35 Years Ago Today, Queen Elizabeth II Made an Appearance at MLB Game in Baltimore
In 1991, Queen Elizabeth II surprised the public with a rare and memorable appearance at a Major League Baseball game.
Her Majesty the Queen stepped outside of their usual royal protocol and flew from the U.K. to the U.S. for a 13-day royal state visit.
Among the scheduled events for the royal couple was a visit to an MLB game.
Thirty-five years ago today, the then-65-year-old queen marked a historic moment, together with her husband King Philip and President George H.W. Bush, and his wife Barbara Bush, to watch the intense matchup between the Oakland Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles.
Striking her signature look, the queen dazzled in a below-the-knee burgundy-and-black printed long-sleeve dress, which she styled with black gloves.
As for her accessories, she kept it simple with three strands of pearls and a brooch that added a subtle touch of flair to her look.
For the sporting event, the Queen skipped wearing a formal hat, which members of the royal family typically wear during public outings.
Meanwhile, the King looked dapper in his signature black coat, exuding a classic presence throughout the event.
As they arrived at the dugout, the couple, together with Bush, was greeted by the players and their coaches.
Legendary Hall of Fame inductee Reggie Jackson, who was a coach at that time for the Athletics, was the first to greet the royal couple, followed by Athletics manager Tony La Russa.
Interestingly, reports noted that La Russa instructed the players to "act naturally" during the interaction.
Lo and behold, the team took the advice literally , prompting Oakland slugger Jose Canseco to welcome the royal visitors while continuously chewing gum.
In addition, coach Cal Ripken Sr, Cal Ripken Jr and Dave Stewart were also spotted with the latter describing the Queen as "extremely friendly and engaging."
On the other hand, Ripken Jr. appeared moved by the rare experience, noting that the atmosphere felt completely different.
"I've been playing baseball for 10 years, and I'm used to a normal atmosphere, but this is very different. There's a lot of excitement," he said, as mentioned by Bird Watchers.
It was the Oakland Athletics who took home the victory after securing a 6-3 win as the final score.
Throughout her 70-year reign as the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II rarely attended sporting events.
The only notable appearances were at the annual horse racing events such as Royal Ascot or the Epsom Derby. Interestingly, this was also the sport she was most passionate about.
Adding to the list were the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and the 2012 London Olympics and among the few.
Related: King Charles Makes Noticeable Home Change Involving Meghan Markle
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM.