The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century professional baseball team that competed from 1882 to 1899, first in the American Association and later in the National League. This early Orioles franchise, which featured six players (Wilbert Robinson—C, Dan Brouthers—1B, Hughie Jennings—SS, John McGraw—3B, "Wee Willie" Keeler—RF, and Joe Kelley—LF) and a manager (Ned Hanlon) who were later inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, finished in first place for three consecutive seasons (1894–1896) and won the Temple Cup national championship series in 1896 and 1897.

Despite their success, the dominant Orioles were contracted out of the National League after the 1899 season, when the league reduced in size from 12 members to eight. Most of the Orioles' best players moved to the Brooklyn Superbas—Baltimore owner Harry Von der Horst also had an ownership stake in Brooklyn.

Upon the foundation of the American League in 1901, a reorganized Baltimore Orioles franchise competed as a charter member for two seasons, before folding and being replaced by the New York Highlanders, later renamed the New York Yankees.

History

American Association

The team, formally the "Baltimore Base Ball and Exhibition Company", was founded in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association (AA), considered a major league. The Orioles finished last in the league in four of their first five season, the exception being a sixth-place finish in 1884 when 13 different teams played in the league.

National League

thumb|right|upright=.66|[[Ned Hanlon (baseball)|Ned Hanlon]]

thumb | right | Boston Beaneaters versus Baltimore Orioles in 1897 at Oriole Park during a pennant race; Boston won

The Orioles were one of four AA clubs (the others being the Louisville Colonels, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Statesmen) merged into the National League (NL) in 1892, formally as a 12-member "League Association". The beginnings of the team can be traced to June 1892, when owner Harry Von der Horst hired Ned Hanlon to be manager of the Orioles, giving him stock in the team and full authority over baseball operations. Hanlon moved his growing family to a house that stood a block away from the team's ballpark.

After finishing last in the league in 1892 and eighth in 1893, the Orioles won three consecutive pennants during 1894–1896,

Matt Kilroy pitched a no-hitter for the Orioles on October 6, 1886; Bill Hawke threw one on August 16, 1893, the first from the modern pitching distance of 60feet, 6inches; and Jay Hughes threw a no-hitter for the Orioles on April 22, 1898.

Baseball Hall of Famers

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center

|-

! colspan=4 style="background:black; color:#ffa500;"|Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famers

|-

! style="background:#ffa500;"|Inductee

! style="background:#ffa500;"|Position

! style="background:#ffa500;"|Tenure

! style="background:#ffa500;"|Inducted

|-

| Dan Brouthers || 1B || 1894–1895 ||

|-

| Ned Hanlon || CF / Manager || 1892–1898 ||

|-

| Hughie Jennings || SS/1B || 1893–1899 ||

|-

| Willie Keeler || RF || 1894–1898 ||

|-

| Joe Kelley || LF || 1892–1898 ||

|-

| Joe McGinnity || P || 1899 ||

|-

| John McGraw || 3B / Manager || 1891–1899 ||

|-

| Wilbert Robinson || Catcher / Manager || 1890–1899 ||

|-

|}

See also

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  • History of the Baltimore Orioles
  • History of the New York Yankees

Sources

  • Solomon, Burt (1999), Where They Ain't: The Fabled Life And Untimely Death Of The Original Baltimore Orioles. New York: Free Press.
  • Rosenberg, Howard W. (2005); Cap Anson 3: Muggsy John McGraw and the Tricksters: Baseball's Fun Age of Rule Bending. Arlington, Virginia: Tile Books.

References

  • Team index at Baseball Reference
  • Excerpt from Where They Ain't: The Fabled Life And Untimely Death Of The Original Baltimore Orioles by Burt Solomon at BaseballLibrary.com