Top 5 Orioles Opening Day memories

As we approach what would have been Opening Day 2020, we are forced to relish in memories of former Opening Days. For the Baltimore Orioles, there are many fond memories of Opening Day, and we at The Baltimore Battery have decided to show you our top 5 memories.

5. 1954: The Orioles first Opening Day

After moving to Baltimore from St. Louis, 1954 marked the first Opening Day game for the Baltimore Orioles. A 3-0 loss was the result of this game that was started by pitcher Don Larsen. Although a minimal memory on our list, it was impossible not to include the first Opening Day game from 66 years ago.

4. Snow-filled Opening Day in 2003

Maryland is famous for its unpredictable weather, but sometimes it still surprises us. Much the case in 2003, Oriole fans were shocked to witness an Opening Day game delayed because of snow. March 31 is normally a time when spring starts rolling around. However, the Orioles played on this day in 2003 during snow flurries.

To make this game even more memorable, the Orioles rallied back from a 4-1 deficit to claim a 6-5 victory off a Gary Matthews RBI single in the 13th inning for the Orioles.

3. Orioles win three straight Opening Day games by a score of 3-2 walkoffs

Walkoff wins are always exciting, especially when it’s done on Opening Day. Luckily for Oriole fans, we all were able to witness this three years in a row from 2016-2018, while all three of the games resulted in 3-2 victories. Weird.

In 2016, heading into the ninth tied with the Minnesota Twins 2-2, Matt Wieters hit the RBI single that would give the Orioles the 3-2 victory.

In 2017, following a heart-breaking Wild Card loss to the Blue Jays, the Orioles had some room for revenge on Opening Day. Again tied 2-2 in the 11th inning, just like in the Wild Card Game, the Orioles this time had the chance for a walkoff. Mark Trumbo blasted a solo home run, giving the Orioles the victory.

Now in 2018, we saw one of the most memorable moments in Orioles Opening Day history, and ultimately the reason this selection made the list.

In what would be his final Opening Day start in Baltimore, The Captain Adam Jones came to the plate in the 11th inning with the game tied at two. Jones sent the Minnesota Twins home with a walkoff loss for the second time in three years with a game-ending home run.

2. The Orioles open the season as defending champs for the first time

Opening Day in 1967 for the Baltimore Orioles was the first of only three times the Orioles could open a season as the defending champs.

We put 1967 on this list as it was the first championship defense the Orioles have ever had. With a team highlighted by Hall of Famers Brooks and Frank Robinson, the Orioles opened their championship defense with a 6-3 victory.

A full Memorial Stadium welcomed back the 1966 World Champions and showed the city what winning baseball can do for the people.

1. The first Opening Day at Camden Yards

Anyone who knows baseball knows how important and pivotal Oriole Park at Camden Yards was to the game.

April 6, 1992, is often said to be the start of the new era of Major League Baseball. This was because of the unveiling of a brand new Camden Yards. Still in 2020, stadiums are built and designed with the blueprint that Camden Yards created for what a baseball stadium should be.

With Eutaw street and the warehouse looking over the new stadium with an attendance of 44,568 fans, the Orioles won their first game in their new stadium 2-0 over the Cleveland Indians, to mark a new beginning in Orioles baseball.

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