Memorial Stadium stood at 900 East 33rd Street in Baltimore, Maryland, serving as the city’s premier sporting arena for nearly half a century. Built on the site of an earlier 1922 facility, the rebuilt stadium opened on April 20, 1950, and was dedicated to Baltimore’s fallen soldiers from both World Wars — a tribute inscribed in concrete above its home plate entrance.
The stadium became one of the most storied multi-purpose venues in American sports history. It housed the Baltimore Orioles for 38 MLB seasons (1954–1991), the Baltimore Colts for 30 NFL seasons (1953–1983), and even welcomed the Baltimore Ravens for two transitional seasons (1996–1997). Fans famously nicknamed it “The World’s Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum,” a testament to the passionate crowds that routinely packed its horseshoe-shaped grandstands.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 900 E. 33rd Street, Baltimore, Maryland
- Opened: April 20, 1950
- Closed: December 14, 1997
- Demolished: April 2001 – February 2002
- Peak Capacity (Football): 65,248
- Peak Capacity (Baseball): 53,371
- Teams: Baltimore Orioles (MLB), Baltimore Colts (NFL), Baltimore Ravens (NFL), Baltimore Stallions (CFL)
- World Series Hosted: 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, 1983
A Stadium for Champions
The Baltimore Orioles won three World Series championships with Memorial Stadium as their home — in 1966, 1970, and 1983 — making it one of the most decorated baseball venues of its era. The Orioles also appeared in the Fall Classic in 1969, 1971, and 1979, meaning Memorial Stadium hosted six World Series in total, more than almost any other ballpark of its generation. Legends such as Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver defined Orioles baseball on its grass field.
The Baltimore Colts wrote their own chapter in football lore here, guided by quarterback Johnny Unitas and wide receiver Raymond Berry. The Colts played their final home game at Memorial Stadium on December 18, 1983, before owner Robert Irsay controversially relocated the franchise to Indianapolis in March 1984, leaving Baltimore without an NFL team for over a decade.
Decline, Demolition, and Legacy
After the Orioles departed for the new Camden Yards in 1992, Memorial Stadium entered a quiet twilight. The Baltimore Stallions of the CFL played there in 1994 and 1995, and the expansion Ravens used it for their first two NFL seasons before M&T Bank Stadium opened. The stadium closed permanently on December 14, 1997.
Demolition began in April 2001 and was completed by February 2002. In a compromise brokered by Mayor Martin O’Malley, the memorial wall honoring Baltimore’s war dead was preserved and reinforced at a cost of $750,000. Today, the Cal Ripken Senior Youth Development Field occupies the former baseball diamond site, keeping the spirit of competition alive on historic ground.
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Memorial Stadium FAQs
When was Memorial Stadium in Baltimore demolished?
Demolition of Memorial Stadium began in April 2001 and was completed by February 15, 2002, after the venue had stood for more than 50 years.
Which teams called Memorial Stadium home?
The stadium hosted the Baltimore Orioles (MLB, 1954–1991), the Baltimore Colts (NFL, 1953–1983), the Baltimore Stallions (CFL, 1994–1995), and the Baltimore Ravens (NFL, 1996–1997).
How many World Series did Memorial Stadium host?
Memorial Stadium hosted six World Series: 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, and 1983. The Orioles won three of those series (1966, 1970, 1983) and lost three (1969, 1971, 1979).
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Photo: Original uploader was Jmj1000 at en.wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.