The orioles are a family of Old World passerine birds.

The family Oriolidae comprises the figbirds in the genus Sphecotheres, and the Old World orioles in the genus Oriolus. Several other genera have been proposed to split up the genus Oriolus. For example, the African black-headed species are sometimes placed in the genus Baruffius. In 2011 the genus Turnagra which contained two extinct species from New Zealand, the piopio, were found to be placed within this family. The family is not related to the New World orioles, which are icterids, family Icteridae.

The family is distributed across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The few temperate nesting species are migratory, and some tropical species also show seasonal movements.

Orioles are arboreal and tend to feed in the canopy. Many species are able to survive in open forests and woodlands, although a few are restricted to closed forest. They are opportunistic omnivores, with the main components of their diet being fruit, berries, and arthropods.

Manuel Arturo Machado (born July 6, 1992) is an American baseball shortstop for the Bowie Baysox, the AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. He attended Brito High School in Miami. Machado was drafted by the Orioles with the third overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He bats and throws right-handed. He stands at 6'2" and weighs 180 pounds. Keith Law, a writer for ESPN.com and the lead baseball analyst for Scouts Inc said that if Machado stays at shortstop, "you have a potential All-Star offensively who is no worse than average with the glove". Machado has been compared to New York Yankees third baseman, Alex Rodriguez. Machado said "it's a great honor" to be compared to Rodriguez, but he doesn't compare himself to anyone.

During his senior year of high school, he hit .639 with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs in 29 games.

Machado committed to play for Florida International University. Even if he hadn't signed with the Orioles he would not have been able to play baseball for FIU because he missed the deadline to enroll for fall classes.

Matthew Richard Wieters (born May 21, 1986) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Wieters was drafted fifth overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Wieters played college baseball for Georgia Tech, and his agent is Scott Boras. Wieters is a tall athletic hitter, standing 6 feet 5 inches tall. His ability to hit for power from both sides of the plate has drawn comparisons to Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek.

Wieters was born on May 21, 1986 in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Wieters played high school baseball at Stratford High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina. He played under Coach John Chalus, where Matt led the Knights to the AAAA state championship series. Wieters' high school team also featured Justin Smoak.

Wieters was a multi-talented star who earned numerous honors throughout his college career. He is one of just three players in Georgia Tech history to earn first-team All-America honors on at least two occasions. He was named a first-team All-America by Rivals.com and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 2007, first-team All-America by Baseball America and second-team All-ACC in 2006, and the ACC Rookie of the Year, Freshman All-America and first-team All-ACC in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III (born May 23, 1956) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees (1992–1995), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2000), and Texas Rangers (2003–2006). He was formerly a professional baseball player and a television analyst for ESPN.

A two-time American League (AL) Manager of the Year, Showalter has earned a reputation for building baseball teams into postseason contenders in short periods of time. He helped the Yankees rise from the bottom half of the AL East to first place before a players' strike prematurely ended the 1994 campaign. Under his watch, the Diamondbacks made their first-ever playoff appearance in only its second year of existence. He would leave both franchises just prior to seasons when they won the World Series.

Showalter, who was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, on May 23, 1956, grew up in nearby Century. His father, William Nathaniel II, served 23 years as a teacher and principal at Century High School, from which the younger Showalter eventually graduated. Before becoming a teacher, his father had been a Little All-American fullback in 1940 at Milligan College, and had considered a career in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but chose to become a high school coach and teacher instead.

Darren Christopher O'Day (born October 22, 1982) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers. O'Day is one of the few Major League pitchers to throw submarine pitches.

O'Day was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, and played high school baseball for the Bishop Kenny Crusaders.

O'Day received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Pat McMahon's Florida Gators baseball team from 2003 to 2006. He earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll recognition for four consecutive years, and was an Academic All-American as a senior. During the Gators' run in the 2005 College World Series, O'Day made four relief appearances and earned a save. O'Day graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in agricultural and life sciences in 2006.