Wild Bill Hagy

Did You Know?

• Hagy grew up in the working class neighborhood of Sparrows Point, Maryland, adjacent to the steel mills of Baltimore's waterfront.
• He reportedly was married 'more times than Elizabeth Taylor' and worked part-time as a Good Humor man for over a dozen years selling ice cream to children.
• His last known O-R-I-O-L-E-S cheer was performed at Ripken's Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, on July 29, 2007.

Orioles

Before the Orioles moved to Baltimore in 1954, Hagy supported the Brooklyn Dodgers and played the board game All Star Baseball. He became a fan of the Orioles upon their arrival. Until fall 1976, he attended 30 to 40 games each season without notable distinction, though he created rhyming cheers for his group. For Frank Robinson, they chanted, 'Come on, Robby, put it in the left field lobby.' His rhymes attracted about 20 regular companions from Dundalk, who met at Ed's Inn before games and became known as the 'Rowdies.' At that time, Hagy drove a cab for North Point Cab Company and also worked stocking the walk-in beer cooler at the stadium, once accidentally locking himself inside. On another occasion, he stopped his cab and asked Yankees fans to leave when they refused to remove their hats.

Hagy's fame began during the 1977 season. He knew Lenny 'The Big Wheel' Burrier, who spelled out cheers with his arms and body at Baltimore Colt's football games. Burrier declined to do the same at Orioles games, but Hagy copied his style. Early in the 1977 season, Hagy began body-spelling his chants while wearing cut-off jeans, a t-shirt, a straw cowboy hat, thick beard, and sunglasses, but received little notice beyond the Rowdies.

In July, when the Yankees came, his cheers spread through the crowd and reached the players, becoming known as 'The Roar from Thirty-Four.' The next day, Brooks Robinson gave an interview praising the cheer. Hagy was invited to meet the players and was allowed to lead cheers from atop the dugout. 1978 was similar to 1977. In 1979, 'Orioles Magic' saw increased attendance, and Hagy became Baltimore-famous.

A common refrain among his fans was 'Wild Bill, Make it Stop,' referring to an incident in the early 1980s when Hagy swept his hat above his head during a rain delay and the rain stopped.