0-21: The Unbelievably Awful Journey of the 1988 Baltimore Orioles 

In Spain but the S is silent

Many of the Orioles fans back then didn’t know that thirty years later, in 2018 more specifically, the Orioles would have an even worse record of 47-115, be dead last in the majors in wins, lose a superstar slugger, Manny Machado in a deal to the Dodgers (who then went to the Padres), and for of course Chris Davis to start what would become a record breaking 0 for 54 slump expanding into 2019.

O's doing the reverse Undertaker. 1-21.

I remember calling the Orioles when the SI issue came out (0-18) and saying how sorry I was for their troubles. The lady on the other end chuckled and thanked me.

The fact they won 54 games after all this is kinda impressive to me

I’m 62 I grew up an Orioles fan I remember that year it was like driving past a bad wreck you just couldn’t look away

You need to make a sequel about the “Why not season?” Of 1989.

I was in high school in the Baltimore area when this happened. The day after that first loss, I was at the Baltimore Science Center with my parents when one of the exhibitors saw my Orioles hat and tried to poke a little fun at the ol' home team. "It's just one game!", I told him defiantly. I was so wrong.

The radio jockey was one of the first twitch streamers

The 2020 Tampa Bay Rays: Moneyball pt.2

There was a joke that year: Q: How are Michael Jackson and the Baltimore Orioles alike? A: They both wear a glove on one hand for no apparent reason.

Me: *cries in Orioles fan*

I actually had Larry Sheets as an instructor during my week at Cal Ripken’s baseball camp in 2012.

Football fans: You didn't win for 24 days? Eh, so what you lose 4 or 5 games in a row, that happens sometimes- Every other sport: We play almost every single goddamn day, y'know. Football fans: *Oh shit.*

As an orioles fan, I can indeed confirm that it is tough being a member of birdland. I’ll never give up on my O’s though. Someday we’ll be on top again.

Poor Jon Miller having to broadcast every one of those games

as an orioles fan, i didn’t need to see this title😔

For me as an modern orioles fan. After knowing how bad the 88 team was initially. It just puts into perspective how bad the 2018 team was, after managing to lose even more games. Pain.

Now do a video about the Indians 22 game win streak

This is the story of the 1984 Tigers in reverse

As an A's fan I love that they have been doing well during the regular season but every time they make the postseason my heart sinks knowing they just will blow it

5:14 Damn y'all really forgot about his Triple Crown World Series MVP season of 1966

They beat my Sox in '83 to get to the WS and to go like this with Cal & Murray was mindblowing 5 yrs.later

I hope you cover the 1962 Mets in the future and find a way to build an expansion team that could get to .500 in 1962.

While I recall that streak (yes, I am old enough), the team didn't feel that awful and the team bounced back the next year.... not like the current Orioles.

Thanks for this one Stark Raving Sports/Mike, it brought back an AMAZING memory! Oh Boy...do I remember the 87 O's. I was at the game between the O's and the Jays, Sept 14, 1987 at Exhibition Stadium in TO when Cal Sr, ended Cal Jr;s consecutive inning streak of 8243. On this night the Blue Jays pounded 10 Home Runs on the way to beating the toasted O's 18-3. It was such a wacky wild game with all those dingers that I lost my voice from "yahooing" basically all night. It might be worth showcasing as a sequel to this video. Cheers!

This made the 1989 season, the "Why Not?" Year, even more special

I remember reading about this in a Cal Ripken autobiography in 8th grade. I forget exactly what the things he said about it were but it was interesting to hear how a player of his stature dealt with those kinds of struggles he had in 1988

Amazing content!! As a Yankee fan born in 85 I never knew about this.

I remember all of this and do not care. I am proud to be a Oriole fan. Go Birds!!

Crazy how this team doesn’t have the worst regular season record in history though

I was 14 years old. The very first Orioles game I watched that season was their 9-0 win over the White Sox.

No one should suffer that long of a losing streak. Ever. I am sorry you suffered through that hell.

Baseball players are mentally tough. They have to be because they play almost every day. Can’t get too high when you win, or too low when you lose. But to go through something like this is something that would bring down even the mentally tough. There’s only so much failure anyone can take.

Thanks, I've been trying to recall Larry Sheets' name for several years. All I remembered was a largish player with a mustache hitting a HR, from a Sports Center clip I saw back in the '80's, but that's him for sure.

I remember the Sport Illustrated cover that said 0-18 the agony of the Orioles.

The 2021 Orioles as of this post are sadly approaching that mark again, and already have become the first team to have two losing streakings of at least 14 games in the same season since the 1935 Boston Braves, and have the highest margin of defeat in Major League History since way back in the inaugural 1876 season for the current 15-game losing streak. Even drawing 10,000 fans is a challenge nowadays, compared to the frequent sellouts at Camden Yards during the '90s. The pitching is even worse now than in '88 with a team era of 5.85! I've never lived to experience a pennant and a World Series appearance like my dad did, who grew up during those glory years.

I love the Baltimore Orioles, the Washington Nationals, the Atlanta Braves, and the Cleveland Indians.

I think from a baseball psychology standpoint. The opponent would expect or anticipate a 0-10 team would be "Due for a win" and would play harder. Whereas a 10-0 team might be due for a loss.

You used the Hastily Assembled Cleveland Tourism Videos! You absolute legend.

98 Rock DJ Bob Rivers did stay on air until the O's won, often playing the whole side of an album so he could take 20 minute naps.

Woohoo! An Orioles video!!! Oh...

Oh my god this puts something into so much context for me. The Orioles had a promotional VHS tape for fans that I had as a kid, my grandmother had it at her house where I used to go after school every day and I watched it dozens of times. It was called "Baltimore Orioles: 1989 Why Not?" Now knowing this comes off the back of the season of pain it feels so much different to know this wasnt just a happy go lucky thing for a 3rd or 4th place team.

I remember when the 1996(?) cubs started 0-14(?) when I was like 10. Even at that young age coming back from basketball practice, I knew we were fucked. I can’t imagine another 7 games

Kirby Puckett's quote is beautiful. I can't help but appreciate the cheeky devil. Saying something superficially nice while also stifling the biggest burst of laughter.

Lived in Arlington VA for this. One of the local radio stations (think it was 105, but don't quote me on that) used to have a 10 songs in a row commercial free block, and decided they would extend it with the O's. Ended up being like an hour and a half to 2 hours, then an hour of commercials.

The 1988 Orioles began the season 0-21 and yet ended up with the same number of wins then the Bad News Braves (Atlanta Braves) that season with 54.

Great video man!

Finally found a guy to help me learn about baseball history like mike korzemba did with basketball and the nine club did with skateboarding 🤙🏻

i subbed at “bottom of the six when the wheels fell off”

Dang i'm just happy Orioles are still in Baltimore at this point. Were 23-13 This year and im so proud what weve been able to do so far no matter how the out come it is ths year 2023 World Series Champions ! lol I'm Predicting now hoping me and my Dad gets to see us win one Together 🙏

Their owner, Edward Bennet Williams, took over the team in 1979 and started eviscerating the farm system, so they became dependent on free agents. Roland Hemond took over the team in 1988 and rejuvenated player development, so they played respectably over the next several seasons. Then another lawyer, Peter Angelos, wrecked the team again.

This was the prequel for one of the most exciting seasons I have ever had as a Baltimore Orioles fan. The 1989 Why Not? Season. Went into the final series against division leader Toronto with a chance to overtake or tie them but fell short.

This video was way better than I expected

I saw the Orioles play the twins on a Monday night, the last week of the streak. An Orioles player took a swing and corkscrewed his way to the ground after missing a pitch. It was a very sad sight. I was a twins fan and believe me they were no champions, though they won two titles around that time. Sorta by luck. But watching the Orioles that night I never felt so sorry and sad for a baseball team. This is the stuff of Legends.

I’m a pirates fan and we honestly aren’t too far off from that kind of futility rn. It’s gonna be a long ass year. At least we won on opening day lol

I remember this season like it was yesterday---unfortunately. Ironically, as the losses piled up, the Orioles became the team no one wanted to play because no one wanted to be the first team to lose to them.

Love this video man

I loved these days at old Memorial Stadium. Im a Phillies fan but my dad and uncle would take us to Baltimore from Jersey for the weekend to see the Orioles for 2 games along with the Inner harbor. I always remembered being blown away at real grass opposed to the Vet Stadium turf.

I was in the 7th grade when this happened.

I clearly remember this year and they blew massive chunks. I recall a DJ from 98 Rock living up on a rooftop until they won a game, he stayed there a while. Good old Larry "Between The" Sheets, forgot Bout him.

A bad season was going to happen for the Orioles. Ok maybe not an 0-21 start. But, after winning the World Series in 83, many of the core players from the 70's retired or were older and closer to retirement- Singleton, Al Bumbry, Scotty Mac, Dempsey. Then top prospects didn't pan out, Mike Young, Sheets-to a certain degree, and a bunch of pitchers. Then the Orioles tried a quick fix in 85, signing Fred Lynn, Don Aase, and Lee Lacy. Part of that had to due with the owner Williams who was battling cancer and wanted to see a winning team. So, I understand why they did it, but it wasn't a good move. They even brought back Earl Weaver, but he didn't have the players. The 89 Orioles, with Greg Olsen and could other players who had their career years, almost won the AL East.

This reminds me of my slow pitch softball team. Pretty sure we blasted past 21 games in a row tho

I wasn’t alive in 1988 but I was in 2018 so as an Orioles I know what it’s like to lose like that.

Lol I'm just happy and jealous of myself at being a Cardinals fan, cuz after seeing this, I realize how lucky I've been that we are almost always contending or in the playoffs

I remember this. One clip from that losing streak stands out to me because it was later used in a commercial that year. The three outfielders are all close together looking up trying to find the fly ball the other team's batter has just hit. The cameraman noticed before they did that the ball had already landed a little to the left/right (can't remember which) of all three of them and panned a little to the left/right of them showing the ball on the ground. And the commercial? It was for a shortlived soft drink called Slice that ran a memorable ad campaign that year that always began with someone saying, "Who's got the juice?" Then they'd show various clips of something cool and say, "Got it!" and then show a clip of something lame and say, "Uh-uh, ain't got it." That clip of the Orioles' outfielders looking in vain for the ball that had already landed was of course the one they ran for "Uh-uh, ain't got it."

God I’m old, I cried that season, I was 16 and heart broken!

@StarkRavingSport, you might considered to come up with new version since this 2021's Baltimore Orioles are back it with another possibility to breaK their own record and even the old time at least in losing streak at any time of the season.

You should do a video on the 89 Orioles. Totally different story that year.

Do other moments in MLB history. This was really cool

Really looking forward to the 2021 Mets version of this!

FR also won a WS in 1966 with Baltimore.

“Joe Carter hits a home run...probably the most important he will hit in his life.” I laughed out loud 😂

I saw one of the games in this streak in person (vs. Cleveland). Little did I know at the time that this game would be part of baseball history.

Most people forget about this, but the Braves (pretty damn bad themselves in the late 80s) started the 1988 season 0-10. But that didn’t matter, THE ORIOLES WERE 0-21! The Braves were so bad, they couldn’t be better at being bad than the Orioles.

I was 12 years old when I witnessed this madness. My father was a lifelong O’s fan who watched every game. To say he was miserable would’ve been the understatement of the century.

I was literally about to comment that at least this gave us Bob Rivers, loved him growing up in Seattle. This is the 'Joe Theismann's knee' of baseball teams.

The Orioles might have another big losing streak this year.

There is a part 2 to this story. The Oriole returned to Baltimore at 1 and 23 to face Texas on what was called "fantastic fan night". They won before a crowd of over 50k screaming fans! There it was announced that the Orioles has signed a 15 year lease to play at a new stadium to be built in the Camden Yards industrial area near the Harbor.... Do a youtube or google search on Orioles fantastic fan night 1988 for more information. And as others have mentioned they almost came in first in 1989!

I'd love to see you guys do a video on the curse of the colonel, if you need NPB footage I can link you some

I think that was the year I saw the Orioles vs Yankees at the old Memorial stadium

Eddie Murray was incredibly clutch and even he couldn't pull them out of this

Being an O's fan is a lesson in masochism. I have firsthand experience and can testify.

in AFL (Australian Rules Football) a team called the sydney swans went 0-6 to start an 23 game season in 2017 before only losing 2 the rest of the year and coming 5th in league.

And they almost made the playoffs the next year

I still remember this because the second Brewers series happened during my chicken pox bout when I was eight...and it was fun watching all this go on and watching the Brewers announcers gleeful over their horribleness.

Orioles still being a nightmare 😬 It hurts being an os fan and all I know is pain

As an Orioles fan I stopped watching baseball when Eddie Murray was traded as a scapegoat. So this season is one of my last Memories of watching baseball regularly

Loved the Joe Carter joke! Touch 'em all, Joe!

Okay, I'm pretty sure what happened with that run at 4:24 is they did the thing teams like to do with runners on first and third where they'll have the guy on first try to steal second, and if the catcher throws to second, the guy on third tries for home. Then they caught the guy going for second in a rundown, but while they were doing that, the run scored.

Damn! It sucked to be an Oriole's player and fan that year. Big time! Just like Mets pitcher Anthony Young who couldn't win a game and had a disappointing losing streak just similar to these Baltimore Orioles. Something like 19 straight lost.

The losing streak that had no end in sight… 19 in 21…. I’m looking forward to 2023!

Watching this aug 2021 and here its gonna happen again ,19 strait losses

I went to opening day 1988. Loud cheer as the O's took the field. Loud boos by the 4th. Loud cheer in the 7th or 8th when one of dozens of paper airplanes from the stands landed in front of the mound and they had to stop the game. For a 30 or 40 game stretch later in the season they played nearly .500 ball, with a better September they had a shot at 60 wins. Meanwhile the 2018 team was much more hopeless, 47-115.

Say what you will about this losing streak, but nothing will ever hold a candle to the infamous Earl Weaver rant from back in the day. You old timers know I'm talking about & for the younger generation, just type in Earl Weaver Rant & you'll see for yourselves what I mean. In one word to describe that one, CLASSIC!!!

Two more games and history repeats itself.

I was born and raised in Baltimore. 1988 was the first year I followed baseball and that was a brutal way to start.

This is just great,

That's baseball baby!

I was still collecting baseball cards in 88. Was the last packs I ever bought.