In case you haven’t been paying attention, or just listening to the O’s, it looks as though the Orioles beloved cartoon bird logo has returned to the club. Well, in small fashion.
I first noticed on Opening Day in Tampa Bay that Matt Wieters was wearing the white panel cartoon bird logo helmet under his catcher’s mask. Then when I look further I saw that first and third base coaches Wayne Kirby and John Russell were also sporting the old school look.
The history of the Orioles logos on MLB.com points out that Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver and Cal Ripken all donned a cap with the cartoon bird on it. It was the O’s logo from 1966-1989.
Are you glad to see the cartoon bird return to the O’s this year?
I wish someone would report on ‘why’ the 1st and 3rd base coaches are wearing this cartoon bird helmet. Doesn’t MLB have uniform requirements that state all personnel in uniform be of the same like of uniform? Or, has an exemption been granted?
I’d much rather see the 1960’s early 70’s black cap and orange bill with the smiling bird than that stupid “O’s” hat they wear on Friday nights. Looks like something they had made at the Mall kiosk that stitches hats.
As a life-long (I’m 51) Orioles fan, I have always looked at the cartoon bird as sort of an embarrassment. I was thrilled with the return of the full-body bird in 1989. Agree with the previous poster about the “O’s” hat – it’s ugly. I’d like to see the return of the “B” cap, similar to the Brooklyn Dodgers caps, only in black/orange, that the Orioles used for I believe just one season around 1963.
the only bird i hate more than thatsilly, inane laughing Oriole is that sunuvabichin Woody effin Woodpecker
TomM – Actually, I like you’re idea better. Put the “B” back on the hat.
Way to go ORIOLES!!!
My name is John Cooley and I LOVE the cartoon bird and what it represents. It represents a time when the Baltimore Orioles were simply the best team in Baseball. I turn 40 this week, and as a child I sat in Memorial Stadium and watched win after win with the team wearing the cartoon bird on their hats.
Teams are people that need inspiration just as fans do. Does a hat win a game? No. A player does. But an uninspired player, plays…well, uninspired.
Bringing back the TRUE Orioles cartoon bird symbol invokes the era of Brooks, and Boog, and Palmer, and Murray, and Weaver. CAL. A few years ago the Army made a change to their uniform that had nothing to do with combat readiness, but rather morale, and they found that the troops reacted and performed better than expected. A team functions in the same way.
The Orioles have made some improvements in this past off season. We’ve already seen a change for the better, so why not let the team wear the logo of World Series Champions? Not for you or for the kids out there who have never seen their team wear that logo, but for themselves.
What of their morale?
Most athletes hold on to plenty of personal superstitions, give them the cap of champions and they might just become champions in their own right.
And because this is Baseball, here are some stats to mull over…
1954-1965 correct bird caps: 942-943, 5 of 12 winning seasons, no playoffs, no World Series.
1966-1988 CARTOON bird caps: 2030-1614, 19 of 23 winning seasons, 8 playoffs, 3-3 World Series Wins!
1989-2010 correct bird caps: 1645-1848, 6 of 22 winning “seasons”, 2 playoffs 0 World Series.
Quoting Joel Kirstein “From 1966 to 1983, the Orioles won three World Series titles, six American League Pennants and seven division tiles and a ton of individual player awards with that logo. In 1992, Baltimore launched their new ornithological-correct logo to the delight of bird watchers, but no one else, the team has won exactly one division tile.”
The whole article reads…”True sports purest will argue that tampering with a team’s logo, uniform, colors, etc. is a sure fire way to change their luck. Some would say that changing a team’s logo like the Baltimore Orioles did replacing
th…eir great cartoon bird logo they used from the mid-1960s until they moved into their new retro-inspired ballpark – Camden Yards in 1992, was a big mistake. I agree. Everyone loved that little guy. Fun-looking and the ultimate mascot that looked as great in costume as he did on paper or on a cap. The colors, black and orange for the 1960s were great back when using black in a logo was void of industrial-strength doses of attitude and anger and orange was seen as the new red. Disney-quality cartoon illustration when that still meant something. The Bird is a classic and you have to love his cleats, swinging a bat bigger than him, all smiles and raring to go nine innings. From 1966 to 1983, the Orioles won three World Series titles, six American League Pennants and seven division tiles and a ton of individual player awards with that logo. In 1992, Baltimore launched their new ornithological-correct logo to the delight of bird watchers, but no one else, the team has won exactly one division tile.
I recently attended a midweek game in Baltimore where the team was giving away free retro-logo caps and the team had their biggest crowd since opening day. Coincidence? I think not. It’s great to see The Bird starting to make his way back on the scene in Baltimore. The old Orioles’ cap signified that you were a fan of a winning ball club. The new logo looks better suited on a preppy oxford shirt than on a ball cap. No one cares what a real Baltimore Oriole looks like. We like the cartoon bird, so bring it back now, please and thank you.”
John
John,
I have the retro cap myself – orange bill, black cap (no white panel) and must say, I do wear it quite often as it does remind me of the gold old days. BTW, if you are not a lawyer, you should be.
Thanks WGW!
Not a lawyer. Just a fan.
You know, you have to be excited for the team right now. So far the Orioles are the best team in Baseball, the REAL symbol of the team is on it’s way back, and the sky’s the limit.
I haven’t been this excited to be an Orioles fan since moving to the west coast in ’87.
You know, as a kid I sat in M.S., watching #4 scream at umps, chanting Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!, waiting for Jim to strike out Boggs, and wearing the same batting helmet that Matt’s wearing up there.
It feels that for the first time in along time that the Orioles are on on the way to something big.
Oh let it be so.
Somewhere Wild Bill Hagy is laughing, and getting ready to lead the cheer!
John
The base coaches took them off tonight and we lost…
The Orioles haven’t been to the post season since 1997. I maintain it’s because the bird design was changed from a realistic Oriole bird to the one that resembles a mourning dove. I’ve even called Orioles Public Relations about it. Bring back that bird, it can only help