Any fan of the Baltimore Orioles knows that the 2023 season was a huge leap forward after many years of struggle. A 101-win AL East Title was an exciting trip for Birdland to experience and enjoy.
With the leadership of GM Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde, the Orioles were a class act full of young men that enjoyed the game of baseball, played it hard and brought an air of excitement that had been missing in Baltimore for quite some time.
The Orioles were built to win from the bottom up. It was a designed plan by Elias with the intent of bringing charm back to Charm City. Elias’ blueprint didn’t just serve to create a winning culture on the field, but it also included a strong culture off the field, designed to not only hold class and maturity but to be involved with the Birdland community.
For all the comeback victories, homer hose celebrations and exciting style of ball given to the fans, it’s what they did off the field that made a bigger impact. It’s something that Elias and Hyde have prided themselves in building the culture that has shaped this team.
One of the most heart-warming moments took place after a loss against the Colorado Rockies. Grayson Rodriguez, Adley Rutschman and Adam Frazier ran the bases with a young fan named Alex.
Alex had a surgical procedure where he was learning to walk again. These three players, even after a hard loss, found time to bring joy to a fan who was in a tough situation.
After beating the New York Mets, former O’s starter Kyle Gibson led a group of players in a charitable event that raised $36,000 for the City of Refuge Baltimore, which aids individuals and families in crisis.
Pitchers Cole Irvin and Dean Kremer fostered neglected and abused animals to help offer reprieve from shelters and visited BARCS on a regular basis. With adoption events held throughout the year at Oriole Park, many animals were able to find their forever homes and get the life they deserve.
The Orioles don’t stop once they are off the diamond, from spearheading adoption campaigns for animals to donating bikes to local students and baseball clinics to keep kids interested in the game.
But the Orioles don’t just care within the city of Baltimore. The Orange and Black Gives Back Week of Service covered 11 communities in three states and two countries. Over 500 players, coaches, team personnel, front office staff and former players volunteered over 900 hours during the week back in June.
From Maryland to Florida to the Dominican Republic, Orange and Black Gives Back handed out Thanksgiving meals, cleaned up beaches and packed personal hygiene kits for the homeless.
The Orioles have built a team that has numerous young and talented players that people look up to and consider heroes. What the O’s have built is a team dedicated not only to the fan base on the field but to the community that supports them outside The Yard.
Not all heroes are from the comics. These Birds continue to fly in and save the day for so many in need.
What do you think of Orange and Black Gives Back and the team’s efforts in the community? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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