Baltimore Baseball

“The history of baseball in Baltimore is as deep-rooted and tradition-rich as anywhere in America. If you are a fan of our national pastime, I am certain you will enjoy scrolling through this compelling chronicle of what makes Baltimore baseball unique. From Ruth to Ripken, from the Elite Giants to our Baltimore Orioles, there’s nothing quite as intriguing as these tales of our orange and black.” —Mike Gibbons, Director Emeritus, Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation

Baltimore Baseball touches on some of the rich history of baseball in the Baltimore area, through recounts of 84 games from 1876 through 2019.

The bulk of the games feature the Baltimore Orioles--the current franchise from 1954 to the present—but we also have games from the nineteenth century, the early twentieth century, and the Negro Leagues. Some of the most memorable games in Baltimore history are included, along with some unique contests, and Hall of Fame players featured throughout.

Also included are “ballpark biographies” of seven Baltimore ballparks—Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Memorial Stadium, Union Park, American League Park, Bugle Field, Terrapin Park, and Maryland Park, and an essay on other early ballparks.

Fifty-four members of the Society for American Baseball Research and SABR’s Babe Ruth Chapter contributed their talents as researchers, writers, and editors to create this look at Baltimore Baseball, an ideal keepsake for diehard O’s fans and an apt introduction for those coming to Charm City for the first time.

Bill Nowlin has enjoyed a few visits to Camden Yards over the years, and remembers being there the night Manny Ramirez hit his 500th career home run. He wishes he'd had the opportunity to see a game at Memorial Stadium - or to see bluegrass music in Baltimore when it was something a hotbed for artists like Buzz Busby. A lifelong Red Sox fan, he lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has been active with SABR for more than 20 years.

Mike Gibbons is Baltimore born and has been an diehard Orioles fan since attending their very first American League home opener in 1954. He served as executive director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation from 1983-2017 and during that tenure expanded the mission, and collection, of the organization to include Baltimore's Orioles, Ravens, and Colts, the Maryland Terrapins, and amateur baseball in Baltimore. Mike served as chairman of the International Sports Heritage Association in 2010- 2011, and has served on the board of directors of the Maryland State Athletic HOF since 2013. His current responsibilities as director emeritus and historian of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation include media relations, special event planning, exhibit planning, and design and collections management.