The Baltimore Orioles History reflects a journey from the team’s origins as the St. Louis Browns to becoming one of MLB’s most recognized franchises. Since moving to Baltimore in 1954, Baltimore Orioles baseball has built a proud tradition with loyal fans, legendary players, and multiple championships that define its enduring impact on the sport.
Established
1894
City
Milwaukee – St. Louis – Baltimore
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1900 – 1999 / American League
1894 – 1900 / Western League
Team History
1954 – Present / Baltimore Orioles
1902 – 1953 / St. Louis Browns
1894 – 1901 / Milwaukee Brewers
Nickname
Orioles – The Baltimore Orioles have been a beloved baseball team for over 125 years, and their nickname has become an iconic part of the city’s history. But where did this name come from? Let’s look at the origins of the Baltimore Orioles' nickname.
Baltimore Orioles Origin
The origin story began in 1901 when two Major League Baseball teams merged to form what we now know as today's modern-day Orioles—the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Browns (formerly known as the Ravens). The newly formed team kept its original name, inspired by Maryland's state bird: The Oriole! It wasn't until 1954 that they officially became known as “The Baltimore Orioles."
For many years after that, fans speculated about why exactly these birds were chosen for such an important role in sports history—until recently, when historians uncovered some interesting facts about how it all came together. In 1894, Lord Frederick Stanley donated his collection of orioles to be released into Central Park Zoo in New York City; he initially acquired them while traveling through India while serving with British forces there! This donation is believed to be one inspiration behind choosing this particular species for naming rights on America's first professional baseball club; however, no official records confirm it either way, so we may never truly know who or what sparked this decision-making process back then! Regardless though - thanks go out to Lord Stanley & those mysterious powers behind him/her/it who gave us our beloved mascot all those many moons ago... Go, O’s!!
Championship
World Series 3
1983, 1970, 1966
Stadium
1992 – Present / Oriole Park at Camden Yards
1954 – 1991 / Memorial Stadium
*St. Louis*
1902 – 1953 / Sportsman’s Park
*Milwaukee*
1895 – 1901 / Lloyd Street Grounds
1894 / Borchert Field
Owner
2024 – Present / David Rubenstein
1993 – 2024 / Peter Angelos
1989 – 1993 / Eli Jacobs
1979 – 1988 / Edward Bennett Williams
1965 – 1979 / Jerold Hoffberger
1959 – 1965 / Jerold Hoffberger & Joe Iglehart
1955 – 1959 / Jerold Hoffberger & James Keelty
1954 – 1955 / Jerold Hoffberger & Clarence Miles
1951 – 1953 / Bill Veeck
1948 – 1951 / Bill DeWitt
1945 – 1948 / Richard Muckerman
1936 – 1945 / Donald Lee Barnes
1915 – 1933 / Phil Ball
1902 – 1915 / Robert Hedges
1894 – 1902 / Henry Killilea
- 1953
- 1966
- 1970
- 1983
- 1992
- 1993
- 1995
On To Baltimore
The Miles-Krieger (Gunther Brewing Company) – Hoffberger group renamed their new team the Baltimore Orioles soon after taking control of the franchise. The name has a rich history in Baltimore, having been used by a National League team in the 1890s. In 1901, Baltimore and McGraw were awarded an expansion franchise in the growing American League, naming the team the ...
World Series Winner 1966
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It was also the last World Series played before MLB introduced the Commissioner’s Trophy the following year.
World Series Winner 1970
The 1970 World Series matched the American League champion Baltimore Orioles (108-54 in the regular season) against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds (102-60), with the Orioles winning in five games. This was the last World Series in which all games were played in the afternoon.
World Series Winner 1983
The 1983 World Series matched the American League champion Baltimore Orioles against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies, with the Orioles winning four games to one. “The I-95 Series”, like the World Series two years later, also took its nickname from the interstate that the teams and fans traveled on, Interstate 95 in this case. This was the last World ...-
Camden Yards Opens
Opening to much fanfare in 1992, Oriole Park at Camden Yards was an instant success, spawning other retro-designed major league ballparks within the next two decades. The stadium became the site of the 1993 All-Star Game. The Orioles returned to contention in those first two seasons at Camden Yards, only to finish in third place both times. 
Angelos Takes Over
Also in 1993, with then-owner Eli Jacobs forced to divest himself of the franchise, Baltimore-based attorney Peter Angelos was awarded the Orioles in bankruptcy court, returning the team to local ownership for the first time since 1979.
Ripken Breaks the Streak
The Ripken countdown resumed once the season began. Ripken finally broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak of 2,130 games in a nationally televised game on September 6. This was later voted the all-time baseball moment of the 20th century by fans from around the country in 1999. Ripken finished his streak with 2,632 straight games, finally sitting on September 20, ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Baltimore Orioles History
The Baltimore Orioles History dates back to 1901, when the team began as the St. Louis Browns. As one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises, they played an important role in shaping the game. The club moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the Baltimore Orioles baseball team that fans know today. Since then, the franchise has been a cornerstone of the American League.
In 1966, owner Jerry Hoffberger relocated the team to Baltimore, creating a fresh start for the franchise. Under Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver and stars like Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson, the Baltimore Orioles History quickly became linked with success. They won four American League pennants between 1966 and 1971 and captured the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. This run established Baltimore Orioles baseball as one of the league’s elite programs.
Orioles Achievements
The Baltimore Orioles History continued with more achievements in the following decades. They captured another World Series title in 1983 by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies and won multiple AL East Division titles in the 1970s and 1980s. Their fierce competitiveness also led to memorable postseason appearances, cementing their reputation as one of MLB’s most respected clubs.
In modern times, the Baltimore Orioles baseball legacy has been revived with strong seasons under Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette. They reached the postseason multiple times, including a 2012 Wild Card berth and an ALCS appearance in 2014. With talented young players like Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman now leading the way, the Baltimore Orioles History looks poised to add more championships and continue its proud tradition for years to come.
Sports Fan Products
Baltimore Orioles Team History Unveiled: Unlock the Past!
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Mount Rushmore Baltimore Orioles: The Heart of the Team!
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Retired Number
4 / Earl Weaver
5 / Brooks Robinson
8 / Cal Ripken, Jr.
20 / Frank Robinson
22 / Jim Palmer
33 / Eddie Murray
42 / Jackie Robinson
*Blue is this team’s history