Delmarva Shorebirds

The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, playing in the Carolina League at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. The franchise arrived on the Delmarva Peninsula in 1996 after relocating from Albany, Georgia, where the team had been known as the Albany Polecats. After one season as a Montreal Expos affiliate, the Shorebirds began their partnership with the Baltimore Orioles in 1997 — a relationship that continues to this day.

In nearly three decades as an Orioles affiliate, the Shorebirds have served as one of the most important development stops in Baltimore's farm system. The list of future major leaguers who played in Salisbury is remarkable: Manny Machado, Adley Rutschman, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts, Zack Britton, Dylan Bundy, Ryan Mountcastle, John Means, and Erik Bedard all wore Delmarva uniforms early in their careers. Rutschman, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, set a record as the highest draft pick to ever play for the Shorebirds — breaking Machado's previous mark.

The franchise has won two South Atlantic League championships (1997 and 2000) and posted a franchise-best 90 wins in 2019. Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, named for the founder of nearby Perdue Farms and seating 5,200 fans, has been the team's home since 1996 and provides an intimate minor league experience in the heart of the Eastern Shore.

Owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LLC under Tom Volpe since 2006, the Shorebirds have been a consistent community institution on the Delmarva Peninsula, drawing fans from across Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia to watch the next generation of Orioles talent take the field.