Orioles Merchandise Flying Off The Shelves Amid First Winning Season Since '97

The Orioles are currently tied for first place in the AL East, and sales of the team's merchandise "are skyrocketing," according to data provided by online retailer Fanatics.com and cited by Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Only the Yankees and Giants "have sold more gear than the Orioles in September." The team "jumped from the 14th spot in August to No. 3, having sold 40 percent more merchandise in the first half of September than in the entire month of August." Sales of the team's official New Era cap are up 102%, making it the "seventh-most popular team" in MLB. Fanatics added that 67% of people "who purchased Orioles gear from their website came from outside the state of Maryland." Rovell noted not only has the team's performance "jump-started sales," it also comes from the fact the Orioles "decided to wear retro all of the time." Orioles Communications Dir Greg Bader said that "so many people are now wearing the team's apparel that 'you can't go a few feet in downtown without seeing Orioles gear'" (ESPN.com, 9/18).