Rally and announcement 11/12?

[DrLev]

Meh...the hat's a bit of a step sideways, if you ask me. Definitely in tune with the team's stated desire to give a nod to the past while branding for the future. We've got a hybrid of the early-90's bird and the current bird.

Though I'd have liked a cartoon bird, I'm relieved that they didn't royally screw the pooch on this one. The words "fierce" and "aggressive" are usually synonymous with "bush league" in my experience with sports logos.

[mall-O-cup]

This is the new hat.

[Mad Mark]

<a href="http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/msutton59/?action=view&current=DSC03443.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/msutton59/DSC03443.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/msutton59/?action=view&current=DSC03442.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/msutton59/DSC03442.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/msutton59/?action=view&current=FakeMurrayFront.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh286/msutton59/FakeMurrayFront.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Three images:

The current home/alternate jersey script from a 2004 BP jersey.

The script I fear is returning from a 2007 BP jersey

And a script I could live with from a fake Eddie Murray jersey on eBay.

I really, really hate the 1998 "high i" script, currently used on the BP jerseys, and don't want to see it return. If Majestic would clean up the transition from the second "o" to the "l" in Orioles, and stop using blind people to cut the twill, the Orioles would have just about the best script logo out there.

The 1998 "high i" script, OTOH, which doesn't even look that good as a logo, looks like absolute crap on a jersey. (And don't get me started on either the second generation 1996 script or the "super high i" script that was on some 1999 home jerseys. The dot over the "i" was almost at the shoulder seam on those things...just awful!

[JTrea81]

Here's a comparison of all three birds, 90's, 2009, and current:

<img src=http://i35.tinypic.com/97qkop.jpg></img>

You can see how they took bits of both...

The 90's bird looked more proud, with it's head tipping upward and it's tail feathers up. The current bird seems to be in a standing, just stationary pose, with no real expression and it's tailfeathers drooping. It seems they went back to the 90's bird pose with the current bird.

I like the mix personally...

[Moose Milligan]

Three images:

The current home/alternate jersey script from a 2004 BP jersey.

The script I fear is returning from a 2007 BP jersey

And a script I could live with from a fake Eddie Murray jersey on eBay.

I really, really hate the 1998 "high i" script, currently used on the BP jerseys, and don't want to see it return. If Majestic would clean up the transition from the second "o" to the "l" in Orioles, and stop using blind people to cut the twill, the Orioles would have just about the best script logo out there.

The 1998 "high i" script, OTOH, which doesn't even look that good as a logo, looks like absolute crap on a jersey. (And don't get me started on either the second generation 1996 script or the "super high i" script that was on some 1999 home jerseys. The dot over the "i" was almost at the shoulder seam on those things...just awful!

I know you're the resident jersey expert here, but I hardly see a difference between the first two. It's nothing I'd catch at first glance, that's for sure.

The hat is what I'm really bummed about.

[Intimidator301]

I heard Tex wasn't a big fan of the cartoon bird. I'm sure the O's decided to play it safe, deciding not to "ruffle any feathers" in their hopes to land him .

[DrLev]

I know you're the resident jersey expert here, but I hardly see a difference between the first two. It's nothing I'd catch at first glance, that's for sure.

The hat is what I'm really bummed about.

What's got you so bummed about it, Moose?

Like I said, while it's a bit of a disappointment, I'm glad they didn't totally screw it up.

[JTrea81]

What's got you so bummed about it, Moose?

Like I said, while it's a bit of a disappointment, I'm glad they didn't totally screw it up.

It really symbolizes a return to the proud Baltimore Orioles. While the cartoon bird is nice, I like the realistic bird, and the pose it is in for 2009 looks much better than the current one now that I've seen the two side by side.

I'll be buying a new hat for sure...

[PrivateO]

After seeig the leak, I must say I am a bit dissapointed. While I will openly embrace the change, I was getting excited for the idea of a hybrid of a cartoon bird and a fierce-looking bird.

While some say a fierce Oriole say its not possible, I do think that the alternate bird carrying the bat would have been a good cap logo (just using its head).

I think they could have updated it a bit, using some digital graphics, and such.

I am happy for the change, but am a little saddened by the direction that they went.

[PHRESH]

Perhaps the FO is two steps ahead and leaked a fake new logo to NewEra?

[DrLev]

While some say a fierce Oriole say its not possible, I do think that the alternate bird carrying the bat would have been a good cap logo (just using its head).

I think they could have updated it a bit, using some digital graphics, and such.

I'm just afraid of the minor-leaguey possibilities. A look at bushleaguefactor.com (for hockey logos, but the point stands) will tell you what I mean.

[Moose Milligan]

What's got you so bummed about it, Moose?

Like I said, while it's a bit of a disappointment, I'm glad they didn't totally screw it up.

Cause it's not a drastic change. Yeah, it's technically "different" but it's not THAT different. It's like Pepsi and Coke. Like you said, they didn't totally screw it up, but how could they? It's just some (IMO) minor changes to the same bird.

The Orioles just aren't cool, they never seem to want to try to spice things up or make things fun. And in the rare instance that they do, they get a dud like the "O's" hat. The Brewers wear their 80's uniforms for Friday home games and they look great. That would never happen here.

I think if I were to wear that hat, I'd look more like an ornithologist who's late to the bird club meeting rather than a fan of a baseball team.

So while it's technically a change, it really isn't. Its another boring "proper" ornithologically correct bird.

[TGO]

I'm just afraid of the minor-leaguey possibilities. A look at bushleaguefactor.com (for hockey logos, but the point stands) will tell you what I mean.

Wow, looking at that site, so many of the worst logos feature a hockey stick. Makes you think about the angry bird and the bat.

[FarmSystem]

Cause it's not a drastic change. Yeah, it's technically "different" but it's not THAT different. It's like Pepsi and Coke. Like you said, they didn't totally screw it up, but how could they? It's just some (IMO) minor changes to the same bird.

The Orioles just aren't cool, they never seem to want to try to spice things up or make things fun. And in the rare instance that they do, they get a dud like the "O's" hat. The Brewers wear their 80's uniforms for Friday home games and they look great. That would never happen here.

I think if I were to wear that hat, I'd look more like an ornithologist who's late to the bird club meeting rather than a fan of a baseball team.

So while it's technically a change, it really isn't. Its another boring "proper" ornithologically correct bird.

Sums things up pretty well. Its like the team the went with the lowest bid possible and signed on with some graphics artist that wouldn't put more than a night into the project.

[Crazysilver03]

We dont know for sure that that is the new hat. Can we wait to Wednesday to criticize the new uniforms?