The Bird Is Back!

According to this item in the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are bringing back the Smiling Cartoon Bird on their caps next season!



My response - ITS ABOUT TIME!

I've never been a big fan of the "ornithologically" correct cap since the Orioles switched to it back in 1989. It was a change of pace at the time and was a nod back to the original Orioles cap they wore when they started playing in Baltimore, but to me it lacked the personality of the Smiling Bird. I have grown tired of the look, even though they have made minor changes to the bird every couple of years.

The Cartoon Bird was on the caps that the team wore during its glory years from 1966 through the 1980's, and is the uniform I think of when I remember those great World Series teams from that time. I know my preference is heavily influenced by what I grew up with


since to me, the Cartoon Bird is what the Orioles are supposed to wear.

The information indicates that the "cartoon bird will be a combination of the 1970 logo and the 1983 one, but may resemble the older logo a bit more."

As these scans show, the bird's appearance did change slightly over the years, so the designers have a few different styles to work with.




Unfortunately the team will be keeping the ridiculous "O's" cap as an alternate. Given the team is going back to the Smiling Cartoon Bird, I can think of a much more appropriate alternate cap:


The official announcement is expected sometime during the middle of November.