Orioles Baseball: A Tale of Two Dictators

Both men love baseball. Both men have been known to stand up to authority.

And both men know about running proud establishments into the ground.

Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro and Orioles Owner Peter Angelos must have had rubbed elbows and delved into a conversation on the best leadership style while they were being photographed together during the Orioles’ 1999 exhibition series with the Cuban National team, 

And why not?  In Mr. Angelos’ six years of ownership and prior to meeting Mr. Castro the Orioles had three winning seasons.  However, since the photo-op, zilch, nada, Z-ro. 
Their conversation could not have been economics, as the Orioles attendance looks like Cuba’s tourism numbers.  Mr. Castro certainly didn’t impart any words of wisdom about infrastructure, as the Orioles have one of the worst minor league systems in the league.

Seemingly, he certainly must have glossed over the part about educational stability as the Orioles have gone through eight managers over Mr. Angelos’ 15-year reign. 

Defections have also plagued the Orioles as Hall of Famers Brooks and Frank Robinson were alienated by Mr. Angelos thus, leaving the nest.  Star player Mike Mussina left for rival Yankee dollars while the Erik Bedard let another homegrown Cy Young candidate get away.  Mr. Angelos’ regime also imported steroids and overpaid dwindling-star players, Bobby Bonilla, Albert Bell, and Sammy Sosa into the Oriole clubhouse.

Both of these owners know what it is like to corrupt a franchise, yet only one has seemingly 'fessed up and stepped down in 2008.  It’s time for Mr. Angelos to follow Castro once more and relinquish power.

A meddling owner has no place in modern sports just as a dictator has no room in the modern world.  Despite his recent willingness to let Andy MacPhail make the club’s baseball decisions, Mr. Angelos should step away before Camden Yards becomes a beautiful home to an irrelevant team.