Earliest Oriole Memory

[GoldMember]

As a foreigner on holiday here I ( in NW DC ) in summer of 1978, mine is watching Orioles against Yanks at Memorial Stadium on my birthday ( 16 ). I was in the bleachers and when Reggie trotted out to right field the "nicities" began. I barely knew who he was but decided then and there that (1) I was an Orioles fan and (2) I did not like the Yanks. 13 years later I moved from UK to New York. Still here, still an Orioles fan . Nobody in NY can understand why I am but once I saw the 78 team and then went to 79 World Series I would be for life even living in New York.

[The Commissioner]

My earliest memory is seeing them beat up on the Angles in the 1979 A.L. Championship series. I remember being a huge Rod Carew fan and hoping to see the Angels get into the WS. I was sick and was allowed by my parents to get out of bed to go lie on the couch in the living room each night to see the games. I also have vague earlier memories of watching Earl Weaver get kicked out of numerous games, but the first memory that I can definitely place a date with is the '79 AL series.

[GoldMember]

I was at both games at Memorial Stadium. If I remeber correctly we won series 3-1,beating Nolan Ryan in Baltimore in the process.

[Iron Jaw]

At the age of five, my Dad called me in to watch the Orioles play the Yankees when Roger Maris was trying to match Babe Ruth in the 154th game of the 1961 season. I remember, in his last at bat, Roger sending a dribbler back to Oriole relief pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm.

That was one of my first intros to baseball - and when I found out my Grandfather was once part of the old St. Louis Browns' organization, my AL team from that point on became the Orioles. And the first hero, who I saw in that game, was Diamond Jim Gentile.

[BeatEmBucs]

I was at both games at Memorial Stadium. If I remeber correctly we won series 3-1,beating Nolan Ryan in Baltimore in the process.

I think you're right, it was probably Ryan's last game as an Angel as he signed with the Astros that offseason. My earliest Oriole memory naturally would be the following series. All I remembered at the time (refreshed 10x over thanks to books and ESPN Classic) were that there were quite a few rain delays and rainouts during the series, and I remember games 4 and 5 of the series the most. The Bucs up 6-3 in game 4, then the wheels coming off as the O's scored 6 in the top of the 8th, it was my first in what would be many lessons in frustration as a baseball fan. Then the next game where Jim Rooker and Bert Blyleven combined for a great pitching performance as the Bucs staved off elimination 7-1. I don't remember much about games 6 and 7, but I think those games were on weeknights and I had to be in Bed for preschool the next day.

[J W]

One of my earliest memories period, was watching a bunch of guys in orange jump up and down on the TV screen in my parents' bedroom.

[eyeontheball]

Hearing my grandfather listen to the games on the radio on the porch while I was supposed to be sleeping...I knew all their names before I was even school age, haven't lived in Balto for 15 years, but my 8-year-old and I still follow them as a favorite team; it never leaves you.

Worst memory...getting "kissed" by the Oriole bird at a game.

[Iron Jaw]

One of my earliest memories period, was watching a bunch of guys in orange jump up and down on the TV screen in my parents' bedroom.

Were you watching Denver Bronco fans on a typical Sunday at Mile High?

[Be The Reds!]

Sometime before 1985, some batter being hit in the head with a pitch, and the person replacing him stealing second and being caught stealing at third.

[J W]

Were you watching Denver Bronco fans on a typical Sunday at Mile High?

:laugh I was wondering if someone would take a guess. No, it turned out to be the final game of the 1983 World Series, though I hardly knew what was going on at the time.

[clifffender]

Listening to an Oriole game in April or May 1954 where Bob Turley and the Orioles were beating the Cleveland Indians 1-0. I think Bob Turley had a no-hitter going until the 8th or 9th inning until Al Rosen came up and belted a 2-run homer. (Yeah, I am an old dude - lol)

Favorite Oriole memory (other than the World Series wins) was in August 1973 when Jim Palmer was pitching against the Kansas City Royals. Paul Blair came up with the bases loaded and hit a shot between the center and right fielders. He came around to score an inside the park grand slam home run. I was there in Memorial Stadium with about 12,000 other fans that day.

[west coast orange and black]

my dad used to preach about solid defense.
that lead to me adopting the eastcoast orange and black.
the robinsons, belanger, buford, blair, gentile, etcheverry, aparicio, blefary, johnson, hendricks, palmer, mcnally, cuellar, dobson, et al will always be a part of me.

[Chance Sanford And Son]

Remember watching Frank homer off of Drysdale-game four of the 66 WS. It was three months before my 5th birthday. Not long after that, my parents bought me a Frank Robinson t-shirt with his name and number on the back. On the front it had the orange Orioles logo, and something about them being the 1966 world champions.

[FrenchyLefebvre]

Jon Miller's Christmas Call in 1983

Hi, first real Orioles memory, albeit a long distance one (via Radio), was early in the 1983 season. It was snowing, so Jon Miller at the Mic starts reciting "The Night Before Christmas". Went pretty much like this, although I forget the details, please forgive foggy memory:

"...the stockings were hung by the chimney with care ... in the hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there ... You have Prancer, Donner & Dixon (? on base?) ... Dancer warming up in the bullpen ..." (hysterical laughter in background) "... and here's a looong fly ball .... Merry Christmas, John Lowenstein!!!"

Anyone remember this call?

Was at the Vet in Philly for the WS games for first "in person" memories. Our Shortstop, Ivan Dejesus, had all these errors (I think 3) in one game. But was so happy to just be there that I adopted the O's as second team & followed games whenever I could get them on Radio from then on.

[Buckdodgers]

Heres mine,I was just 12 years old back 1973 on my birthday me and my dad sit at section 6 box seats in 7 rows watching a Redsox vs Orioles game on saturday afternoon orioles were losing 6-4 in the 8th and this jerk came from the back shouting JAKE LOVES THE RED SOX!! JAKE LOVES THE RED SOX!! I cant stand him!! Why do these people from boston have to bother us? Why cant they go to new york and bother those yankee fans? You know why they wont? Cause Yank fans get into fights than orioles fans do thats why.

[Grim17]

Well, I'm not sure this is the earliest, but it was definitely the most memorable of my first year as a fan...

It was when my father kicked in the screen of our "less than perfect" color TV, after the final out of the 71' World Series. If you haven't figured it out, my father was a very extreme O's fan.

[W_Marone]

Sorry O's fans, I'm sure this isnt near my earliest memory of the Orioles, but the only thing that comes to mind is when that kid grabbed the ball against the yankees and they called it a homerun and not fan interferance.

[JohnGelnarFan]

Watching the 69' world series on TV and my uncle betting me .25 that Frank Robinson would hit a homer.He didn't and I was thrilled to win big money. I appreciated it that much more when I was old enough to realize that he was pretty much giving me a quarter. Baseball and bonding,great combination!

[Chelle]

I was 7 and I went to the ALCS in '79. I know I'd been to games before that (he told me), but it was the first time I really remembered it. I watched the WS with my Dad I developed a pathological hatred for the Pirates that could only come from a 7 year old's watching her father screaming at the T.V.

I knew from that game there was something special...anything that could make my dad so happy...and so pissed off....

[JohnGelnarFan]

It's far from my earliest but I remember going to the 79' World Seriesand sitting in the right field bleachers,overlooking the Pirates bullpen. That's an event in itself,watching what goes on in there. I remember there was a kid who must have been employed by the O's doing something in the bullpen. Don Robinson,a Pirates pitcher picked up a resin bag,casually walked up behind him and threw it on top of the kids head. There was a big puff of smoke and got a big laugh at the kids expense!

[Mr. Boh]

I was five, my Dad packed me and my brother in the car and drove down to 33rd Street during the 1966 World Series. We never saw anything other than the blimp flying overhead. We went back to my grandparents house because they were the only ones with a color television. I remember when Paul Blair made the last out everyone going crazy jumping up and down. We all went onto the front porch screaming and blowing horns. That is my clearest and earliest Oriole memory.

I have had many many since then.

[Mr. Boh]

How about the great TV guys around Baltimore in the 70's...You had Vince Bagli at Channel 11, Jack Dawson at Channel 2 and John Kennely at 13. Things have definately gone down hill since then. Scott Garceau is okay as is Sandusky...but these other guys...Let's see..the wretched Andrea Kirby at 13 along with Klaus Wagner..the clown there now Saunders..has to be one of the worst announcers in the history of Baltimore TV. (John Buren held that position before 13 gave it to Saunders) Viviano is alright...two good guys no longer around...Chris Ely and the late RB Randy Blair. There was a local guy at Channel 11 for a few weeks Paul Davis, I met him when I lived in Virginia he worked at Channel 3 in Harrisonburg, he didn't last long. Keith Mills has pissed his career away with the things he has done in the last year or two. How about the traffic reporter Sarah Caldwell, she was horrible too at Channel 11. Don't remember the 60's guys around town if any one wants to chime in let's here about them