Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Baseball trip

 I visited Oriole Park at Camden Yards, aka Camden Yards, in July 2022. This retro-style stadium opened in 1992 in downtown Baltimore, which is a couple of blocks away from Inner Harbor and Convention Center.  Camden Yards is the home of the Baltimore Orioles, a team that competes in the American League East division. Chartered in 1901, the Orioles have been World Series Champs 3x (1966, 1970, 1983). The former Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse is seen in the right field, with scoreboard in center and Baltimore Orioles (Maryland state bird) on each side above video display. 

After 2008 season, the park has been renovated, adjusting the left field to reduce the homeruns at the park, adding more concessions, updating video display and scoreboard, and adding standing room area. What I like about Oriole Park is that it is close to Philly, only a train trip away. When O’s (nickname of team) play a team within 3 hours (like Yankees, Nationals, Phillies, or Mets), the fans of the opposing team invade the stadium, especially if home team is not that good. When O’s or the Birds are good, Oriole fans do come out in droves. That area around Camden Yards is  full of orange and black-clad fans. However, in the years of rebuilding, the ballpark became the “home” park of the opposing team. This current 2023  team, which won the AL division East crown, has Baltimore fans back supporting baseball, so it becomes a strong home park for the Birds. Based upon the young talented core and those in the minor league, O’s have a lot to be excited about.

The statues around the ballpark, like hall of famers Brooks Robinson (3B), Cal Ripken, Jr. (SS), and Babe Ruth (local son of Baltimore, minor league-1914 Baltimore Orioles in International League), honors the O’s  of the past. This franchise started as the original Milwaukee Brewers (1901), then moved and became St Louis Browns (1902-1953), then moved a third time and became the Baltimore Orioles (1954-present).

I was fortunate to attend Game 2 of the American League Division Series (ALDS), this past weekend. The Orioles were defeated by 3 by the Texas Rangers (11 Rangers - 8 O’s).  It was a struggle to watch, for O’s pitchers kept walking Rangers players.  If you walk too many players, it will cost you. It did for the O’s in this game, because Texas Ranger player, Mitch Garver, hit a grandslam (all 3 players on base were from walks, unearned runs). The O’s are now down two games in a 5-game series to the Rangers. The O’s are one loss away from being swept in divisional round.  I would not count out the O’s.  If they can find quality pitching in young arms, there is fight in this O’s team, so Rangers better not discount a comeback at Arlington. I am hoping a Game 5 will be played in Baltimore.