The overgrown avian who has danced countless times on the dugout roof at Camden Yards to the strains of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" will now have a second home. The Mascot Hall of Fame, devoted to the living cartoons who entertain at sporting events of all kinds, will induct The Oriole Bird this summer. The news came last night at the Whiting, Ind., museum's Fur Tie Fundraiser. The hall's class of 2020, voted in by the museum's directors, its members and the public at large in October,...

Who doesn't love The Oriole Bird? Well, if you're fond of the feathered one's antics and undying love for his namesake Orioles, you need to flex your fingers and exercise your right to vote. The Oriole Bird is one of 10 finalists for this year's voting for the Mascot Hall of Fame, and between Oct. 20-26, you can vote once a day to send him to the 2020 induction class. Really, casting a ballot for The Oriole Bird is a no-brainer. While there are some really strong nominees among the...

They're here! Finally, we have actual baseball being played as spring training games started this week. MASN's Jim Hunter probably couldn't wait to get out of Baltimore and to Sarasota, Fla., faster (especially since we saw snow last night) to call some Orioles spring training games on the radio for 105.7 The Fan. Time to get started. Bonnie dropped me off at BWI to head to Sarasota. @Orioles @masnOrioles #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/TWZ1L0vyBx -- Jim Hunter (@JimOriolesTV) February 28,...

It's all been leading up to this: Baseball is finally back! Orioles pitchers and catchers reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex yesterday, with the first official workout later today after the players take their physicals. Before we get to the best of the Birds getting ready for and arriving at spring training, I do have some non-baseball-related material to share with you first. And of course, it comes from Adam Jones. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was earlier this week, and as a...

We are just under two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Sarasota, Fla., marking the return of baseball! With that in mind, Caleb Joseph is taking in his last remaining days of the offseason to enjoy himself by going to the NHL All-Star Game in his hometown of Nashville this past weekend. Had an amazing time at #NHLAllStarWeekend with my cousin. My hometown of Nashville put on a GREAT show. Skill level of players was unreal! -- Caleb Joseph (@EutawBackstop) February 1,...

Obviously, the big news this week was first baseman Chris Davis re-signing with the Orioles. The seven-year contract was reported as a done deal early Saturday morning before becoming official with a press conference last night at Camden Yards after Davis psased a physical. But before we get to the best of #WelcomeBackCrush, I think it's important to note that the MASN family spends its time together even outside of Oriole Park. MASN's Jim Hunter's wife, Bonnie, makes a delicious baked ziti,...

As the NFL's season continues, so does that of Tyler Wilson's Packers. After beating the Redskins 35-18 on Sunday, the Pack now heads to the desert to take on the Cardinals in the NFC divisional round. #GoPackGo -- Tyler Wilson (@t_willy18) January 11, 2016 Meanwhile, back here in the Old Line State, MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko won, too. On Monday, Roch was named a co-winner of the Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association for the...

Welcome back to "Out of the Park"! I hope all of Birdland enjoyed the holidays and new year! While most of our area had a very mild holiday season, the Oriole Bird was excited to start the first week of 2016 with some light snow. Did anyone else just see snowflakes falling?? ❄️ Happy first Monday of 2016! ☃ -- The Oriole Bird (@OrioleBird) January 4, 2016 The Bird also later calculated that we are halfway to opening day, which MASN's Jim Hunter thought was very...

To start off this week's edition of Out of the Park, I first want to give thanks to the Winter Meetings last week for taking on the majority of the social media buzz. Although it was mostly just rumors, they took up most of your attention on the Twittersphere, blogosphere or whatever sphere you prefer. That being said, let's get to what some Orioles were doing this week with the holidays among us. MASN's Jim Palmer was celebrating this week, but it was wife Susan's birthday instead of a...

Haven't you heard? The Oriole Bird is now on Twitter! The Bird made its debut quietly on Wednesday of the Winter Meetings. Tweet! Tweet! Is this thing on? -- The Oriole Bird (@OrioleBird) December 9, 2015 Before long, however, the Oriole Bird was his normal outgoing self, tweeting back to fans, holding giveaways and so much more! They say Twitter is for the birds. Well, here I am! Helllooo, #Birdland! pic.twitter.com/Id56vpOZ6x -- The Oriole Bird (@OrioleBird) December 9, 2015 Fans...

If you're downtown tomorrow afternoon and haven't yet finished your holiday shopping - or just in need of some seasonal cheer - check out a special combination happy hour/bazaar at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant at Camden Yards. From 4-8 p.m., revelers can listen to a live jazz band, partake of happy hour food and drink specials, and shop a variety of local vendors who will be set up at the ballpark eatery. The Oriole Bird will be there, too, and rumor has it that he'll be dressed as...

Remember the cute little tale from a few weeks ago about the small plush Orioles mascot that alerts residents at the Charlestown retirement community in Catonsville about whether the O's win or lose? Well, the Charlestown bird had a visit today from its larger feathered namesake who usually roosts at Camden Yards. The Oriole Bird visited Charlestown as part of the kickoff for the "Swim for Service" lap-a-thon fundrasiser today and made a point out of seeking out the small town crier who...

Music is an important part of any baseball game, from the playing of the national anthem before the first pitch to the array of songs that accompany the important moments at each game. Think about it - could you imagine a rally without the bugled "Charge" call, a pump-up-the-crowd moment without "YMCA" by The Village People or the individualized snippets that accompany each hitter to the batter's box and each pitcher to the mound? Sometimes, it seems, the melodies fade into the landscape...

Late last night - or earlier today, if you're one of those who works the morning shift - ex-Oriole Eric Byrnes offered an interesting opinion while recapping the highlights of Wednesday's games on MLB Network's "Quick Pitch." "The cartoon bird," Byrnes said, referring to the logo that adorns the O's new retro-style caps, "I think he needs a name." Byrnes was an Oriole for only 52 games in 2005, a season which also saw him patrol the outfield for the A's and Rockies, who swapped him...

It's raining hard and the tarp's on the field. If this game is cancelled, the Orioles will probably use tomorrow's scheduled day off to play an intrasquad game. And my tears will fall like these raindrops. Here's the Phillies lineup: Jimmy Rollins SS Placido Polanco 3B Chase Utley 2B Ryan Howard 1B Jayson Werth RF Raul Ibanez LF Dewayne Wise CF Paul Hoover C Jamie Moyer LHP