1882-1899 Baltimore Orioles

[RUKen]

The Orioles were one of the charter members of the American Association in 1882. During their first two seasons, they had winning percentages of just .260 (19-54) and .292 (28-68), and never finished higher than third in the AA (1887). In 1890, they left the American Association and joined the minor league Atlantic Association. Their major league history could have ended then, but they were invited back into the American Association when the Brooklyn Gladiators (a replacement for the champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms, who had joined the National League) went out of business. The Orioles played the last 34 games of that season, finishing 15-19, and in 1891 played a full season in the AA. After the 1891 season the American Association folded, and Baltimore was one of four teams that joined the National League for 1892. The Orioles finished last (of 12 teams) in 1892 and 8th in 1893, but then won the next three NL championships and finished second in 1897 and 1898. During the four years that the Temple Cup postseason best-of-seven series was played between the first- and second-place teams in the NL, the Orioles lost the first two (1894 in four straight to the New York Giants and 1895 in five games to the Cleveland Spiders) and won the last two (1896 in a sweep of the Spiders and 1897 in five games over the Boston Beaneaters). Many of the Orioles' best players were transferred to the Brooklyn Superbas prior to the 1899 season (the two teams had the same owners), and the result was that Brooklyn won the first of two straight championships while the Orioles finished in fourth place. Following the 1899 season, Baltimore was one of four teams that were eliminated from the National League.

An American League team with the same name played during the AL's first two seasons in 1901 and 1902, but were then moved to New York to become the Highlanders/Yankees. After the 1953 season the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore to become the third major league franchise named the Orioles.

[RUKen]

1885 Baltimore Orioles; 41-68, .376, 8th Place (out of 8), 36.5 g behind; Photo restored by Bill Burgess

Top Row, Standing, L-R: Thomas York (LF), Bob Emslie (P), Ecky Stearns (1B), Mike Muldoon (2B), Sam Trott (C), Dennis Casey (CF), Jake Evans (RF), Joe Sommer (LF)
Middle Row, Seated, L-R: Billy Barnie (Mgr.), Tim Manning(2B), Jimmy Macullar (SS)
Bottom Row, on ground, L-R: Sandy Nava (C), Oyster Burns (utility/P) Bill Traffley (C), Hardie Henderson (P)

1885 team.jpg

[RUKen]

1887 Baltimore Orioles; 77-58, .570, 3rd place (out of 8), 22 g behind
Top Row (L-R): Mike Griffin (CF), Phenomenal Smith (P), Chris Fulmer (C), Jumbo Davis (3B/SS), Tommy Tucker (1B), Joe Sommer (LF).
Middle Row (L-R): Oyster Burns (SS/3B), possibly Law Daniels (C), Billy Barnie (Mgr.), Blondie Purcell (RF), Bill Greenwood (2B).
Bottom Row (L-R): Matt Kilroy (P), Sam Trott (C).
image_130050.jpg

1888 Baltimore Orioles; 57-80, .416, 5th Place (out of 8), 36 g behind
Rear Row, L-R: Tommy Tucker (1B), Bill Greenwood (2B), Bert Cunningham (P)
Front Row, L-R: Joe Sommer (OF/IF), Jack Farrell (SS), Matt Kilroy (P), Billy Shindle, (3B), Chris Fulmer (C), Mike Griffin (OF), Bart Cantz (C), Walt Goldsby (OF), Jack O’Brien (C)
image_107599.png

[RUKen]

1889 Baltimore Orioles; 70-65, .519, 5th Place (out of 8), 22 g behind

Top Row, L-R: Mike Griffin (CF), Chris Fulmer (CF/C), Tom Quinn (C), Billy Shindle (3B), Reddy Mack (2B), Frank Foreman (P).
Bottom Row, L-R: Bart Cantz (C), Matt Kilroy (P), Bert Cunningham (P), Pop Tate (C), Billy Barnie (Mgr.), Tommy Tucker (1B), Joe Sommer (RF), Joe Hornung (LF).

image_150728.jpg

Top Row (L-R): John Kerins (C), Tom Quinn (C), Bart Cantz (C), Pop Tate (C).
Second Row (L-R): Frank Foreman (P), Matt Kilroy (P), Bert Cunningham (P).
Third Row (L-R): Billy Shindle (3B), Tommy Tucker (1B), Pat Whitaker (P), Reddy Mack (2B), Joe Hornung (LF).
Bottom Row (L-R): Irv Ray (SS), Mike Griffin (CF), Will Holland (SS), Joe Sommer (RF).
image_153793.jpg


1892 Baltimore Orioles; 46-101, .313, 12th Place (out of 12), 54.5 g behind

Top Row (L-R): Curt Welch (CF), John Pickett (2B), Lefty Johnson (RF), John McGraw (2B/OF/SS), Billy Shindle (3B), Pete Gilbert (3B).
Middle Row (L-R): Lew Whistler (1B), Egyptian Healy (P), George Cobb (P), John Waltz (Mgr.), Harry Von der Horst (Owner), George Van Haltren (OF), Sadie McMahon (P), Charlie Buffinton (P).
Bottom Row (L-R): Tom Hess (C), Wilbert Robinson (C), Joe Gunson (C/OF).

image_150730.jpg

Top Row (L-R): Curt Welch (CF), John Pickett (2B), Lefty Johnson (RF), John McGraw (2B/OF/SS), Billy Shindle (3B), Pete Gilbert (3B).
Middle Row (L-R): Lew Whistler (1B), Egyptian Healy (P), George Cobb (P), George Van Haltren (OF), Sadie McMahon (P), Charlie Buffinton (P).
Bottom Row (L-R): Tom Hess (C), Wilbert Robinson (C), Joe Gunson (C/OF).

image_150731.jpg

[RUKen]

1894 Baltimore Orioles; 89-39, .695, 1st Place (out of 12), 3 g ahead

Top Row, L-R: Heinie Reitz (2B), Willie Keeler (RF), Hughie Jennings (SS)
2nd Row, L-R: Joe Kelley (LF), Sadie McMahon (P), Ned Hanlon (Mgr.), Wilbert Robinson (C), Dan Brouthers (1B)
3rd Row, L-R: Boileryard Clarke (C), Bill Hawke (P), Duke Esper (P), John McGraw (3B)
Bottom Row, L-R: Frank Bonner (2B), Kid Gleason (P), George Hemming (P), Steve Brodie (CF)

image_107602.jpg

Top Row, L-R: August W. Stiefel (plumber and tin shop owner), John Gittinger (newspaper reporter), O Wacker, William Laubheimer, Ned Hanlon (Mgr.), Harry von der Horst (President), H.H. von der Horst (Treasurer), D. Dorsey Guy (newspaper reporter), William Hellwig (cigar merchant), Major Albert K. Fulton (hotel keeper), Ernest Hasenbalg (pharmacist and drug store owner), Tom Murphy (Baltimore groundskeeper), A Thomas.
Middle Row, L-R: Steve Brodie (CF), Tony Mullane (P), Wilbert Robinson (C), Dan Brouthers (1B), Sadie McMahon (P), Boileryard Clarke (C), Stub Brown (P), Bert Inks (P), Joe Kelley (LF).
Bottom Row, L-R: Heinie Reitz (2B), Jack Horner (P), Frank Bonner (2B), John McGraw (3B), Hughie Jennings (SS), Willie Keeler (RF), Bill Hawke (P).
1894 early season.jpg

Top Row, L-R: Ned Hanlon (Mgr.), Harry von der Horst (President), H.H. von der Horst (Treasurer).
Middle Row, L-R: Steve Brodie (CF), George Hemming (P), Wilbert Robinson (C), Dan Brouthers (1B), Sadie McMahon (P), Boileryard Clarke (C), Stub Brown (P), Duke Esper (P), Joe Kelley (LF).
Bottom Row, L-R: Heinie Reitz (2B), Kid Gleason (P), Frank Bonner (2B), John McGraw (3B), Hughie Jennings (SS), Willie Keeler (RF), Bill Hawke (P).
image_114962.jpg
image_115977.jpg

1894 NL Baltimore formal composite.jpg

[RUKen]

1894 Temple Cup illustration and scorecard

1894 Temple Cup.jpg1894 Temple Cup scorecard.jpg

[RUKen]

1894 Temple Cup photos of the victorious New York Giants

1894 Temple Cup NY photos.jpg

[RUKen]

1895 Baltimore Orioles; 87-43, .669, 1st Place, 3 g ahead; Photo restored by Bill Burgess; Player identifications provided by GaryL

Top row, L-R: Dad Clarkson (P), Duke Esper (P), Scoops Carey (1B), Boileryard Clarke (C)
Middle Row, L-R: Steve Brodie (CF), Bill Hoffer? (P), Sadie McMahon (P), Dan Brouthers (1B), Frank Bowerman (C), Arlie Pond (P)
Bottom Row, L-R: Kid Gleason (2B), Joe Kelley (LF), Ned Hanlon (Mgr.), Wilbert Robinson (C), George Hemming (P), Hughie Jennings (SS)
Reclining on floor: John McGraw (3B), "Wee Willie" Keeler (RF)

1895 team.jpg

[RUKen]

1895 Baltimore Orioles with mascot; 87-43, .669, 1st Place, 3 g ahead, (No WS); Photo restored by Bill Burgess; Player identifications provided by GaryL

Top row, L-R: Dad Clarkson (P), Duke Esper (P), Scoops Carey (1B), Boileryard Clarke (C)
Middle Row, L-R: Steve Brodie (CF), Bill Hoffer? (P), Sadie McMahon (P), Dan Brouthers (1B), Frank Bowerman (C), Arlie Pond (P)
Bottom Row, L-R: Kid Gleason (2B), Joe Kelley (LF), Ned Hanlon (Mgr.), Wilbert Robinson (C), George Hemming (P), Hughie Jennings (SS)
Reclining on floor: John McGraw (3B), mascot, "Wee Willie" Keeler (RF)

1895 NL Baltimore 2.jpg 1895 NL Baltimore batboy.jpg

[RUKen]

1895 Baltimore Orioles composite photo

1895 composite.jpg

[RUKen]

Union Park, the Orioles' home field, in 1895

1895 Union Park.jpg

[RUKen]

1895 Temple Cup scorecard

1895 Temple Cup scorecard.jpg1895 Temple Cup scorecard marked.jpg

[RUKen]

1896 Baltimore Orioles; 90-39, .698, 1st Place, 9.5 g ahead; Photo restored by Bill Burgess
Top: L-R: Joe Quinn (2B), Sadie McMahon (P), Duke Esper (P), George Hemming (P), Frank Bowerman (C), Boileryard Clarke (C), Jim Donnelly (3B)
Middle: L-R: Steve Brodie (CF), Bill Hoffer (P), Joe Kelley (LF), Ned Hanlon (Mgr.), Wilbert Robinson (C), Hughie Jennings (SS), Heinie Reitz (2B)
Bottom: L-R: Jack Doyle (1B), John McGraw (3B), Willie Keeler (RF), Arlie Pond (P)

1896 NL Baltimore.jpg

1896 NL Baltimore formal.jpg

[RUKen]

1896 Baltimore Orioles scorecards

1896 scorecard.jpg1896 scorecard.jpg

[RUKen]

1896 Temple Cup newspaper excerpts

1896 Temple Cup newspaper.jpg1896 Temple Cup Jennings illus.jpg