The Orioles Hall of Fame was conceived in 1977 by The Oriole Advocates at the suggestion of two past presidents, Allen Barrett and Jack Buckley. With the encouragement and cooperation of the Orioles, the Hall was created, with Brooks and Frank Robinson as the inaugural members. In 1989, a veterans committee was formed to reconsider those early Orioles who may have been overlooked by voters not familiar with their contributions to the Orioles. In 1995, the Herbert E. Armstrong Award was established to honor non-uniformed personnel worthy of inclusion in the Orioles Hall of Fame.

The regular Hall of Fame Committee consists of a small group of media members and Advocates appointed by the current Advocate president. The committee creates a ballot containing the seven leading candidates for election to the Hall of Fame. Ballots are mailed to prominent media members and Advocate members who have been full members for at least five years. All candidates named on 75% of the ballots, are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Veteran inductees and Armstrong Award winners are selected by the Veterans Committee, made up of media members and Oriole Advocates who are familiar with the history of the club. Members of the Veterans Committee are appointed to ten-year terms.