'Wild' Bill To Be Honored on Tuesday...

Tomorrow night at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles will honor 'Wild' Bill Hagy with a T-Shirt promotion (adorned with the number #34 on the front and back -- for the section he did his cheer in -- they will be given out to the first 10,000 fans), and will give fans a chance to remember a part of the Baltimore sports lexicon.

From the Orioles Press Release: ... on Tuesday, June 17, the first 10,000 fans 15 & over attending the 7:05 p.m. game against the Houston Astros will receive a Wild Bill Hagy t-shirt in honor of the late Orioles superfan. June 17 marks the anniversary of Hagy's birthday, and Hagy's friends and supporters will join the Orioles in honoring him throughout the game. The shirt will feature the number 34, which was the number of the section in the upper deck at Memorial Stadium from which Hagy led "O-R-I-O-L-E-S" cheers.

As we all know, he lead the famous O-R-I-O-L-E-S chant, by not only screaming it out, but doing gyrations with his body the best he could to spell out the letters. He lead crowds during the late 70's to mid-80's, and would whip the crowd into a frenzy.

I was fairly young during this phenomenon, so I can't recall any great stories or what not; however, I did get to meet him a handful of times at events, and once at a game. He seemed like an everyman and almost a quiet guy -- but no doubt a true fan as everyone just seemed to gravitate towards him.

To be remembered for anything is special, and it is nice that the Baltimore Orioles franchise have taken out a day to give thanks to a fellow that embodied 'Oriole Magic' way back when...