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”We welcome our new Oriole overlords.” So sayeth Baltimoreans as their newly transplanted team rides in style to the home opener in a convoy of portholed 1954 Buick convertibles. Free baseballs are tossed by Bobby Young, Eddie Waitkus and Gil Coan in this original wire photo. When will the O’s next generate such enthusiasm amongst the denizens of Baltimore?In the home opener against the White Sox later that day (April 15, 1954), the three players in the lead car batted first, second and third in the lineup. Young had a double, Waitkus had three singles and Coan walked in each of his three trips to the plate. The Orioles prevailed, 3-1 before 46,354 -- or roughly 15 percent of what the Browns had drawn in all of 1953 in St. Louis.
Here’s another view of the parade. The second car is a ‘53 Buick:
And a tighter shot of the three players from the first photo. You can see the tossed ball at the top of the frame:
