The Baltimore Orioles have used the same insipid tagline on their television commercials for years now. (I want to say 60 years, but, well, at least the last couple seasons.)
“Ain’t Baseball Great?”
Today, with the Orioles five games under .500 and in last place in the AL East, every time that stupid, tired, old commercial, with its obnoxiously cheery, “Ain’t Baseball Great?” comes on … even if I’m not paying attention, even if I’m in the other room, even if I’m half asleep, I answer. Because only a shmoo doesn’t answer when someone asks them a question.
“Ain’t Baseball Great?”
“Ain’t it?”
For God’s sake, stop torturing me.
Not only is this tagline stupid, it doesn’t even belong to the Orioles. The Washington Nationals, who share their broadcasts on MASN, use it, too. So, the Orioles stupid, uninspired, boring tagline isn’t even their tagline.
So, as we slog into the All-Star Break, here’s a gift. Here are three former Orioles showing maximum awesome with their screen time.
These are “must watch” clips, non-O’s fans. I’m not kidding.
Ain’t Baseball Video Great? Sometimes it is.
Naked Jake
Jake Arrieta, starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, has done all right since leaving Baltimore. All right meaning, being named 2015 Cy Young and, oh, that World Series thing. This season’s been a little rough for him, but last summer Jake posed naked for the cover of ESPN Magazine’s “Body Issue.” Here’s a short video that accompanied the magazine.
Home Run Trotting Nelly
Boy, do I miss Nelson Cruz. He spent just one season with the Orioles, but 2014 sure was a good one – he led the league in homers and helped lead the O’s to the post-season. Today, he’s a Seattle Mariner. Unlike the O’s, the M’s know how to make a good commercial. Here’s one starring Cruz from this spring.
Mark With A K
Mark Reynolds, of the Colorado Rockies, is a two-fer in my book. Former University of Virginia. Former Oriole. Last week, Reynolds was named one of the “Final Vote” All-Star Game players – those are the ones that just missed the All-Star roster cut. So, there was one final week of fan voting to determine which additional AL and NL player would go to the All-Star Game.
#BeLikeMark was Reynolds’ hashtag and I hashtagged the hell out of it. Despite my tireless voting, it was pretty clear he had no shot. (Congratulations, other guy who won.)
So, here’s Mark. He may not be going to the All-Star game, but he’s funnier than the guys who are.
(To be honest, sharing this video was the only point of this post.)
“Ain’t Mark Reynolds Great?”
“Yes, Yes. A Million Times, Yes.”
(Sunday 5:23 p.m. Update: The Orioles defeated the Twins, 11-5, this afternoon. Baseball may be great after all.)
The Baseball Bloggess 
I have to tell you…I had not seen this and Mark has quickly become a fan favorite here in Denver, and the Rocky mtn west. Spilly is an ex Rocky and current tv commentator. This show cases both of their humor. Be like mark was an internal slogan amongst the players first as he is a great hitter, and plain great person. Players strived to emulate his hitting and personality…a great teacher of the game to the up and coming. It then morphed into the slogan that we used for writing him in for 1st base for the all star game. And now you know the rest of the story. On behalf of Rocky fans I thank the Orioles for sharing him! We love him, appreciate him and promise to continue the #Belikemark love!❤ Guess I need to go back and read the rest of the blog now! Thanks Jackie!
I’ve always liked Mark … he’s one of those former Orioles I always keep track of (not quite at the level that I follow every Nick Markakis box score in Atlanta, but …) Plus, University of Virginia, to boot!
I still remember his good humor when this video came out in 2012 — 100 Mark Reynolds’ K’s in two minutes.
http://deadspin.com/5916358/watch-mark-reynolds-strike-out-100-times-in-two-minutes
That makes his current accomplishments so special for him! I love that he took that terrible stat and has turned himself into a better hitter! and truly – so what?! Love it!
Well, not exactly. In fact, he’s on pace this season to have more K’s per plate appearance (striking out in about 1 of every 3.5 plate appearances) than he did while he was with the Orioles and led the league in strikeouts. So, I’m not sure he’s become a better hitter — he’s pretty much the same hitter. I think that just comes with the territory with Mark … he’s worth the strikeouts, because on those other at-bats there’s a chance he’s going to hit a home run. But, I do appreciate that he embraces all the jokes about strikeouts … :)
I would never have guessed that…his defense at 1st is wonderful and frankly his clutch hitting…very timely!
I love Mark Reynolds, K’s and all! :)
Hey, not everything can be “Meet the Mets.”
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Oh, you’ve cheered the heck out of me! And, I’m sharing “Meet The Mets” on here just in case someone doesn’t know it, and because this video is great.
I wonder if ‘Ain’t Baseball Great’ is somehow derived from Chuck Thompson’s ‘Ain’t the beer cold,’ which you once wrote about? I enjoy your blog.
You know, you’re probably right. (I’m part of the generation who remembers Chuck Thompson and when I read your comment, I heard his voice in my head.)
And, if that’s the case, then Nats fans should be especially annoyed to be stuck with a tagline that came from the Orioles. Sticking it to the Nats with Orioles slang? I’m smiling very quietly on the inside now.
(Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words.)
I just subscribed to the blog this afternoon and as I was browsing I came to this entry. I had the same reaction you did, since I listened to the Chucker’s radio broadcasts in VB starting in the late ’50s. Strangely, I even remember some of the lyrics to the National Bo jingle ( ?!) Although I’m just beginning to read it, I already think this blog is a treasure trove! 😉 I also have an affinity for both of the “orange & black” clubs & have actually corresponded occasionally with the Editor/Husband at WDC from my current abode in MN concerning Wilson the box turtle. The world is amazingly small… 😏
I know Wilson the Box Turtle!! :) I’m so glad to have other O’s fans on board … we can huddle together through the off-season and wonder what went wrong with the Orioles starting pitching. (Although, knock wood, we’ve had a few fine starts out of some of them … better late than never!) You mentioned that you’re in Minnesota now … are you close enough to see Twins games (or the Saints)?
Yes, indeed, I live in Saint Paul. The Saints, because it’s not just about the baseball, given owners including B. Murray & Mike (‘Disco Demolition Night was my idea”) Veeck, are often a tougher ticket. They have a nice new park on the river which has also hosted the International Cat Video Fest. The Twins taunt the fans with spurts of promise, but never seem to have sufficient pitching (like several others we know 🤔). Target Field is worth a visit- whether it will ever replicate the magic of the Metrodome remains to be seen 😏 Last week they had 30th reunion of the ’87 WS champs & unveiled a statue of Tom Kelly- they’ve copied the O’s in this regard. He joins Puckett, Killebrew, Carew, Olivia, Hrbek, Calvin Griffith, & Carl& Eloise Pohlad.
Do you remember those two Brady Anderson commercials ESPN used to run back in the day? Fun and inspirational! I stay think about them from time to time…
I’m not sure I remember them, but I bet I saw them … Brady had a good sense of humor, too, and I know that HTS (the precursor to MASN) made use of it in their local interviews and commercials.
The commercial showed a handful of kids jumping off a tree one by one and swinging by a rope into a barn door…ouch! Then finally one of them asks, “is that what Brady sounds like?” Then they flash to an O’s game highlight and Brady goes up over the fence to pull back a HR ball. It was a cute commercial.
I’m still smiling at this blog. Only you could lead off a tale with Miss Piggy and a naked man and make it all about baseball.
I’ve been trying for a year to figure out how to put that Jake Arietta naked piece on my website without it looking gratuitous. It still looks gratuitous … but … well, there you go! And, I’ll always make room on here for Miss Piggy! :)
My god, you sure do know how to cheer a gal up.
I’ve been calling Arrieta “the magnificent robot” these last few years – and that was BEFORE I was aware of his thigh (sorry, sorry – bit base there.) Anyhow, don’t think I’ll ever think him robotic now. For that alone, I thank you.
That IS a great Mariners commercial. Reminded me of one they made ages ago with Ichiro selling “the batter’s box” on the home shopping channel. Brilliant. They’ve never been my team, but I do enjoy their humour.
And an extra thank you for this Mark Reynolds’ video. I’m afraid I don’t know him that well – but from what I’ve seen of him here, he should’ve been a shoo-in on entertainment value alone :)
The Mariners & the Giants always seem to create these wonderful funny commercials with their players. And, it makes you wonder — when are all the other teams going to catch on?
I think “Ain’t Baseball Great?” is a MASN television channel thing. MASN has a channel that broadcasts all Orioles games and a channel that broadcasts all Nationals games. Both channels use the ain’t baseball great but Orioles-themed on the Orioles channel and Nationals-themed on the Nationals channel. I’m in an area that gets both channels, so I’m pretty lucky!
Yes, those are the commercials! I think Jeff, who commented earlier, is right in his explanation that he believes the MASN tagline evolved from legendary O’s broadcaster Chuck Thompson’s “Ain’t The Beer Cold!” line that he would use at the end of an O’s win. I still wish the O’s would be a little more creative … the line gets tired, especially when the team is on the skids. But, lately … baseball’s great!
:) Thanks for stopping by!