1974 American League Pennant

Lore & Background

The oriole is the official state bird of Maryland; the name has been used by several baseball clubs in the city, including another AL charter member franchise which folded after the 1902 season and was replaced the next year by the New York Highlanders, later the Yankees. Nicknames for the team include the 'O's' and the 'Birds'. The franchise's first World Series appearance came in 1944 when the Browns lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Orioles went on to make six World Series appearances from 1966 to 1983, winning three in 1966, 1970, and 1983. This era of the club featured several future Hall of Famers who would later be inducted representing the Orioles, such as third baseman Brooks Robinson, outfielder Frank Robinson, starting pitcher Jim Palmer, first baseman Eddie Murray, shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., and manager Earl Weaver. The Orioles have won a total of ten division championships (1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1983, 1997, 2014, 2023), seven pennants (1944 while in St. Louis, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, 1983), and four wild card berths (1996, 2012, 2016, 2024).

In Their Own Story

The humid air of Memorial Stadium hung heavy on that October afternoon as Jim Palmer stepped onto the mound, the weight of the American League resting on his shoulders. The crowd roared, a deafening wave of orange and black, knowing this was the moment that would define their season. As the pitch left his hand, slicing through the humid air toward the catcher's mitt, time seemed to suspend; it was not just a game, but the culmination of Earl Weaver's relentless vision. When the final out was recorded, the silence broke into a roar that echoed across Baltimore, confirming they were once again champions of the American League.

Reader's Guide

Since their last World Series appearance in 1983, the Orioles have struggled to sustain success, including suffering 14 consecutive losing seasons between 1998 and 2011. In the 2010s, the team qualified for the postseason three times under manager Buck Showalter and general manager Dan Duquette, including a division title and advancement to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 17 years in 2014. However, the 2018 season saw the Orioles lose 115 games, the most in franchise history. Two years after finishing 52–110 in 2021, the Orioles went 101–61 in 2023, en route to winning the AL East for the first time since 2014. The Orioles' current manager is Craig Albernaz, while Mike Elias serves as general manager and executive vice president. From 1901 through the end of 2025, the franchise's overall win–loss record is unclear. Since moving to Baltimore in 1954, the Orioles have an overall win–loss record of unclear through the end of 2025.

Did You Know?

• The Orioles franchise can trace its roots back to the original Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League, beginning in 1894.
• The 1944 season saw the Browns winning their only St. Louis-based American League pennant, becoming the last of the 16 teams that made up the major leagues from 1901 to 1960 to play in a World Series.
• In 2022, the Orioles finished with an 83–79 record, becoming the second team in MLB history to have a winning season only one year after losing 110 or more games.
• The Orioles' home ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, opened in 1992.