Bluefield Orioles

MiLB infobox
name = Bluefield Orioles
founded = 1946
city = Bluefield, West Virginia
misc =

uniform
class level = Rookie
past class level=
current league = Appalachian League (1946-1955, 1957-present)
conference =
division = East Division
past league =
majorleague = Baltimore Orioles (1958-present)
pastmajorleague = Brooklyn Dodgers (1957)
* Boston Red Sox (1954-1955)
* Washington Senators (1953)
* Boston Braves (1946-1951)
uniform =
nickname = Bluefield Orioles (1958-present)
pastnames = Bluefield Dodgers (1957)
*Bluefield Blue-Grays (1946-1955)
ballpark = Bowen Field (1946-1955, 1957-present)
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 1949, 1950, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1982, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001
divisionchamps = 1971, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002
misc6 =
owner =
manager =
gm = mike showe

The Bluefield Orioles, a professional baseball team, are a minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia and Bluefield, Virginia. The club plays in the Appalachian League, a Rookie League whose players are mostly newly-signed professionals.

Bluefield's link with the Orioles, which started in 1958, is currently the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major-league franchise in Minor League Baseball.

The Bluefield Orioles play their home games at Bowen Field, a historic stadium (opened in 1939) in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia-Virginia state line, is operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.

The team's nicknames are the "Baby Birds" or the "Baby O's." Their most famous former player is Cal Ripken, Jr., who played with the club in 1978 when he was 17 years old. Another famous former Baby Bird is Boog Powell, who played in Bluefield in 1959, also as a 17 year-old.

External links

* [http://www.bluefieldorioles.com Official team site]
* [http://www.appalachianleague.com/bluefield.htm Bluefield Orioles at Appalachian League site]