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We have to say that Maryland and the DMV in general are very underrated when it comes to sports. The region has seen some of the most legendary players and franchises in sports history, and Marylanders love their sports just as much as anyone else in the country. One of the many reasons why Maryland teams don’t get the recognition they deserve is partly because of the way major networks cover sports. Maryland is not as popular with major networks compared to places like LA or New York, and anything in between will get overlooked. But that didn’t stop Maryland teams from getting national recognition through their accomplishments, sound management, and a good dose of public funding. Let’s take a look at the top professional sports teams in Maryland.
The Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles is probably the most famous professional team to come out of Maryland and it is one of professional baseball’s prime franchises. It was also part of the original eight American League teams and has enjoyed special status because of that.
The Orioles did not start playing in Baltimore, however. They were first playing out of Milwaukee and then moved to St Louis. After a short stint there, the team was purchased by a conglomerate of Baltimore business owners in 1954.
The team has won three world series in its 120+ years of existence and had its best period from 1966 to 1983. They had six world series appearances during that time, which is one of the highest numbers of appearances in 20 years in the history of the sport.
The team’s most famous player is by far Cal Ripken Jr, who is now known for having the longest number of consecutive games in history and as one of the best shortstops to ever bless the game. Other great players to come out of the franchise include Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Eddie Murray.
The Orioles are also the state’s favorite team to bet on because of the high number of games and betting options. If you’re looking for a great place to bet on Oriole games you can check out this Maryland promo for BetMGM and prepare for the launch in January.
The Maryland Terrapins
Maryland doesn’t have an NBA team, but that doesn’t mean that the state basketball history and culture aren’t rich. College basketball is very big in the state, and the Terrapins are by far the most popular college basketball team. The former national champs play out of the Comcast Center and have a huge fan base in Baltimore, Rockville, and La Plata.
The Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are one of Maryland’s most cherished teams, and while it is a fairly new franchise, it feels like it has been in the city forever. The Ravens have always been known for their high energy and their defense. Ray Lewis is by far the most recognizable player the franchise ever had and helped cement that identity as a tough, defensive-minded team.
The Ravens are also known for drafting great quarterbacks starting with Joe Flacco back in 2008 and now with Lamar Jackson. These are two potential hall-of-fame quarterbacks, which is quite the accomplishment for a team so young. While the Ravens have struggled to enjoy the postseason success of the last few years, the future looks bright for the young squad, and we can expect Lamar Jackson to at least lead the team to a super bowl appearance, which could help revive the franchise and put it back at the top of the NFL where it should be.
Conclusion
Maryland is crazy about its sports, and these are some of the best teams the state has to offer. If you’re ever in Maryland, consider seeing one of these teams play to see what Maryland sports are all about.