The
Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century
American Association and
National League (organized 1876) team from
1882 to
1899. The early ball club, which featured numerous future
Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years (1894–1895–1896) and won the "
Temple Cup" national championship series in 1896 and 1897. Despite their success, the dominant Orioles were contracted out of the League after the 1899 season, when the N.L. reduced its number of teams and franchises from 12 to 8, which endured for the next half-century. This controversial action resulting in the elevation of the former
Western League by leaders such as
Ban Johnson into a newly-organized
American League in 1901 of which the Baltimore Orioles were a prominent member for its first two seasons which "waged war" on the elder "Nationals".