Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Chstrite

Day 31 – 31 January 2024
Today I am sharing a picture of the 1970 Eastern Division Champions and American League Champion Baltimore Orioles Memorial Stadium direction sign. The sign is bright yellow with the Oriole bird holding a bat tipping his cap. The sign has blue font for “Memorial Stadium.” I am guessing these signs were randomly placed on telephone poles as a temporary sign for traffic. This sign, has a hole / damage on the top “O” in Memorial that I patched on the back with painters tape and yellow construction paper. My favorite part of the sign is how they put it on yellow. The sign is cardboard and measures 24 inches by 18 inches. I believe there are signs like this for each WS year with some years having more than one.

You showed my favorite metal sign and the ‘70 is my favorite cardboard sign. Even though yellow is not really their team color it just looks really nice with all the colors they used to put the sign together.

They do have a cardboard example for each year the Orioles went to the World Series. I’ve seen a few variations over the years on the signs (not including the directional arrow). It would be cool to have at least one of the cardboard signs for each year (‘66, ‘69, ‘70, ‘71, ‘79 and ‘83). Also, would be nice for in my lifetime to see the O’s go to the World Series again.

[Chstrite]

Mark, I have seen all the cardboard signs and would love to find one for each here. I really like the 1966 version. Maybe others here will show theirs.

[Chstrite]

Day 32 – 1 February 2024
My next sign is similar to yesterday’s. It is made of cardboard and measures 24 inches by 18 inches. This sign celebrates the “City of Champions.” The city had a lot of success in the late 1960s and early 1970s with its professional sports teams including the Colts (NFL), Bullets (NBA), Clippers (Hockey 1962-1977) and of course the Orioles. These teams and their logos are included on the sign with the Oriole bird smack in the middle. The blue letters and orange background really look nice. I am not exactly sure what year this sign was produced celebrating the Champions of Baltimore but suspect the late 1960s or early 1970s. I am sure we’ll get some feedback.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Chstrite

Day 32 – 1 February 2024
My next sign is similar to yesterday’s. It is made of cardboard and measures 24 inches by 18 inches. This sign celebrates the “City of Champions.” The city had a lot of success in the late 1960s and early 1970s with its professional sports teams including the Colts (NFL), Bullets (NBA), Clippers (Hockey 1962-1977) and of course the Orioles. These teams and their logos are included on the sign with the Oriole bird smack in the middle. The blue letters and orange background really look nice. I am not exactly sure what year this sign was produced celebrating the Champions of Baltimore but suspect the late 1960s or early 1970s. I am sure we’ll get some feedback.

Charlie… that particular sign is from 1971.

[Chstrite]

Day 33 – 2 February 2024
The next sign is from News American in 1979 celebrating 25 years of the Orioles. The sign is black with white and orange letters saying “It’s the…Orioles 25th Year.” It then says “Celebrate with News American” at the bottom. I imagine this was the face of their vending machine around the city dispensing their newspaper. The sign is made of cardboard and measures 16 inches by 9 inches. By the way, the Baltimore News-American newspaper was published in downtown Baltimore until May 27, 1986. It had a continuous lineage (in various forms) of more than 200 years. For much of the mid-20th century, it had the largest circulation in the city.

[Chstrite]

Day 34 – 3 February 2024
Today’s sign celebrates the success of the 1983 Orioles. The sign measures 24 inches by 18 inches with a bright orange background and blue letters. The sign has the Oriole bird in the middle of the infield with a top message of “The Bird Flies” with “Memorial Stadium” at the bottom. The sign was used as a direction sign in Baltimore to get to the stadium. In small print at the bottom it has the Mayor’s name (William Donald Schaefer) and Citizens of Baltimore.

[Chstrite]

Day 35 – 4 February 2024
My next sign is from Memorial Stadium and hung on the scoreboard while Brooks was playing 3rd base back in the 1970s. It would be displayed on the scoreboard. The sign is black with orange letters (BAL.) I have seen a “VIS.” Sign that would accompany it but could not get to it soon enough, sadly. The sign measures 17 inches by 9.5 inches and his made of heavy metal. It has a substance on it that I am allergic too, coincidentally. It is an amazing piece of “art” from the stadium.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Chstrite

Day 33 – 2 February 2024
The next sign is from News American in 1979 celebrating 25 years of the Orioles. The sign is black with white and orange letters saying “It’s the…Orioles 25th Year.” It then says “Celebrate with News American” at the bottom. I imagine this was the face of their vending machine around the city dispensing their newspaper. The sign is made of cardboard and measures 16 inches by 9 inches. By the way, the Baltimore News-American newspaper was published in downtown Baltimore until May 27, 1986. It had a continuous lineage (in various forms) of more than 200 years. For much of the mid-20th century, it had the largest circulation in the city.

What is the small "Thanks Brooks Day" piece below '79 newspaper insert?