If the Orioles Want to Make the Playoffs, They Need to Channel the Spirit of '89

It feels like it’s been a while since somebody dug up one of those super-cheesy rallying cry/music videos that seemingly every professional sports team made back in the 1980s.

Last night my friend Tim passed this clip along to me after the Orioles notched an improbable come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Red Sox and their previously flawless closer Koji Uehara. Baltimore remains alive in the Wild Card hunt, two games back of both Tampa and Texas.

If the Birds need any more motivation, they ought to watch this video a few times before Wednesday night’s game. I’m pretty sure Chris Davis did and that’s why he socked his franchise-best 51st home run last night.

The video “Why Not Us?” about the 1989 Orioles is dripping with late-80 cheese, including among other things laughably earnest lyrics about team spirit, bad mustaches, awkward white-guy dancing and, of course, a rocking sax line that just won’t quit.

I’ll give the 2013 Orioles some credit, they tried to make a video earlier this year, but it was a “Lion King” parody about Manny Machado.

If you’re wondering the “Why Not Else” rallying cry helped the 89 Orioles, but not enough as they finished in second place in the American League East — two games back of the Blue Jays. Mickey Tettleton did hit 26 homers that season, so it wasn’t all for naught.