Players . Though the team only played for two years , it generated a buzz for baseball that led to the first iteration of the Orioles being formed a few years later .
Just a year after the formation of the Baltimores , in 1873 , the first Preakness Stakes was held at historic Pimlico Race Course — predating the Kentucky Derby by two years . Since then , the course has seen its share of horse racing history ; it ’ s where Seabiscuit triumphed over War Admiral in 1938 , and where American Pharoah cinched the second jewel in the Triple Crown before becoming the 12th horse to claim the title in 2015 .
The 19th century may have marked the beginning of organized professional sports in Baltimore , but the 20th century is when our teams found their stride . The Orioles reemerged in the minor league in 1903 , where they remained until 1953 before transitioning to the majors . During this time , they signed Baltimore native Babe Ruth , considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time . As a major league team , the Orioles won the World Series in 1966 , 1970 and 1983 and produced Hall of Famers Cal Ripken , Jr ., Frank Robinson and Eddie Murray , among others .
At the same time , football was on the rise in Baltimore . The current NFL Colts franchise was formed here in 1953 , where it remained for 30 years before moving to Indianapolis . The sport returned to Charm City in 1996 , however , when the Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens . That year , the Ravens drafted legendary players Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden , who led the team to its first Super Bowl win only five years later in 2001 .
The Ravens went on to win the Super Bowl again in 2013 and have continued to produce Hall of Fame players such as Ed Reed , Deion Sanders and Shannon Sharpe , and break football records . In 2021 , current kicker Justin Tucker broke the record for the longest field goal ever when he scored a 66-yard game-winning kick . Quarterback Lamar Jackson also became the first player in NFL history to reach 3,000 + passing yards and 1,000 + rushing yards in a single season .
Pimlico Race Course
WENDY WOOLEY / ECLIPSE SPORTSWIRE JUSTIN TSUCALAS