Members of 1966 team look back on the Orioles' first championship season

Fifty years ago, the average cost of a new home was $23,300. Gas averaged around 32 cents per gallon, a dozen eggs cost 60 cents and a gallon of milk was a steep 99 cents. Lyndon Johnson was the president of the United States and, in Baltimore, the city was home to the world champions of baseball.

It's hard to believe it's been five decades since the Orioles captured their inaugural championship. The 1966 Orioles entered the World Series as heavy underdogs to the Los Angeles Dodgers and their ferocious pitching staff, which featured all-time greats Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. As fate would have it, the Orioles had a few good arms of their own, and they were on display in the Fall Classic as the Orioles swept the Dodgers in four games to win the team's first ever World Series title.

"It was one of the loosest ballclubs that I ever played on," former Orioles pitcher Eddie Fisher said. "Nobody was uptight and we had no fear going into the World Series, (even) knowing we were going to be facing two of the best pitchers in baseball."

It was one of the greatest moments in Orioles history. Older fans who grew up watching the Birds in the 1960s and '70s always talk about how that team was the definition of greatness and will always be remembered. Tonight, younger Orioles fans will get a chance to witness one of the greatest baseball teams ever assembled, while those more seasoned fans will get a chance to look back on their childhood idols.

Prior to tonight's game against the Angels, the Orioles will honor the 1966 World Champions in a special ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the team's achievements.

The reunion will feature several players from the 1966 squad, including Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Dick Hall, Larry Haney, Davey Johnson, John Miller, Boog Powell, Russ Snyder, Eddie Watt, Bill Hunter, Vic Roznovsky and Fisher. A pregame video will be played at 6 p.m., followed by an on-field ceremony to celebrate the legacy of the team. As a tribute, the current Orioles will wear 1966 replica throwback uniforms featuring a patch celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1966 World Series victory.

For a number of the 1966 Orioles players, 50 years ago seemed like just yesterday. But as members of the team met with the media Friday afternoon, they all seemed to share a common theme on the memories of wining the championship, eloquently put by Powell.

"People will come up to me and say 'thanks for the memories,'" Powell said. "And I always tell them, 'Thanks for remembering.' "