In all honesty it is a simple matter of civic pride. Good or bad as they might be I'm glad the team is finally showing a little pride in being from Baltimore. It's a huge deal to me and a small long overdue gesture by a team now desperate for support.

Allow me to draw an analogy. Quite a few Christians, as I've read, have been angry at Joel Osteen for not putting up a cross inside of his church (he uses a dove imagery). Now, you may say:

* Osteen's still preaching Christianity, regardless of whether a cross is there or not.
* Even with "Orioles" on the away jerseys, they're still the Orioles

But the point is that some things refer to "us." The cross does so for Christians. As does the word "Baltimore" on the away jerseys, referring to where the team is from, referring to "us." Going around the country, referring to us. This is us, this OUR team. Not just "The Orioles," but the "BALTIMORE Orioles."

Do you think appearance of the Flag of Maryland inside the Ravens shield is a coincidence?

And speaking of Irsay, if he'd left the name "Colts" in Baltimore along with the horseshoe and the blue and white, gotten the hayseeds their own team name, and we'd gotten to continue enjoying a long-standing BALTIMORE legacy in 1994, you know how I think most people around here would feel about him?

Irsay, who?

You think we'd hate the "Indianapolis Pace Setters" or "Indianapolis Checkered Flags" or something as much as we do "Indianapolis Colts" (which I still think sounds stupid)? I don't think so.

Are you surprised that such an issue as "Baltimore" on the road jerseys takes on more importance in a post-Irsay Baltimore?

Being a lifelong Orioles fan on the Shore, I'd be happy if they bothered to find a radio affiliate down here. Thank goodness for Directv!
Half-full stadiums for a Yankees series shows that it will take more than "Baltimore" on the uniforms to bring the fans back.

I am glad this is in the works, although I would REALLY love to see the team go back to the old style uniforms too. I kind of like the 70s/80s cap with that goofy bird, probably because the Orioles were still a decent team for much of that period and that's where my memories of the good times with the team stem from. I know that what we wear will have no bearing on the performance of this team, but perhaps if we take a few pages from our book on the Oriole Way we can eventually get back to respectability and be successful again. Easier said than done as we are competing in a different baseball era and have the dubious distinction of being in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees, in a sport where salary cap is essentially meaningless.

For years, Baltimoreans have complained that the Orioles have somehow "lost touch" with the "fan base" because the team did not stitch "Baltimore" across the front of its road jerseys. Yet, the "disengaged" fan base supported the Orioles with the team's highest home attendance figures when the franchise wore "Orioles" on the front of their road jerseys.
Now that the Orioles have yielded to this banal complaint, shall we expect that the re-engaged Baltimore fan base will skyrocket attendance above 40,000 per game, and the Orioles will win the World Series in 2009? Of course, neither will happen - the surprise will come if Baltimore can muster even 25,000 per game at home next year. What will the Baltimorons complain about then, that the cartoon bird should be restored to the caps and batting helmets?
This is just another insidious display of Baltimore's vast insecurity. When the Philadelphia Phillies wear "Phillies" on their road jerseys, is anyone confused about what city they play in? And, Baltimore fans should always remember, the Orioles are not their team, but rather are owned by Peter Angelos. The Ravens aren't their team, either, but are rather owned by Steve Bisciotti. Thus, the team does not represent the city (it is a commercial enterprise located in the city), and "city representation" is not a valid claim for stitching the city name to the road jerseys. But that's probably too much thought for you.

You know it's really only a big deal cause it showed off just how little the organization cared for the fans. It is absolutely not a huge deal. In fact, it serves to make the team and baseball some money with jersey sales.

So if people really wanted to see it, and if they'd make money... why not do it?

A puzzling question... but they've FINALLY set to make things right. From now on I'll drop the finally.... all that matters is that they're correcting a slight from 1972 or 73 when the city name was taken off to make us more "regional."

Also... Putting the name back on the jersey has nothing to do with winning, scouting, or anything else. So I think the arguments that they should be worried about that other stuff is silly. They are not mutually exclusive. You should be able to make a quick uni change without taking away from your scouting or anything else.

So to address your point, I was simultaneously disgusted with losing, ashamed of our terrible scouting and minor league system, and angered that they wouldn't change the uniforms to appease the fans.

We're good multitaskers.

I'm not sure who's making a bigger deal out of it. The fans or the SUN. Everytime I open the paper or drop by the website, THERE IT IS.

Big deal? YES.

Having Baltimore on the road jerseys is important to me. This city has pride
in its sports teams & we want to advertise it. We are the Baltimore Orioles, get used to it. They are going to look sweeettt. Its hard to explain, but this move really fires me up.

I think Angelos is starting to realize that you cannot run a baseball team like a law firm. This is a business where the customer/fans are always right. Little things matter in a relationship. This is just another step in the right direction.

Ill try to remain calm while you are out DC, but it was a tough weekend for our Birds so it may get ugly. Have a nice flight.

Is it a big deal? Do you have any pride in your city? Remove Connolly from the title of your sports bar.We all know it's yours, so why put the name in there? Why not just call it the corner sports bar, or are you "proud" of prominently displaying the name?
I want it back, it's our heritage, our history, and something I'm "proud" of.

I don't think for a moment that those of us that think putting "Baltimore" back on the road jerseys is a great idea are going to sit blissfully in a corner rocking back and forth with a road jersey as a security blanket while the O's need to be worked on. Give us credit for knowing the difference between "respectability" and "pride." I know your comment about this change won't bring back Brooks, Boog and the like wasn't meant disrespectfully, but give us fans a break. Other teams don't seem to have a problem with linking their older traditions to their current team so why should the Orioles? Although it's unlikely that wearing the new road uni will make Millar a faster base runner or Ramon throw out runners at 2nd more efficiently but if it installs some pride with some, what's the hurt in it? As for us feeling we should all give Mr Angelos a big bear hug for making this happen, mmm, maybe later.

I live in Hazleton, Pa. which is 162 miles from Baltimore. I cancelled my season tickets this year after 19 seasons because I couldn't stand the losing any more. You are right that winning is more important, however I have always wanted the road jerseys to say Baltimore. The Orioles are finally trying to rebuild and bring back the winning tradition they once had and I believe this is a good sign. Most teams have their city name on road jerseys and nobody has a bigger national following than the Yankees or Red Sox and look what their uniforms say. The point is if I could be that big an Oriole fan living in Northeastern Pa., than that regional team stuff with uniforms is a joke. Besides, it looks better. I collect Oriole jerseys and everyone agrees my 1966 road one is the nicest! This won't bring me back to season tickets, winning will, but it gives me the feeling the Orioles are finally going to start turning things around and heading in the right direction. This is a nice little gesture with a traditional BALTIMORE Oriole feel. Aint the beer cold!

I'm all for bringing Baltimore back on the jerseys, but how about the CARTOON bird on the caps !!

c'mon - they haven't won anything since it was removed, for that stupid one they have on now ! - This is the bird we all grew up with, and they won with ! - bring back the tradition - of the REAL bird, and the winning years ! - couldn't hurt !!

B is for cartoon bird returning !!! - and least he was HAPPY all the time !

Big deal? Absolutely! It finally confirms for all that Peter Angelos' grand plan to make the Orioles a regional team obsolete. It is, was and always has been Baltimore's team (even though it was once in St. Louis!).

Is it a big deal? As Chris said, it's about civic pride. Winning drives attendance, plain and simple. Always has, always will. But the gesture of putting the city/town/state on your jersey's means something. At the very least it means something to the folks who have been fans for 20 - 30 years.

Hey Steve, I'm an insecure Baltimoron and damn proud of it. Let me buy you a beer, on the house. You sound like you could use a cold one.

Well said Rob K & Chris. You guys hit the nail on the head.

Now if Angelos will only provide full time HD viewing on MASN, we just may begin to look like a real MLB organization. Perhaps we will get that announcement after our next losing streak??

Back in the day, home uniforms were white and had the team name on them, and road uniforms were gray and had the city name on them. It's tradition. Restoring the cartoon bird would be a good idea too. If I want to see an ornithologically correct Oriole, I'll go to an aviary. If I want to see a winning Oriole... I'll go back in time.

And Chris, don't bring religion or politics into a sports bar, even as a illustration, or Mr. Connolly's no batfight rule will soon be broken..

It's important because the O's are from..........................................................................................................................drum roll please...........................Baltimore.

Most other teams have their city on their jerseys so why not the O's. Hoffberger took it off because of how he wanted to market the team. A definite case of marketing getting in the way of common sense.

Steve, take a chill pill dude. You're wound a little tight today.

Steve nailed it (although I think he picked a poor analogy; the team name “Phillies” is a nickname of the city name itself, so I don’t think the locals see a difference) ... and so did Dan at the very beginning.

Baltimore fans, by nature, are a very insecure lot — probably beginning with the Mayflower moving vans shuttling off to Indy in 1982.

Any validation — in any way — to them that Baltimore can still lay claim to a major-league team is a big deal. Even the Ravens have a B on the helmet and a morphing of the Maryland flag seal on the uniform.

Besides, their biggest rivals (still in name only) — whose fans flood OPACY each series — wear “New York” and “Boston” stitched on their home grays.

Lets also remember that the team is named after the BALTIMORE Oriole. To not have mention of the city anywhere (jersey, hat, logo, etc.) is just plain wrong!

A couple hours from my flight and I am checking in to see if that new shipment of olives came in. I do understand the winning tradition aspect of this whole thing, but remember, when Cal caught the final out at Veterans Stadium in 1983 he had Orioles on his chest. And NO ONE around here cared. In my lifetime, that was the top civic pride moment in this town (maybe since equalled by the Ravens' title) I can remember and it wasn't diminished by a lack of "Baltimore." I have been in just about every other major league stadium in this country, most for Orioles' games, and never has someone from the media, other teams or opposing fans brought it up. Nor has anyone said, "Orioles? Is that Baltimore or Topeka or Akron?" I guess I have always viewed the Baltimore and the Oriole as an interchangeable entity and it just surprises me, with all of the problems this franchise has had recently, that every time I (or my Sun baseball co-workers) do a fan interactive Q&A in person or on the Internet, the road jersey issue is brought up. And it usually is at the forefront. No disrespect to those who want this. I'm absolutely glad for you, and you deserve to get what you want. It is your team. Hey, I'm glad for me that I won't have to answer it again. It's just the fervent passion of this issue that floors me -- and the way it has picked up steam in the past few years (I know this wasn't a hot-button issue when I was a kid). I'll try to check back later.

I gotta say I am with Dan on this one. But as has been noted before, I have never lived in the City of Baltimore, just been a lifelong fan of their sports teams, so I can't pretend to understand the furor. I vaguely remember not buying the reasoning behind Hoffberger taking the city name off the uniforms and attempting to create a regional franchise that would stretch all the way into the Carolinas, something all subsequent owners have sought to continue. But to me, they were always the Baltimore Orioles, even if the announcers were instructed to just call them the Orioles without mentioning the city.

What particularly I could not understand was directing the hostility toward Angelos, since he had nothing to do with a change made 35 years ago. With the state of the team the past 10 years complaining about the name on the road uniforms seems kind of like complaining about the music the band is playing on the Titanic.

But I have no problem with putting the city name back on the uniforms, either. You all do realize that it will mean in increase in sales of jerseys and merchandise, which means more dollars going to Angelos?

Cal also had the cartoon Bird on his hat when he caught the final out of the 1983, WS. I think Baltimore on the road jersey is great - I am a Marylander and take pride in the home teams - good or bad. Like others have noted here, they should take the final step and return the cartoon Bird to the hats. That O's hat that they wear on Friday's looks like a minor league hat. Even if they wore the cartoon Bird on Friday's, I would be pleased.

I must say that all the whining and moaning from some people about the road jerseys got on my nerves, but when I opened the paper yesterday and read that they were in process of putting Baltimore on the road jerseys, I couldn't help but smile.

I guess it is all about pride. Yes, people know the Orioles are from Baltimore, but it would be nice to see our guys run out on the field of Fenway or Yankee stadium with BALTIMORE writting across their chests. I guess its a good way to remember the old days when Brooks and Jim were wearing them.

But I think what this whole jersey situation tells us, is that the Front Office is actually starting to think about the fans... for once. Which in my mind is a huge step for Angelos and Co. Now if only someone could talk to the marketing department so we stop giving away free goodies to a stadium full of Red Sox and Yankee fans.

It means a great deal to me, and most other lifelong fans from the area. It may not mean much to the owner or the players, but it should. The Orioles would not be here without the support of the people from the city of Baltimore and surrounding Baltimore suburbs. There is a reason that EVERY other major league team has a reference to their city/state somewhere on their uniforms (including hats). It is important to take pride in the people that pay your salaries, by attending games, purchasing merchanise, and watching games on television. Players and owners make millions of dollars at a profession that they love because of the fans. Even though some think that it is trivial, it has always been a win/win/win situation for the owner, fans, and players, and thus has been long overdue, but nonetheless appreciated.

hmm, lots of good comments here. And I can see both sides of the controversy.

If having Baltimore on the away jerseys is important to some fans, then doing it, FOR THAT REASON, makes sense. If Angelos is only using the fan feelings to make more money in marketing more items, then shame on him.

I don't think that changing the away uniforms is going to change how Angelos runs the organization. Until he really goes back to the Oriole Way, that a quality team means hard work and good scouting, then it will change nothing. Maybe he should be required to make a team that deserves the great name of Baltimore before he is allowed to put it on his team's uniforms.

Thanks for the frosted mugs. And I promise to behave. Have a good trip.

If we are the Maryland Orioles put Maryland on the jerseys. If we are the Baltimore/Washington Orioles put Baltimore/ Washington on the jerseys. If we are the Baltimore Orioles, and we have been known proudly as that since '54, put Baltimore on the jerseys. God sakes put your proud idenity on the jerseys. How is our owner/ management team ever going to put a winner on the field when they can't even handle this no brainer decision. When Boston comes to town we see Boston on there jerseys. When New York comes to town we see New York on there jerseys. Hell we don't wont to be like them we'd have to start winning and that would cost Angelos hundreds of millions. No way that's going to happenen.

Mmmm. Well, it must have been important enough to have had it on the unis in the past. What was that reason?

For all the sports trauma B-more went through in the 80's, it might be NICE to have the city's name on the unis as a mere symbol of a team that is stayin' put (didn't good ol' EBW toy with the idea of moving the franchise to the DC area, or is that some old lore that turned out to be a bunch of hooey)

Short of that, though, I don't really care. Although long since adopted here, it's not like the O's are an original MLB franchise 1st placed in the city. Like the Ravens, the O's are a "Browns" franchise that was imported from another city - STL. I really don't care what's on the unis as long as the team doesn't try some rediculous franchise rebranding a la "The California Angels/Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." A city's name on the jersey doesn't add to the win column.

For me it's all about pride, and Baltimore's general feeling that somehow we continually get overlooked sandwiched between Philadelphia and D.C. I was born in 73' so I've never known an O's team to sport the baltimore across their chest, although as I grew older I've always wanted it to happen. I think what bothered a lot of people was the regionalization of the team by removing the Baltimore and the backhanded slap in the face that apparently the city of baltimore wasn't enough to support the O's. management needed DC and northern VA. Which is possibly true, but no need to rub our noses in it. As far as the bird on the hat, I can take it or leave it. Most of the Orioles hats I own aren't one's ever worn on the field anyway.
I do ask one favor from the crowd, pray for me on the 11th. I'm taking my son to Fenway park to see the O's for his seventh Birthday. While I must sadly admit he's a Sox fan (I can't blame him this is where he's grown up), his old man will be sporting his Ripken jersey and O's hat. To add insult to injury our tickets are out in the bleachers. Which poses an interesting topic of discussion, What's the most dangerous stadium to be a visiting fan in. You should hear the stories I've heard about the raider's stadium.

It's not a huge deal but I think it'd be a nice gesture. Hey you never know it could make a difference. Look at Tampa Bay. It's obvious that their success is because of the uniform change haha. Please no cartoon birds on the hats again, it's nice I suppose, but the current bird type is much better looking if you ask me. I feel special, my bull pen suggestion was noticed! "I love this bar"

The fact that anyone would make a big deal of this is a good example of how we have become a nation full of hypersensitive crybabies waiting to be offended by something...WAAA WAAA WAAA, no "Baltimore" on the road jerseys...

Baltimore on the road jersey.
Cartoon bird on the hat, with the white front panel, and the orange socks with the black and white stripes on the top.

Tradition is just that - it is not a big deal unless you care.

I live in LA...
and I agree that if Baltimore was on the away jerseys.....
people who grew up in Baltimore, who now live around the world...would flood the internet buying them.

I would like to see it in the ribbon that flows off the S at the end of Orioles. That would be a classic way of saying both positions. Who we are and where we are from representing both.

For me it's got nothing to do with the Brooks, Frank, Jim and Boog history. I just like the idea of seeing the name of my hometown emblazoned on my favorite team's jerseys while watching them play in Boston or Oakland or anywhere in between. It's definitely all about the civic pride thing.

So I'm really happy they're finally doing it. But I do agree the passion that some people have about it seems a little misplaced. I'd much rather see the O's be able to field a team that can take 3 or 4 games from the Bosox while wearing their HOME jerseys. If they could do that consistently I wouldn't care if they wore Mickey Mouse on the road jerseys.

Speaking of which, what the hell do the Angels wear on their road jerseys? They can't seem to even make up their minds what town/region they represent.

Dan, half way through the first day and the flat screen's still intact. No sign of the olive shipment though. If it doesn't get here soon, we'll have to dig that jar of pearl onions out of the back of the fridge to serve with the martinis. And nobody likes those.

Danny boy pour me a glass of the “Different Kind of Orange and Black” Cool-Aid!!!!!!! I for one will enjoy watching the O’s with Baltimore on the road jerseys win the 2010 World Series! After a return appearance in 2011 and another championship!!! I’ll lead the charge to change Eutaw Street to Angelos Street!!!!

So let it add more $$$ to PTG (Peter the Great) and Sons. I'll be the first, OK Jennifer will be 1st, the second to buy a new Baltimore jersey.

It's all coming together folks.....MacPhail calling the shots....Wieters signs.....Texeira to come home for 2009 and then.....a World Series in 2011.

Shots for everyone since I'm pouring....no one Tell Dan.

I don't think it means a thing. The people complaining about not having "Baltimore" on the jersey would go to Baskin-Robbins and complain that their ice cream was too cold. The Orioles drew 3-million a season NINE times with "Orioles" on their away jersies.

Gee the fans were really turned off, weren't they?

The regionalization sought by Hoffberger and later owners WORKED to the team's advantage.

Frankly, I don't think it really mattered what was on the front of the away uniforms and I don't think it will matter now.

On the other hand, I kind of like the idea of having "Baltimore" back on the jersey. I'm an old-school type of guy, and having a team's city scripted on front is kind of old-school.

Dan,
A few years ago there was a great 10-second TV commercial for HBO, where a (dumb) blond chewing gum said simply, "If you don't get it, you don't get it."
The Sun's own poll indicates over 96% of the respondents like this change, so the 4% of you that don't want it or don't care, are in the vast minority. Get it?

This issue is only important when your team is mired near the bottom of the standings for the last 10 years or so. Winning has a way of making this a very small issue but the O's haven't done alot of that over the recent years. IF the Birds start to become as competitive as we all hope in the next couple years then most people will forget putting Baltimore on the jersey was ever an issue to begin with. Until then I'm okay with Baltimore on the jerseys. Heck if it was good enough for my beloved O's from the 60's and 70's then its good enough for the current team too.

Next Up: Cartoon Bird or the Current, Ornithologically Correct (Boring) Bird that we've known for the last 18 or so years???

After we get Baltimore on the road unis, can we change the name of the airport to Thurgood Marshall Friendship Airport?

Bring the COLTS back to Baltimore, and give the Ravens the boot. I care about that A LOT more than I care about "Baltimore" being on the road jerseys.

And actually, I think that "Baltimore" should be on the HOME jerseys. That way, when the Yankees and the Red Sox come to Camden Yards, everyone will know what city the Orange and Black Team represents.

I am insulted that some people claim that those of us who want Baltimore on the jerseys think it will cause the team to win. Of course winning is more important than team uniforms. However, identity is an important part of connecting with a team. If city identification wasn't important, then why do the Nats display their city so prominently on merchandise and uniforms? Why does almost every other team do the same? Doing this will instill pride in the team and the city & surrounding area that has supported this team for so many years.

Yes, if we bring the cartoon bird back we'll definitely start winning. That's what Angelos has been missing all along. It only took a blogger to figure out the answer to all of the O's problems. Fire McPhail and bring back the cartoon bird!

Definitely Baltimore on the jersey. That was one of the better looking jersey's. But no cartoon bird. I think the current bird is more in line with tradition. I miss the stirrups, but everyone has dropped them. If not them, then high socks like Millar. Just the thoughts of a 45 year fan (I wish that was my age!) from Massachusetts.

Don't forget in 1973 the Bullets moved to Landover and the Colts attendance had dropped tremendously. The Orioles were just looking to improve there rather low attendance by taking Baltimore off the jerseys and maketing toward DC.
We Baltimore fans have to take some of the responsibility for the change in jerseys. The Orioles didn't make a million fans in 72, 73 or 74 despite winning 2 division titles. They barely made a million in 1970 when they won the series. Hoffberger cared about his team. If they didn't get more fans fromDC to come to the games the team might be forced to move.

Who Cares!! A good team will give us pride in the Orioles and Baltimore, not a piece of Fabric! Is it a bad switch? NO. Is it worth all the hype? A BIG NO!!!

Lets get excited about a good team. Lets get fans back in the stadium.
Baltimore on the Road Jersey Will do none of that.

"Being a lifelong Orioles fan on the Shore, I'd be happy if they bothered to find a radio affiliate down here. Thank goodness for Directv!
Half-full stadiums for a Yankees series shows that it will take more than "Baltimore" on the uniforms to bring the fans back.

Posted by: Howard | June 1, 2008 11:14 PM"

Really- no radio affiliate at the shore? Funny, I guess I was imagining listening to an O's game when I was just down the ocean a week ago on WKHZ-AM - 1590 AM .

Actually, you could listen to a game all (or most) of the way to or from the ocean during a game and listen on radio with the various affiliates between here and the ocean (or XM), switching to stations in Annapolis, Cambridge, Salisbury, Pocomoke City- in addition to Baltimore's and O.C.

Here's a link for Orioles radio affiliates thoughout Maryland, D.C., Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/bal/schedule/affiliates.jsp.

And I like "Baltimore" on the road jerseys AND the Cartoon Bird.

Cheers!

It's been a few years since our last uniform change, and since money isn't flowing through the gates like it used to, I'm sure B'more is being put back on the road jerseys so MLB and Angelos can make more money off of the fans. Check out this link from 1995 about MLB uniform changes; the bullets at the end pretty much describe Baltimore at this point in time:
http://ksghome.harvard.edu/~dking/dckfiles/uniforms.htm

That being said, I am all for putting "Baltimore" back on the road jerseys. It is a matter of civic pride, especially since our town isn't portrayed favorably in the media (i.e., The Wire, the constant top ten finishes in murder rate, top ten finishes in pollution and traffic rates, the Ravens being portrayed/viewed as a group of thugs, etc.). I agree w/bartender Dan- we should really be complaining about other things such as our lack of international scouting and scouting in general, our lack of a decent minor league system, our lack of a decent spring training facility, etc. But, this is just one of those things that also matters to us, the fans, and it's nice to see the O's management acknowledging us the ticketpayers.

While they're at it bring back the 1966 style uniforms, Cartoon Oriole on the hat, do away with underflourish on "Orioles" script, with "Baltimore" on road uniforms.. That would be sweet..

People are on here referring to Baltimore on the road jersey and the cartoon bird as though these are traditions, well check your history. The tradition was pitching, defense , and timely hitting..oh yeah and winning. And when they stopped winning, Oriole fans developed misplaced anger at the ushers, Yankee fans, Red Sox fans, and Washingtonians. And finally the city's name on the 'road' jersey. If the Orioles lose 90 games with Baltimore on the 'road' jersey and a cartoon bird on the caps then what will you crybabies whine about.

In my post 4 or so up from here- where I have a LINK to the various Orioles Radio Affliliates- it doesn't go through until you delete the period "." from the end of the link. Then it will go through.

"..........but in my mind it doesn’t really matter."

".........but I still don’t get the passion for the issue."

Of course you don't get it, Daniel, you of the old York Daily Record. You had to grow up in Baltimore to get it, following the Baltimore Orioles from 1954. No, I'm not from Baltimore, but I respect the fans from Baltimore who wants this change, as that era was a great time to be a 'Baltimore' Orioles fan. And I would never insult their intelligence by declaring, "it doesn't really matter."