As the Orioles gear up for another spring training in Sarasota, it's a fascinating trip down memory lane to revisit their inaugural spring season 72 years ago, which took place far from Baltimore in the desert town of Yuma, Arizona.
Back in 1954, the Orioles had no choice in their spring training location. Before Bill Veeck sold the St.
Louis Browns to Baltimore businessmen, he had already inked a deal for the team to train in Yuma. Despite the change in ownership, the contract stood firm, and so began the Orioles' journey far from home, alongside the Colorado River in Southwest Arizona.
Yuma was quite the unique setting. According to Ernie Harwell, the Orioles' first play-by-play broadcaster, the town was known for little more than a drive-through marriage bureau where Californians often tied the knot without leaving their cars. It was a small, isolated place, a far cry from the bustling city of Baltimore.
At that time, only three other major league teams trained in Arizona - the Giants in Phoenix, the Cubs in Mesa, and the Indians in Tucson. The Orioles were a good three-hour drive from any of them. Although Veeck had plans to fly players to games, the new owners found that idea too costly, so the team spent countless hours on buses instead.
Harwell and players from the 1954 squad recalled those long bus rides vividly. They'd stop in Gila Bend for a quick bite before continuing their journey.
Billy Hunter, the team's shortstop, remembered the daily bus exchanges at Gila Bend, where players would switch buses based on the day's needs. Sometimes they stayed overnight in Phoenix, but mostly, it was a relentless cycle of travel.
Yuma did its best to welcome the Orioles. A banner greeted them on the main street, and comedian Joe E.
Brown hosted a banquet. The local sheriff's volunteer group treated the team to a hearty "chuck wagon breakfast" of steak and eggs.
The Orioles lodged at the Flamingo Hotel, more of a motel really, but it had a pool, restaurant, and rooms with refrigerated cooling - a luxury at the time. They practiced and played home games at Municipal Stadium, a venue that also hosted a Class C Arizona-Mexico League team and local high school games. Across the street, a mini-golf course added to the small-town charm.
Cactus League games in Yuma were such an event that schools let kids out early to attend. However, the Orioles only played four games there, drawing an average crowd of 2,671, before hitting the road again, often dodging sandstorms along the desert highways.
Baltimore media covered the camp extensively, feeding a city eager for major league baseball after decades in the minors. The Orioles sparked excitement with their Cactus League performance, winning 12 of 17 games, including a six-home-run showcase.
This success earned them the Cactus League title and a 27-inch trophy. Manager Jimmy Dykes optimistically predicted they'd surprise the American League, though reality proved otherwise with a 100-loss season.
After breaking camp in Yuma, the Orioles didn't fly east. Instead, they boarded a train, barnstorming with exhibition games against the Cubs.
Harwell remembered the grueling schedule: day games in places like Alpine, Texas, followed by train rides, dinner, card games, and the occasional hotel stop. The camaraderie between teams was strong, with shared Pullman and dining cars fostering friendships.
The journey included a memorable stop in New Orleans, where the team enjoyed the local cuisine and stayed at the historic Roosevelt Hotel. The trip wrapped up with exhibition games in St. Louis before heading to Detroit for their inaugural season opener, a 3-0 loss to the Tigers on April 13, 1954.
The following year, the Orioles moved their spring training to Daytona Beach, Florida, much closer to home, and they never returned to Yuma.