Our Statement on the Baltimore Orioles Layoffs
The Oriole Bird is, and will remain, an inducted member of the Mascot Hall of Fame. Here is where the Hall stands after this week’s news out of Baltimore.
What Happened in Baltimore
The layoffs hit the Orioles on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and The Baltimore Banner first reported them. According to the Banner’s sources, they included an employee who plays Mr. Splash and sometimes wears the Oriole Bird costume. The Banner counted 16 team employees, plus a handful of off-air staff at the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli reported that the cuts also reached the team photographer and staff in ticket sales and graphic design.
The team confirmed the cuts were in its business department but would not comment on individual employees. A source said the club is still hiring and does not expect an overall reduction in its workforce.
The Oriole Bird Isn’t Going Anywhere
The character stays. “Since hatching in 1979, The Oriole Bird has been beloved by fans. Whether it is on the dugout at Camden Yards in the middle of the 7th inning, on the field after an Orioles win, or at events across our community, The Oriole Bird has been, and will always be, an integral part of Birdland,” a team spokesman told us.
Why the Oriole Bird’s Hall of Fame Status Stands
The Oriole Bird joined Boomer (Indiana Pacers), Youppi! (Montreal Canadiens) and Blue (Indianapolis Colts) in the Class of 2020. He earned his place through two rounds of voting by the public, Hall members, and the executive committee.
That induction honors more than four decades of work. The Bird has entertained Baltimore fans since Opening Day 1979 at Memorial Stadium. Every performer who brought him to life shares in that legacy. A 2026 business decision does not erase what those performers built, and the Hall will not ask them to give it back.
A Mascot for Baltimore, Not Just the Ballpark
The Oriole Bird belongs to Baltimore. We saw it firsthand this September, when he entertained the crowd at The Big Dill, the World’s Largest Pickle Party, at Power Plant Live! The festival’s own promotions have long counted on local mascots, including the Ravens’ Poe and the Oriole Bird, to bring Baltimore flavor.
That community role sits at the core of what the Hall recognizes. Our selection criteria weigh a mascot’s major impact on its sport or community, along with letters from community leaders about that impact. The Bird met that standard because of the people inside the suit.
Our Commitment to Mascot Performers
The Mascot Hall of Fame celebrates the characters and the professionals who make them great. Mascot performing is a demanding craft that requires athleticism, improvisation, character discipline, and countless unpaid hours in the community.
We don’t know the full circumstances of any individual employment decision, and we won’t speculate. We will say this clearly:
- Experienced mascot performers are skilled professionals, and organizations should value them that way.
- Character continuity depends on people. Fans may not see the face, but they feel the difference.
- The Hall stands with the performer community. We welcome any performer affected by this news to reach out to us.
To the performers who have worn the Oriole Bird suit over the past 47 years: thank you. Your work is in our Hall, and it stays there.
Did You Know?
The Oriole Bird appeared on the team’s caps from 1966 through 1988, and again since 2012. That’s more than a decade before he made his costumed debut at the 1979 home opener.
