Quick Answer
The name of the bird on the Baltimore Orioles mascot is Oriole the Bird. Oriole the Bird is meant to represent the species of bird that the baseball team is named after, the Baltimore Oriole.
More Detailed Answer
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They play in the American League East division of Major League Baseball. The Orioles were established in 1901 as one of the eight original franchises of the American League.
The team is named after the state bird of Maryland, the Baltimore Oriole. The Baltimore Oriole is a small black and orange songbird in the Icteridae family. It is the northernmost species of oriole found in North America.
Since the team’s founding in 1901, an oriole bird has been used in the team’s logos and imagery. Over the decades, the specific depiction of the oriole has evolved. In the early years, a simple cartoonish orange and black oriole was often used.
In the 1960s, the Orioles adopted a more realistic looking oriole logo. This oriole appeared in flight with detailed plumage and remained the primary logo until the early 2000s.
The current Oriole bird logo and mascot was introduced in 2012. This Oriole is named “Oriole Bird” and is meant to represent a cartoonish, kid-friendly version of the Baltimore Oriole species.
Oriole Bird has orange and black feathers, a yellow beak and feet, and white eyes with black pupils. He wears an Orioles baseball cap and uniform, including the jersey number 00.
Since his introduction, Oriole Bird has been a popular mascot at Orioles games and events, entertaining fans by dancing on the dugouts and throwing t-shirts into the stands.
So in summary, the name of the specific bird represented on the current Baltimore Orioles mascot is Oriole the Bird. He is meant to be a fun cartoonish representation of the species of orange and black songbird that the team is named after.
History of the Baltimore Orioles Name and Logo
The Baltimore Orioles franchise has used an oriole bird in its imagery since the team’s establishment in 1901. Here is an overview of the history and evolution of the Orioles name and logos over the decades:
1901-1902: The new American League franchise in Baltimore was briefly known as the Baltimore Orioles. The team wore all black uniforms with an orange Oriole bird on the shirt front.
1902-1914: The team moved to New York in 1903 and became known as the New York Highlanders (later the Yankees). With the team now in New York, the Oriole bird logo was no longer used.
1914-1953: With the Yankees now firmly established in New York, the Oriole name was available again. Baltimore returned to the American League in 1914 as the Baltimore Orioles. A cartoonish orange and black Oriole bird logo was used off and on during this period.
1954-1962: After being bought and moved for a second time, the team returned to Baltimore again in 1954. An updated Oriole bird logo designed by the firm of Hutchins Advertising appeared on the uniforms.
1963-1989: In 1963, the Orioles introduced a more realistic, modern logo of an oriole in flight designed by sports artist Mark Goldman. This remained the primary Orioles logo until the late 1980s.
1989-2011: The Orioles began featuring a stylistic all-black Oriole head as their primary logo during this time period. The classic flying Oriole logo was still used occasionally as an alternate logo.
2012-Present: The current cartoonish Oriole mascot known as Oriole Bird was introduced in 2012 along with updated uniforms and logos.
So while the Oriole name has remained since the early 1900s, the logo and depiction of the bird has changed many times over the decades. The current Oriole Bird mascot represents the latest evolution in how the team visually represents its namesake bird.
The Origin of the Name “Orioles”
The Baltimore Orioles franchise got its name from the Baltimore Oriole bird species back in 1901. But how did this particular species of bird come to be called the Baltimore Oriole?
The story begins back in the 18th century when European naturalists were first cataloging the flora and fauna of North America. The brilliantly colored black and orange songbird found in the Northeast was notable for having a similar appearance to the Eurasian Golden Oriole, a related species found in Europe and Asia.
Since much of the classification was being done by Europeans, they gave the North American species the name Northern Oriole as it was essentially the version of the Golden Oriole found further north in the New World.
Over time, the Northern Oriole name evolved to become the Baltimore Oriole. The “Baltimore” part of the name stems from the fact that in the 1700s, the colony of Maryland and its main settlement of Baltimore were the core area where the bird could be found.
Lord Baltimore was the proprietor of the Maryland colony, and so attaching his name to the bird helped identify it with the region. Other related names the bird had include Baltimore Hangnest and Baltimore Hangbird.
By the early 1800s, John James Audubon had fixated Baltimore Oriole as the official name in his seminal Birds of America books. The name has stuck ever since.
So while the Baltimore Oriole had already been named and described in the 1700s, it only became linked to the baseball franchise that would later bear its name in 1901. But the orange and black bird was clearly already strongly associated with the Baltimore area by the time the Orioles baseball team came about.
Why the Baltimore Oriole Was Chosen as the Team Name
When the new American League franchise was being established in Baltimore in 1901, choosing the name Orioles made perfect sense given the city’s long association with the bird species. But there were some more specific reasons the owners and officials chose the Baltimore Oriole name those many years ago:
- The black and orange colors of the male Baltimore Oriole bird represented a bold, striking visual identity for the new baseball club.
- Baltimore had a tradition of amateur baseball clubs in the late 1800s named the Baltimore Orioles, so there was already name recognition.
- The Maryland state nickname was the “Old Line State” and Baltimore Orioles referenced another old nickname for Maryland militias called the “Maryland Line” that fought in the Revolutionary War.
- Orioles referenced the Maryland state flag which had imagery of a heraldic oriole and the family seal of Lord Baltimore.
- As a northern team, Orioles was a chance to invoke regional pride as opposed to many teams named after cities further south.
So in essence, the Baltimore Oriole name wove together connections to the state flag, local history, distinctive colors, and regional competitive pride. This made it a fitting choice as the franchise looked to establish a strong identity and bond with the Baltimore community in its early years. The name has stood the test of time and continues to represent the team 120 years later.
How Cartoon Oriole Bird Mascots Emerged
While the Baltimore Orioles team name dates back to 1901, it took many more decades for cartoonish, kid-friendly mascot versions of the oriole bird to emerge. These mascots are very different from the ornithologically accurate oriole featured in early team logos.
The original Oriole Park that housed the team starting in 1901 had little in the way of any mascots. It wasn’t really until the 1950s and 60s that the concept of sports mascots developed. Simple costumed mascots like Mr. Met of the New York Mets began to appear.
In Baltimore, this eventually led to the creation of a mascot dubbed “Baltimore Oriole” in the 1970s. It had an oversized cartoonish head that was operated by a person inside via strings, similar to a puppet. This was the precursor to the current Oriole Bird mascot.
Baltimore Oriole served as the Orioles main mascot throughout the 1970s and 80s. As mascot culture continued to evolve in pro sports, the Orioles decided to develop a new upgraded character in the 1990s.
Taking inspiration from the classic Muppet Show, the Jim Henson Creature Shop was hired to develop a new mascot that was more of a full-body costume. This led to the creation of the current Oriole Bird mascot that debuted in 1994.
The new Oriole Bird allowed for a much greater range of movement and antics compared to the more static earlier mascots. Oriole Bird quickly became popular with fans for his dancing, goofy attitude, and ability to interact with crowds.
The Jim Henson Creature Shop gave Oriole Bird a friendly, approachable look featuring large eyes, puffy feathers, and oversized feet. While still cartoonish, this design style helped ensure Oriole Bird felt organic and alive.
After some minor costume updates over the years, this essential version of Oriole Bird continues to entertain Orioles fans both young and old today. He represents the evolution from simple early mascots to high quality, professionally designed sports entertainment.
Key Facts About Oriole Bird
- Full name: Oriole Bird
- Species: Cartoon anthropomorphic oriole
- Gender: Male
- Coloring: Orange, black, and white
- Notable features: Oversized baseball cap, Orioles jersey & eyes
- Beak: Yellow-orange
- Feet: Yellow-orange
- Eyes: White with black pupils
- Debut year: 1994
- Performers: Multiple actors in costume
- Activities: Dancing, acrobatics, pumping up crowds
In addition to the above facts, Oriole Bird has some other fun quirks that fans have come to love:
– Has a “belly-bump” move where he bumps bellies with fans
– Loves to mime sleeping on the job when idle
– Wears special costumes for holidays like Santa outfit for Christmas
So in summary, from his orange beak to his oversized feet, Oriole Bird was specially designed by the Jim Henson team to perfectly encapsulate the playful, energetic spirit of the Orioles franchise. His kid-friendly antics have helped endear him to Baltimore fans over the last 25+ years as an iconic mascot.
The Significance and Meaning of the Oriole Bird Mascot
On one level, Oriole Bird serves the typical role of a sports mascot – providing fun, entertainment, and pumping up fans during games. But the Oriole Bird represents some deeper significance and meaning for the franchise as well.
By encapsulating the visual essence of Baltimore’s state bird, Oriole Bird helps cement the team’s regional identity. The black and orange colors he wears connect back to Maryland imagery.
His playful personality also embodies the youthful joy of baseball. Oriole Bird helps make Orioles games appealing energetic events for families and kids.
For older fans who have supported the team for decades, Oriole Bird represents tradition and nostalgia. He reminds fans of earlier eras watching Orioles legends like Cal Ripken Jr and Brooks Robinson.
Beyond just baseball, Oriole Bird is a civic icon who shows up at parades, hospitals, and charity events throughout Baltimore. He is a reminder of the deep roots between city and team.
So while Oriole Bird delights fans with his antics, he also fosters a strong sense of history, community, and loyalty. For these reasons, the Oriole mascot continues to have deep significance beyond just being a symbol of the team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the name of the specific bird represented by the Baltimore Orioles mascot is Oriole Bird. He was introduced in the early 1990s to be a new kid-friendly avatar for the team on game days and in the community.
Oriole Bird has his origins back in the early 1900s when the franchise wanted to link itself to Maryland’s state bird, the Baltimore Oriole. Over many decades, the logo and mascot artwork evolved from ornithologically accurate depictions to anthropomorphic cartoon versions.
With his friendly eyes, jersey, and cap, Oriole Bird now serves as an iconic symbol of Orioles baseball. His antics entertain fans while also fostering civic pride, nostalgia, and community. For Baltimoreans and Orioles supporters, Oriole Bird will remain a beloved figure for generations to come.