Frederick Keys

Lore & Background

The Frederick Keys were founded in 1989 when the Baltimore Orioles moved their Class A Carolina League affiliate from Hagerstown, Maryland. The city of Frederick promised a 4,000-seat stadium, but for the 1989 season the team played at McCurdy Field, a Babe Ruth League stadium. The Keys opened with a doubleheader loss, including a seven-inning perfect game by Dennis Burlingame, and earned their first win on April 11, 1989, against the Kinston Indians.

Reader's Guide

The Frederick Keys are significant as a long-standing Orioles affiliate that bridged the pre- and post-2021 minor league reorganization. Their history includes four Carolina League championships (1990, 2005, 2007, 2011) and the rare direct promotion of two players—Eugene Kingsale (1996) and Jeff Fiorentino (2005)—to the Baltimore Orioles. The team's name and mascot, Frank Key, honor Francis Scott Key, author of the poem that became the U.S. national anthem. After the 2020 season cancellation due to COVID-19, the Keys were not invited to remain in affiliated baseball and joined the MLB Draft League. In 2022, Attain Sports and Entertainment purchased the team, and in August 2025 announced a swap with the Aberdeen IronBirds, returning the Keys to High-A Orioles affiliation for 2026. The team's legacy includes early professional baseball in Frederick dating to the Blue Ridge League (1915–1930), with teams called the Hustlers, Champs, and Warriors.

Did You Know?

• The Keys are named after Francis Scott Key, a Frederick County native who wrote the poem that became 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.
• Only two players have been transferred directly from the Keys to the Baltimore Orioles: Eugene Kingsale in 1996 and Jeff Fiorentino in 2005.
• The team's first win came on April 11, 1989, a 3–1 victory over the Kinston Indians.
• The Keys were purchased by Attain Sports and Entertainment in January 2022.