Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are a Major League Baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland, competing in the American League East Division. They are one of eight charter franchises of the American League, founded in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers. After one season, the team moved to St. Louis, becoming the St. Louis Browns, where they played for 52 years. In 1953, a syndicate led by attorney Clarence Miles and Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. purchased the franchise and relocated it to Baltimore, rebranding as the Orioles. The team now plays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a downtown ballpark that opened in 1992 and is widely praised for its retro design. Current owner David Rubenstein took control in 2024.

The Orioles have a storied history, with seven American League pennants and three World Series titles (1966, 1970, 1983). Their golden era from the late 1960s through the early 1980s featured Hall of Famers like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, and Cal Ripken Jr., managed by Earl Weaver. After 1983, the team endured a long drought, including 14 straight losing seasons from 1998 to 2011. A resurgence in the 2010s under manager Buck Showalter brought three playoff appearances, including an AL East title in 2014. However, the 2018 season was a disaster, with a franchise-worst 115 losses. The team rebuilt quickly, winning 101 games in 2023 and reclaiming the AL East. As of 2025, manager Craig Albernaz and executive vice president Mike Elias lead the club. The Orioles have a .475 all-time winning percentage since 1901, but since moving to Baltimore, they have a .505 mark through 2025.[แก้ไข]

The franchise began in 1894 as the Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League, which became the American League in 1901. After that single season in Milwaukee, the club moved to St. Louis and was renamed the Browns. For 52 years the Browns played at Sportsman's Park, winning their only American League pennant in 1944. In 1953, the team was sold to a Baltimore syndicate and relocated, adopting the Orioles name, a nod to the official state bird of Maryland.

Baltimore's first decade was lean, but the arrival of general manager Paul Richards and later manager Earl Weaver turned the club into a powerhouse. The Orioles won their first World Series in 1966, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers behind the pitching of Jim Palmer and the hitting of Frank Robinson, who won the Triple Crown that season. Four more pennants followed in 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1979, with World Series titles in 1970 (over the Cincinnati Reds) and 1983 (over the Philadelphia Phillies). The 1970s teams were known for stellar pitching, defense anchored by third baseman Brooks Robinson, and the strategic acumen of Weaver.

After 1983, the Orioles entered a prolonged decline. Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive games streak (2,632 games) provided a bright spot, but the team did not return to the playoffs until 1996. A stretch of 14 consecutive losing seasons from 1998 through 2011 was the longest in franchise history. Under Buck Showalter, the Orioles made the playoffs in 2012, 2014, and 2016, winning the AL East in 2014. The 2018 season was a nadir, with 115 losses. A rapid rebuild under Mike Elias produced a 101-win season in 2023 and a division title. In 2024, the team won 91 games and secured a wild card spot. The Orioles have retired numbers for 15 players and one manager, including Brooks Robinson (5), Frank Robinson (20), Jim Palmer (22), Eddie Murray (33), Cal Ripken Jr. (8), and Earl Weaver (4).[แก้ไข]