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Baltimore Orioles: Looking back on the bullpen buggy craze

By Kristen Bentley

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 13: Relief Darren O'Day #56 of the Baltimore Orioles walks to the bullpen before the start of the Orioles and New York Yankees game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 13, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 13: Relief Darren O'Day #56 of the Baltimore Orioles walks to the bullpen before the start of the Orioles and New York Yankees game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 13, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Back in the heyday of television and baseball, teams like the Baltimore Orioles used something called a bullpen cart. These contraptions were used to ferry relief pitchers in style from the pen to the mound.

These little carts arrived in some stadiums as early as the 1950s, but the Baltimore Orioles did not get theirs until much later.

When bullpen carts first arrived on the scene, they were little more than motorized scooters. But, the cart used by the Orioles was so much more.

The Orioles tricked-out bullpen cart

In an article for the MLB Cut4 blog, Michael Clair conducted thorough research on the topic. In his blog, he shared the history of the bullpen cart and how they evolved through the decades. In it, he featured the Orioles cart from the 1971 World Series.

The kitschy cart wasn’t much more than a golf cart bedazzled to look like a baseball wearing a giant Orioles hat. The headlights were mounted inside of gloves and the brim of the hat was held up by baseball bats. These were quite a sight to see.

Now that the MLB is dedicated to speeding up the game, it might be time to bring back the bullpen buggies of yore. Instead of forcing bullpen pitchers to make the awkward jog from the pen to the mound, they could travel in style. However, it would be important to remind all spectators to not throw things at the cart – as spectators did at Comiskey Park in the 1950’s, according to Clair.

More from Orioles History

Bring back the kitsch

These little carts were used by the Orioles and the Pirates in the 1971 World Series. Both teams had their carts available at both parks, Memorial Stadium and Three Rivers Stadium. Pitchers were driven from the bullpen, but in most situations, the drives were not televised.

If bullpen carts were reinstated, they could become fun attractions. The Milwaukee Brewers were the last to use the carts and they used a Harley-Davidson and side-car. It is common for cars to be driven for advertising purposes around the perimeters of parks in between innings, so bullpen carts could do the same. Most bullpens still have large gates that would permit carts to enter and exit.

With the antics of some bullpens, especially the anyone playing at Wrigley Field, bullpen carts would only add to the unique personalities of those who work out of them. Bullpen carts would only add to the joy of the Rollercoaster dances and fake bowling that happens in the pens. And, pitchers could safely transport their plush animal backpacks on a big bullpen cart, too.

Next: Grading the O's Hot Stove moves in November

I’m all for anything that makes more people watch baseball. If tricked out bullpen carts will do it, then by all means, bring them back ASAP.

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