This odd Orioles 2026 promo has fans scratching their heads

The Baltimore Orioles have had somewhat of a glorious offseason, which might have the franchise dangerously feeling like it can do no wrong. You know, when you tell five hilarious jokes in a row at dinner, feel untouchable, and then drop a stinker on the sixth try? That's more or less what the Orioles might've just done in announcing Tupac Shakur bobblehead day at Camden Yards for May 8 of the upcoming season.

This is anything but a dig at Tupac, who is one of the most important American musical artists of all time and a cultural icon. More so, it's a rhetorical question about what on Earth Tupac has to do with Baltimore, and the answer is actually surprising.

Orioles fans have no idea why the franchise is acting like Tupac is a Baltimore legend ... but there's a catch

Athletics fans are already expressing backlash on X over the Orioles' questionable Tupac bobblehead, and these fans have a point -- if any team has a claim to Shakur, it's probably the A's. Tupac was a West Coast rapper who moved to the Bay Area in his teens and repped Oakland. Shakur also loved spending time in the Athletics' future home of Las Vegas (where he tragically passed away).

But wait a second! Shakur also lived in Baltimore! This is actually true. Tupac spent his childhood in New York City but moved to Baltimore at age 13 and lived there between 1984 and 1988 (before his move to the West Coast). He attended Baltimore School for the Arts and got into rap for the first time during this period.

Well, that settles things. It appears the Orioles' splendid offseason continues without a spot on its resumé. For a moment there, the Tupac bobblehead felt undeserved and perhaps another of Baltimore's uncomfortable truths to deal with heading into the 2026 season.

Let Orioles fans rejoice and honor Tupac on May 8 without fear of criticism, even from visiting Athletics fans (clever of the O's to organize this dual-team Tupac day, isn't it?). Hopefully, by early May, Pete Alonso and Co. will have exploded off to an unstoppable start and be leading the American League East by a healthy margin.

That would fall in line with how things are feeling with the Orioles of late. Just when you think Mike Elias is done making moves, there's one more domino waiting to fall. And just when you think the franchise falsely claimed Tupac, it turns out he's always been a part of Baltimore.