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Baltimore Orioles Baseball

The Orioles, more affectionately known as the Birds or the O's to the city's serious fans, is Baltimore's Major League Baseball team. They play 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 that was lost to fire back in the 1940s.

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, great museums, diverse restaurants and exciting night life.

Baltimore Orioles Tickets & Park Tours

Baltimore Orioles tickets can be purchased in advance online with print-at-home ticketing or in person at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

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 for groups of tenor 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 many baseball teams for over 125 years. The first record of baseball in Baltimore is from 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 Swat

George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1895. Although Ruth has a rough childhood, playing baseball in school at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys led him to become a great American hero. When he was only 19-years-old, Ruth was recruited by Jack Dunn, the owner and manager of the Baltimore Orioles, then a minor league Red Sox team. When players started referring to him as “Jack’s newest babe,” the nickname stuck. Babe Ruth played with the Baltimore Orioles for just five months before the Major League Red Sox purchased his contract.

Since 1967, Baltimore has honored the Sultan of Swat, when the community joined together to prevent Ruth’s historic birthplace from being demolished. Today the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is once again undergoing renovation and will reopen in April of this year. By following the 60 painted baseballs on the sidewalk, the museum, located at 216 Emory Street, is a short walk 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 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 50s, and by 1961 fans were rewarded with seeing Jim Gentile set 11 team records, the Baltimore Orioles finished the season 95-67-1.

Just four years later outfielder Frank Robinson joined the Orioles and in 1966 they won their first World Series, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a four-game sweep. Bitter defeat came in 1969 when the favored Orioles shockingly lost the World Series to the Mets.

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.

Not to mention fan-favorite and hometown hero, Cal Ripken,Jr., has his place in Cooperstown. His jersey, the one worn in his final game, is there as well and so is the line up card from his 2,130th consecutive game. That game tied Lou Gehrig'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, has a special place in America's heart 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!

When you're 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 Camden Yards at 301 West Camden Street.

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