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Baltimore Orioles: Tampa Bay’s Social Media Team Says 2019 Rays Are Better Than 1966 Orioles

By Aaron Gershon|
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 08: Brooks Robinson #5, Boog Powell #26, and Jim Palmer #22, with members of the 1966 Baltimore Orioles team throw out the first pitch before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 8, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 08: Brooks Robinson #5, Boog Powell #26, and Jim Palmer #22, with members of the 1966 Baltimore Orioles team throw out the first pitch before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 8, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

While it was a joke, the Tampa Bay Rays social media team made a fool of themselves in a post comparing themselves to the 1966 world champion Baltimore Orioles team.

The 1966 Baltimore Orioles and 2019 Tampa Bay Rays have something in common. 53 years after the Orioles went 8-1 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in 1966 the Rays were able to complete the same feat as they dominated Boston in their home ballpark.

With that fact in mine, the Rays had a little fun tweeting that their current 2019 club was better than the 1966 Orioles.

For those who are unfamiliar with the 1966 Orioles, they were one of the most dominant teams in franchise history. The Birds went 97-65 and swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series to win their first championship in team history.

The team consisted of future Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Luis Aparicio and Frank Robinson who was named 1966 American League MVP after hitting .316 with 49 home runs and 122 RBI’s.

It’s safe to say, 1966 the Orioles don’t even compare to the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays (64-48). The Rays currently trail the New York Yankees by eight games for first place in the American League East, hold just a half game lead in the second Wildcard race and are on pace to finish the season 92-70.

While the team is better than most in baseball, they do not have a single star player, lacks home support and very well may miss out on the postseason.

Yes, the Rays social media was trying to make a joke, but it’s hard not to take offense to it as some of the most historic players to ever play the game of baseball played for the 1966 Orioles and helped them bring the first-ever world series championship to the city of Baltimore.

Though the joke was in poor taste, no Orioles fan will complain watching the Red Sox season fall apart just a year after winning the world series.

However, the Rays must remember 1966 Orioles > 2019 Tampa Bay Rays. Hear it from Palmer himself.

https://twitter.com/Orioles/status/1157662889899114496

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