| Affectionately known by their fans as the O's | | | | argue that the shrieking of the "O" is |
| and the Birds, the Baltimore Orioles are a | | | | disrespectful. But Baltimoreans argue that, |
| major league baseball team rooted in | | | | since Francis Scott Key wrote the Anthem in |
| Baltimore, Maryland. They are owned by Peter | | | | their harbor during the 1812 War, then they |
| Angelos, an attorney. They play in the | | | | have a right to sing it however they want. |
| American League's Eastern Division. | | | | |
| | | | The tradition is also carried out at other |
| The Orioles' history dates back to the year | | | | sporting events throughout the region, |
| 1893 and the town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, | | | | particularly at home games of the Maryland |
| when the team began in the minor Western | | | | Terrapins and the Baltimore Ravens. It is |
| League. That minor league would become the | | | | even yelled at home games of the Washington |
| major American League in the early 20th | | | | Redskins. Some schools in the region have |
| century, and the original Baltimore Orioles, | | | | tried to ban the chanting when the Anthem is |
| who were in the National League, relocated | | | | being sung, but to little effect. |
| around this time to New York, where they | | | | |
| became the New York Yankees. After a stint as | | | | This "O" chanting caused a storm of |
| the St. Louis Browns, the team would be moved | | | | controversy in 2005 when some fans started |
| again to Baltimore and become the present day | | | | chanting at RFK Stadium during Washington |
| Orioles in the early 1950s. | | | | Nationals games. A lot of people felt that |
| | | | the chant was not appropriate at RFK. Still, |
| One popular tradition at Orioles games that | | | | a lot of Washingtonians are also fans of the |
| dates back to the 1970s is the accenting of | | | | Orioles. After all, the Orioles were the |
| the letter "O" when singing the line "Oh, say | | | | closest team after the Senators were |
| does that…" from the Star Spangled | | | | relocated. Still, by the time summer rolled |
| Banner. The "oh" is accented by yelling out | | | | around, the "O" chant was next to |
| "O!" The pronunciation of this vowel also | | | | nonexistent. |
| distinguishes the Baltimorean accent. Some | | | | |