Orioles launch 60th anniversary website

The Orioles announced today that they've created a 60th anniversary website to celebrate the franchise's move from St. Louis in 1954. Featured on www.orioles.com/60 is a new video contest, "My Orioles Magic Moment," that invites fans to recreate some of the amazing moments that the club has experienced in the last 60 seasons. This month's choice may be my favorite. It's Doug DeCinces' home run on June 22, 1979 at Memorial Stadium that's widely credited with starting "Orioles Magic." More on that later. Fans are invited to film a recreation of each month's featured event in team history, then upload the video at www.orioles.com/60. They also can share their video on social media by using the hashtag #MyOsMagic. It's not recommended that you recreate Grant Balfour's physical or use the hashtag #TurnAndCough Still too soon? A new "My Orioles Magic Moment" will be revealed at the beginning of each month through September. One winning video will be chosen for each moment, and each winner will receive a prize package featuring four lower-level tickets to an Orioles home game and an official 60th Anniversary baseball autographed by an Oriole. The winner's video will also be featured on the anniversary site and promoted throughout the Orioles' social media platforms. The first entry period begins today and ends at noon on Monday, Jan. 27. Orioles staff members will then judge the entries and select the winner based on creativity and relevance to the contest theme. Fans should visit www.orioles.com/60 to see a complete list of rules and to view the videos. The site also includes complete team media guides from 1954-2013, the club's all-time player roster, 60th anniversary gear and more. New elements will be added throughout the year. As for DeCinces' home run, I remember listening to the game at home with my mother. It wasn't televised, so I got to enjoy the call from Bill O'Donnell, Chuck Thompson and Charlie Eckman. It was bedlam. I actually taped it - without the express written consent of Major League Baseball - and still have the dusty cassette in a dusty box somewhere in my dusty basement. The Orioles' new website doesn't include the complete home run call, which is classic, but you'll get the idea. I can still hear O'Donnell screaming, "Every Oriole is at the plate, every Oriole is at the plate!" My father arrived home from a meeting just in time to hear the replay. I'll never forget it. Anyway, feel free to come up with other moments that are worthy of inclusion in the contest. Tippy Martinez picking off three runners has to be there, right? Doug Johns playing air guitar to Pearl Jam in the clubhouse before a game deserves special recognition. Or Albert Belle snarling at Steve Melewski.