the AL.

In 1966 manager Hank Bauer acquired star outfielder Frank Robinson from the NL Cincinnati Reds. Robinson led the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in (RBIs) to become the first AL player in ten years to win the Triple Crown. He was also named AL MVP, becoming the first player to receive this honor in both leagues. Baltimore went on to capture the pennant and sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1966 World Series.

Baltimore thrived under Earl Weaver, an Orioles minor league manager who moved up to the majors as a coach in 1968 and was named manager midway through the season. Sparked by first baseman Powell and pitchers Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally, and Palmer, the Orioles won three consecutive pennants from 1969 through 1971 and beat the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970 World Series. Under Weaver’s direction Orioles pitchers picked up six Cy Young Awards, including three by Palmer.

The Orioles won another AL pennant in 1979 with a new set of stars, including 1977 AL rookie of the year Eddie Murray, veteran outfielder Ken Singleton, and Cy Young Award winner Mike Flanagan. They lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. In 1983 second-year shortstop Ripken led the AL in hits, runs, and doubles and powered the Orioles to the East Division title and a World Series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The next few years proved frustrating, however. In 1988 the Orioles lost their first 21 games, setting an AL record for consecutive losses at the start of the season. Frank Robinson took over as manager and, after steering the team to a second-place finish in 1989, was named AL manager of the year. In 1996 the Orioles hit 257 home runs and broke the record for the most home runs hit by a team in a single season. (The record had previously been held by the 1961 New York Yankees with 240.) Under the direction of first-year manager Davey Johnson, a former Orioles infielder, the club reached the playoffs in 1996 before falling to the New York Yankees.
CHAMPIONSHIPS

1966 - Defeats Los Angeles in 4 games
1970 - Defeats Cincinnati in 5 games
1983 - Defeats Philidelphia in 5 games
TOP MANAGER
Earl Weaver managed the Orioles from 1968-82 and 1985-86 and posted a career 1480-1060. Frank Robinson was named Manager of the Year in 1989 and Davey Johnson won the award in 1997.

MVPS
Brooks Robinson (1964), Frank Robinson (1966), Boog Powell (1970), Cal Ripken (1983, 1991)

CY YOUNG
Mike Cuellar (1969), Jim Palmer (1973, 1975, 1976), Mike Flanagan (1979), Steve Stone (1980)

ROOKIE OF YEAR
Roy Sievers (1949), Ron Hansen (1960), Curt Blefary (1965), Al Bumbry (1973), Eddie Murray (1977), Cal Ripken (1982), Gregg Olson (1989)

RETIRED NUMBERS

4 - Earl Weaver (Manger)
5 - Brooks Robinson (3B)
20 - Frank Robinson (OF)
22 - Jim Palmer (P)
33 - Eddie Murray (1B)