2009 Baltimore Orioles

The 2008 season was a disheartening one for the Baltimore Orioles, as they finished last place in the increasingly brutal AL East. A total overhaul is clearly in order, and GM Andy MacPhail has been busy replacing over half of the roster: Garrett Olson, Ramon Hernandez, Adam Loewen, Alex Cintron, Brian Burres, Kevin Millar and Jay Payton are out, and Felix Pie, Ty Wigginton, Cesar Izturis, Ryan Freel, Gregg Zaun and Rich Hill are in. Will it be enough to turn things around? See for yourself at Oriole Park at Camden Yards with 2009 Baltimore Orioles tickets from Coast to Coast!

The Beginning

The Baltimore Orioles were originally one of the preeminent baseball franchises of the late 19th century. The team was relocated to New York in 1903, and all that was left of the Orioles was a strong minor league presence. All time greats Babe Ruth and Lefty Grove once played for the team. Major League baseball returned in 1953 when the St. Louis Browns relocated and became the new Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles struggled initially but by the mid 1960’s they were amongst the best in the game. With a roster that included Hall of Famers Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, and Frank Robinson the team reached the World Series 4 times between 1966 and 1971, winning twice.

Repeated Success

Earl Weaver took over as manager in 1969 and immediately led the Orioles to the World Series where they lost to the Miracle Mets. Weaver would lead the Orioles to 6 Division titles over the next 10 years reaching the World Series 4 times as the Orioles dominated the decade. Weaver turned the team over to Joe Altobelli in 1983, but with stars Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. along with stalwart Jim Palmer the Orioles once again won the World Series.

The team moved into Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992. The Park quickly became a crown jewel amongst baseball stadiums. Its retro design brought fans in by the millions and ushered in a new era in stadium design. The draw of Camden Yards continues to bring in fans even though the team struggles to return to its former greatness.