The Return of ‘Orioles Magic’

September 18, 2023 Michael Olesker

Even John Angelos seemed to be having a good time.

When last seen in the chaos of the Baltimore clubhouse celebration yesterday, there was the drenched, beaming boss of the playoff-bound Orioles guzzling from a beer bong and promising everybody that the O’s will stay here for at least the next 30 years.

Now there’s a man who’s learned how to capture a moment.

Not like the last time just a few weeks ago when Angelos looked at baseball’s modern economics and bemoaned the O’s future — while they were in first place.

Not like last time when he was focusing on some downtown real estate fantasies when he should have pocketed millions in free money and settled this frustrating lease negotiation business at Oriole Park.

This time, the moment was about sheer joy.

There in the Orioles’ clubhouse late Sunday afternoon, the TV cameras were showing us the darlings of Major League Baseball in the aftermath of one of the most dramatic victories in Baltimore history: Orioles 5, Rays 4, and the O’s headed for the American League playoffs.

Some of us have followed the Orioles ever since the home opener in their 1954 maiden season, when Bob Turley pitched and got home run help from Vern Stephens and Clint “Scrap Iron” Courtney.

That moment felt like the dawning of time itself.

But over seven full decades, it’s hard to think of a more thrilling moment than Sunday, Sept. 17: the miraculous two-out hits, the clutch pitching and fielding, the mathematical clinching of a playoff spot after so many years of heartache and humiliation.

What other moment in O’s history feels so thrilling? Dave McNally shutting down the Dodgers in the ninth inning of game four of the ’66 World Series, 1-0, and Brooks Robinson leaping into his arms?

Doug DeCinces and Eddie Murray with back-to-back game-winning homers as the O’s raced to the ’79 pennant, and Charley Eckman on the radio hollering, “Get outa here! Get outa here,” to set off an era known as “Orioles Magic”?

John Lowenstein’s game-winning 10th inning homer to open the ’79 American League playoffs?

All of them, thrilling moments. But this one, after so many tough years, is a keeper.

Hold onto it, John Angelos.

Hold onto it, Orioles faithful.

They say O’s manager Brandon Hyde wept tears of joy in the midst of the celebrating. It was tough to tell since Hyde was covered, like almost everyone else in that madness, with beer foam.

But if those were Hyde’s tears of joy, he wasn’t alone.

Michael Olesker’s latest book, “Boogie: Life on A Merry-Go-Round,” was recently published by Apprentice House. It’s the life story of Baltimore legend Leonard “Boogie” Weinglass, an original “Diner” guy who grew up to create the Merry-Go-Round clothing chain and contribute millions to charities.