Baltimore Orioles Franchise Origin

Lore & Background

The team was formed when Ban Johnson, president of the Western League, reorganized and renamed it the American League for the 1901 season. Johnson wanted a team in New York City, but the New York Giants blocked it, so he placed the franchise in Baltimore. The new Orioles' first manager was John McGraw, who had managed the previous Baltimore NL team in 1899 and also held an ownership stake. The team was incorporated as the 'Baltimore Baseball and Athletic Company.' In 1901, the Orioles finished fifth in the AL with a 68–65 record. Disputes between Johnson and McGraw over discipline led to McGraw leaving on July 16, 1902, to manage the New York Giants, transferring his interest in the Orioles to the Giants. Several players followed McGraw, and the Giants gained a majority of the Orioles' stock. The league took back control of the team, and after the Orioles forfeited a game due to a lack of active players, Johnson ordered the team restocked with players given by other teams. The Orioles finished last in the league in both standings and attendance, and the franchise was transferred to New York after the 1902 season.

In Their Own Story

The fog rolled off the harbor as the 1901 Orioles took their first steps onto the diamond in Baltimore. The air smelled of salt and cut grass, a stark contrast to the industrial grit they would soon face in New York. As the crowd roared for Nap Lajoie's swing, no one could have predicted that this humble beginning would eventually birth the most decorated franchise in sports history.

Reader's Guide

The Orioles played only two seasons, 1901 and 1902, as a charter member of the American League. Their home was Baltimore. The team's manager was John McGraw. The Orioles' 1901 record was 68–65, finishing fifth. In 1902, they finished last. After the season, the AL and NL signed a peace agreement that allowed Johnson to place an AL team in New York City. It is not clear whether Frank J. Farrell and William Stephen Devery purchased the remains of the Orioles and moved them to New York, or if they received an expansion franchise. The Yankees do not count the Orioles years as part of their history.

Did You Know?

• The 1901 Baltimore Orioles finished fifth out of eight teams, not as a 'powerhouse'.
• Nap Lajoie never played for the 1901 Baltimore Orioles; he played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901.
• Connie Mack did not manage the 1901 Baltimore Orioles; he managed the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901.
• John McGraw, the Orioles' manager, left the team on July 16, 1902, to manage the New York Giants.
• The Baltimore franchise was moved by the league to New York for the 1903 season, not disbanded or replaced.