The Mighty Oriole Bird
A Note About Mascots
A team without a mascot is a team without a soul. There, it has been said.
Originally baseball teams used live animals, or taxidermic animals (here’s looking at you, Chicago Cubs), before the advent of the walking stuffed behemoths that we see today. Thanks to innovators like Jim Henson and Sid and Marty Krofft who, through their ingenious puppetry, opened the door for modern-day mascots.
So, why even have a mascot? The word, mascot, comes from the French term, mascotte, which means lucky charm. But, not only do mascots bring luck, they also have the ability to strike fear (who wants to be stuck in a dark room with the Phillie Phanatic?), pump up a crowd, help bring younger fans into the fold, and also, yes, be very annoying (I’m sure there’s an umpire or two that would agree).
Meet The Oriole Bird
Okay, he doesn’t have an actual name, meaning he is not ‘Bob the Bird’ or ‘Orange Fred’. His name is more along factual lines, like Big Bird. It is a statement of truth, which in these confusing times is nice. His name is Oriole Bird.
Origin Story
Opening day, April 6, 1979: It’s 2 pm, a high of 48 degrees, and over 39,000 rowdy Baltimoreans are ready to see their Baltimore Orioles duke it out with the Chicago White Sox. The Old Gray Lady of 33rd Street (a.k.a. Memorial Stadium) is about to witness the birth of something spectacular. There is a large egg on the infield grass. The egg begins to shake, crack, and then a wing emerges, then a leg, and then Oriole Bird is born.
The Orioles went on to beat the Sox 5-3 that day, with Eddie Murray going 2 for 4 with an RBI and Jim Palmer throwing a complete game for the win. Not a bad first day on the job.
1979 would prove to be a pretty good year for the O’s. They won the American League pennant and made it all the way to Game Seven of the World Series, only to lose to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is hard to beat a family.
The Bird Is The Word
The Oriole Bird is prone to hugging, sliding on the dugout, galvanizing a crowd, and, yes, shaking a tail feather or two in the name of the boys in orange. But what the Oriole Bird does mostly is bring joy. He is the official goodwill ambassador of the Orioles. And he can be found making various charitable appearances around Baltimore and its surrounding areas.
In the “Bird Bio” section of the Orioles website, it states that Oriole Bird is, height-wise, between tweety bird and big bird, weighs a quarter ton of feathers, and is a switch hitter. His dietary preferences are of the seed nature, with the occasional crustacean for good measure.
Although he is a friend to most, the Oriole Bird does have a few dislikes. The first being his archenemy, Ace, the mascot for the Toronto Blue Jays, and Raymond, the mascot for the Tampa Bay Rays. Raymond and the Oriole Bird have been known to have a dance-off when the rhythm is too much to handle. And other than drunk Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees fans, which Oriole Bird is the least fond of, he is filled with reverence for all living things.
The Hall of Fame
On the breezy shores of Lake Michigan, near the largest oil refinery in the Midwest, sits the Mascot Hall of Fame. The Hall is an interactive children’s museum and the final stop on the way to mascot immortality.
After 41 years of service, and more active games than Cal Ripken Jr., the Oriole Bird was inducted with the 2020 class. Being the way that things are, the induction ceremony was virtual. But, Oriole Bird was thrilled to receive his ring nonetheless — a proud token of his service that will fit nicely next to his 1983 World Series ring. He joined Mr. Met, Phillie Phanatic, Slider (Cleveland), and Sluggerrr (Kansas City), and is now one of five baseball mascots in the hall.
The People’s Fan
So, this season, you might not be able to make it to the friendly confines of Camden Yards. Living, breathing people will not be sitting in the seats, but you know who will be there? The Oriole Bird, in all his glorious black and orange. He will be sliding on dugouts, dancing, and possibly annoying an umpire or two. Oriole Bird will be representing us all. He is the Oriole fan this year, but really, hasn’t he always been. Looking forward to seeing you, Oriole Bird, shake a few for us.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
