The Orioles unveil the first changes to the team logo since 1999, opting for a cleaner look and a greater emphasis on pushing "Baltimore" in the overall look.
The Baltimore Orioles unveiled new home and road uniforms, opting for a clean look and a return to an emphasis on Baltimore as an important part of the team’s brand.
The Orioles’ last major change to their primary logo came in 1999. Their last alteration to the uniform was in 2005 with the addition of the "O’s" alternate hat, and the last significant change to the team’s jerseys came in 2003, when the home jersey "Orioles" script was changed from black to orange.
"After much research and careful deliberation, the club is confident the time is right to refresh the Orioles brand," said Orioles Director of Communications Greg Bader. "The goal of these changes was threefold: to honor our history, to further strengthen our ties to the community and to look ahead to our bright future as an organization. We believe these new looks reflect our continued commitment to our city and state, while also providing an enhanced look to the Orioles brand that fans throughout Birdland can embrace."
The club’s new primary logo features a three-dimensional version of the "Orioles" script logo with an enhanced Oriole bird perched atop the "i" in "Orioles." This logo will replace the previous version that included a diamond shape in the background and green and yellow accent coloring. While green and yellow have been removed as official club colors, grey has been added as an official accent color for team marks.
One of the most noticeable changes will occur on the away uniforms, as "Baltimore" will return to the Orioles’ road jersey for the first time since the 1972 season. The script "Baltimore" will appear in orange in the same font as the "Orioles" script on the home jersey. Other changes to the road uniforms include the addition of a new Maryland flag patch featuring an orange circle with the words "Orioles Baseball" on the left sleeve, an "Orioles" script patch on the right sleeve and orange and black striping around the jersey sleeves and down the side of the pants. Beginning in 2009, the Orioles players will wear the same hat on the road and at home, featuring the enhanced Oriole bird logo on a black cap with orange bill and button.
The home uniform changes include the additions of a Maryland flag patch with "Baltimore Orioles" on the left sleeve and the same orange and black striping around the jersey sleeves and side of the pants that appears on the road uniforms.
Next season, for the first time, the club’s black alternate uniforms will be worn both at home and on the road. Changes to the alternate uniform include a Maryland flag patch featuring "Orioles Baseball" on the left sleeve and a "Baltimore" script patch on the right sleeve.
The club’s batting practice jerseys will feature alterations as well. For the first time, the club will have separate BP jerseys for home and road games and will have the option of wearing their batting practice jerseys in games. The new jerseys also feature the addition of the player’s last name. "Baltimore" will appear in orange script on the club’s road BP jerseys, which will be black with white and orange side panels. The home BP uniform will feature an orange jersey with black "Orioles" script outlined in white, with white and black side panels. The club will wear the same batting practice hat for home and road games. The new BP hat will feature the "O’s" logo with a single white outline and orange stripes around the earflaps instead of the orange panels used in previous seasons.
Other changes to Orioles apparel include the addition of the "swinging Bird" logo to the club’s official jackets and the enhanced Oriole bird logo and orange bill on the team’s batting helmets.