Baltimore Orioles Tickets

The History of the Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team which plays their home games at the Oriole Park in Camden Yards, located in Baltimore, Md. The team traces its roots back to 1894, when they were originally established as the Milwaukee Brewers. Since 1894, the team has won the World Series three times. The Orioles have also won the American League (AL) Pennant seven times and the East Division title eight times. 1894-1901 In 1894, the Milwaukee Brewers began playing as part of the Western League, which was the modern day equivalent of the Minor Leagues. At the end of the year 1900, however, the Western League was renamed and became the AL. The Milwaukee Brewers played for one season at the Lloyd Street Grounds, in Milwaukee, Wis., where they had the misfortune of coming in last place. 1902 - 1953 After their disastrous debut in the AL, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and took on the new name of the Browns. The move proved to be successful, as the team became very popular and racked up big ticket sales. Fans didn't seem to mind that the team only managed to compile four winning seasons during their first 21 years, and until 1926 the fans were extremely loyal. In 1926, however, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in the World Series, and the fans of St. Louis shifted their loyalty to the Cardinals. After years of mediocrity, the Browns faced off against their hometown rivals the Cardinals in the 1944 World Series. The Browns lost, and after a somewhat successful season in 1945, the team began to sink back into mediocrity. In 1951, Bill Veeck purchased the St. Louis Browns and he brought his flair for promotions along with him. Ticket sales began to increase, but the team was still unable to compile a winning season. Veeck decided that he wanted to move the team, but his initial efforts to move them back to Milwaukee were thwarted by the other AL team owners. Veeck finally made a deal with the city of Baltimore in 1953, but the only way to move the Browns was to sell his entire stake in the team. Once that deal was signed, the AL owners quickly consented to allow the Browns to move to Baltimore. 1954 - 1960 Once the purchase of the Browns by the Miles-Hoffberger group was official, they renamed their new team the Baltimore Orioles. Much like earlier versions of the team, they were not very successful on the field, but they were quite successful at the ticket office. After seven years, the results of building their farm system began to finally come to fruition and the Orioles took second place in the AL in 1960. 1961 - 1985 Building on the on-field success of 1960, the Orioles made several key trades over the next five years, including the acquisition of Frank Robinson. Robinson took the field for the Orioles in 1966, and he promptly helped catapult his team to a World Series victory. In addition to the team's victory, he also personally snared the MVP award, along with the Triple Crown. The Baltimore Orioles proved that they weren't a flash in the pan by going on to win the World Series two more times during the next two decades, in 1970 and 1983, and winning the AL Pennant five more times by 1983. The strength of their farm system was unquestionable during this time period, and several of their players went on to win big MLB personal achievements, including Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripkin, Jr. and Mike Flanagan. 1986 - 1991 After a strong run of winning seasons that spanned three decades, during which times the Orioles only had a losing season twice, the wheels began to come off of the venerable franchise. 1988 was the team's worst season since 1939, with a dismal record of 54-107. The horrible season was followed up by the firing of manager Cal Ripkin, Sr., who was replaced by Orioles icon Frank Robinson. Under Robinson's tutelage, the team began to pull back together. In 1989, the Orioles put together a winning season, and even though they finished in second place, Robinson was honored as the Manager of the Year for making such a drastic improvement over the 1988 season. 1992 - 2011 In 1992, the Baltimore Orioles moved into their new stadium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The new stadium played host to the All-Star Game in 1993. Orioles legend Cal Ripkin, Jr. brought international attention to both the team and the stadium on September 6, 1995, when he set a new MLB record for the most consecutive games played. Never one to rest on his laurels, Ripkin, Jr. continued his streak until September 20, 1998, when he took a game off for the first time after playing in 2,632 consecutive games. The Orioles made it to the playoffs in both 1996 and 1997, but in both years they were eliminated before reaching the World Series. In 1998, the team hit a down slide again, and they struggled to win games. In 2005, they signed slugger Sammy Sosa, hoping for a big return. Instead, Sosa let the team down by posting the worst numbers of his career. By the end of the 2011 season, the Orioles had posted 14 losing seasons in a row. During their losing streak, however, Cal Ripkin, Jr. did reach 3,000 hits, and that at least provided Orioles fans with a memorable season in the year 2000. There have been multiple organizational shifts over the past decade in an attempt to fix the team's issues, but to date the rebuilding phase, both on the team and behind the scenes, has not resulted in wins or increased attendance. The Future Buck Showalter has been the team's manager since July 29, 2010, and he has a career winning percentage of .509 under his belt, along with two Manager of the Year awards. The Orioles are rumored to be in the running to sign Manny Ramirez, who is attempting to make a comeback. It remains to be seen whether or not the combination of Showalter and Ramirez could launch the Orioles to a winning season, but fans in Baltimore are no doubt keeping their eyes focused on the future.

The History of the Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team which plays their home games at the Oriole Park in Camden Yards, located in Baltimore, Md. The team traces its roots back to 1894, when they were originally established as the Milwaukee Brewers. Since 1894, the team has won the World Series three times. The Orioles have also won the American League (AL) Pennant seven times and the East Division title eight times.

1894-1901

In 1894, the Milwaukee Brewers began playing as part of the Western League, which was the modern day equivalent of the Minor Leagues. At the end of the year 1900, however, the Western League was renamed and became the AL. The Milwaukee Brewers played for one season at the Lloyd Street Grounds, in Milwaukee, Wis., where they had the misfortune of coming in last place.

1902 - 1953

After their disastrous debut in the AL, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and took on the new name of the Browns. The move proved to be successful, as the team became very popular and racked up big ticket sales. Fans didn't seem to mind that the team only managed to compile four winning seasons during their first 21 years, and until 1926 the fans were extremely loyal. In 1926, however, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in the World Series, and the fans of St. Louis shifted their loyalty to the Cardinals. After years of mediocrity, the Browns faced off against their hometown rivals the Cardinals in the 1944 World Series. The Browns lost, and after a somewhat successful season in 1945, the team began to sink back into mediocrity. In 1951, Bill Veeck purchased the St. Louis Browns and he brought his flair for promotions along with him. Ticket sales began to increase, but the team was still unable to compile a winning season. Veeck decided that he wanted to move the team, but his initial efforts to move them back to Milwaukee were thwarted by the other AL team owners. Veeck finally made a deal with the city of Baltimore in 1953, but the only way to move the Browns was to sell his entire stake in the team. Once that deal was signed, the AL owners quickly consented to allow the Browns to move to Baltimore.

1954 - 1960

Once the purchase of the Browns by the Miles-Hoffberger group was official, they renamed their new team the Baltimore Orioles. Much like earlier versions of the team, they were not very successful on the field, but they were quite successful at the ticket office. After seven years, the results of building their farm system began to finally come to fruition and the Orioles took second place in the AL in 1960.

1961 - 1985

Building on the on-field success of 1960, the Orioles made several key trades over the next five years, including the acquisition of Frank Robinson. Robinson took the field for the Orioles in 1966, and he promptly helped catapult his team to a World Series victory. In addition to the team's victory, he also personally snared the MVP award, along with the Triple Crown. The Baltimore Orioles proved that they weren't a flash in the pan by going on to win the World Series two more times during the next two decades, in 1970 and 1983, and winning the AL Pennant five more times by 1983. The strength of their farm system was unquestionable during this time period, and several of their players went on to win big MLB personal achievements, including Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripkin, Jr. and Mike Flanagan.

1986 - 1991

After a strong run of winning seasons that spanned three decades, during which times the Orioles only had a losing season twice, the wheels began to come off of the venerable franchise. 1988 was the team's worst season since 1939, with a dismal record of 54-107. The horrible season was followed up by the firing of manager Cal Ripkin, Sr., who was replaced by Orioles icon Frank Robinson. Under Robinson's tutelage, the team began to pull back together. In 1989, the Orioles put together a winning season, and even though they finished in second place, Robinson was honored as the Manager of the Year for making such a drastic improvement over the 1988 season.

1992 - 2011

In 1992, the Baltimore Orioles moved into their new stadium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The new stadium played host to the All-Star Game in 1993. Orioles legend Cal Ripkin, Jr. brought international attention to both the team and the stadium on September 6, 1995, when he set a new MLB record for the most consecutive games played. Never one to rest on his laurels, Ripkin, Jr. continued his streak until September 20, 1998, when he took a game off for the first time after playing in 2,632 consecutive games. The Orioles made it to the playoffs in both 1996 and 1997, but in both years they were eliminated before reaching the World Series. In 1998, the team hit a down slide again, and they struggled to win games. In 2005, they signed slugger Sammy Sosa, hoping for a big return. Instead, Sosa let the team down by posting the worst numbers of his career. By the end of the 2011 season, the Orioles had posted 14 losing seasons in a row. During their losing streak, however, Cal Ripkin, Jr. did reach 3,000 hits, and that at least provided Orioles fans with a memorable season in the year 2000. There have been multiple organizational shifts over the past decade in an attempt to fix the team's issues, but to date the rebuilding phase, both on the team and behind the scenes, has not resulted in wins or increased attendance.

The Future

Buck Showalter has been the team's manager since July 29, 2010, and he has a career winning percentage of .509 under his belt, along with two Manager of the Year awards. The Orioles are rumored to be in the running to sign Manny Ramirez, who is attempting to make a comeback. It remains to be seen whether or not the combination of Showalter and Ramirez could launch the Orioles to a winning season, but fans in Baltimore are no doubt keeping their eyes focused on the future.