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Baltimore Orioles

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Sandieq
Sandieq
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5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
3
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26
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Editor Pick

Welcome to Birdland and the Home of the Ironman!

  • October 19, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by stvchin from Tustin, California
Welcome to Birdland and the Home of the Ironman!

I love baseball, and a visit to watch a Baltimore Orioles baseball game was not to be missed on our Washington DC visit. From Washington DC, we took the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) train’s Camden Line, which goes from DC’s Union Station to Camden Yard. It’s a $7 ticket one way, and about 1 hour, and 10-15 minute trip. Interesting trivia tidbit, the Camden Line began service in 1930, making it the oldest passenger line in the US.

Oriole Park at Camden Yard is located in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, which is a historic area, as well as a tourist area with nice stores and great restaurants. Oriole Park is the first of the newer "retro" ballparks, opening in 1992. It’s the first of a generation of ballparks that is designed to be fan friendly and designed for baseball, rather than a generic concrete stadium designed for multiple sports.

We purchased tickets and entered via the first base gate, which is off Eutaw Street. The main gate is actually by center field, on the north side. Our ticket cost $20 each for a Tuesday evening game versus the Oakland Athletics. Our seats were in the upper box, Section 346, Row 1. We each received an Orioles Brag Bergeson t-shirt as part of a promotion. Eutaw Street is closed off to vehicular traffic, and separates Orioles Park from the B&O Warehouse, which are used as team offices and a private club. You must have a ticket to visit Eutaw Street during game days. There are little bronze tile plaques on Eutaw Street, each one marks where a home run has landed. The Bud Light Warehouse Bar, and other carnival attractions are located on Eutaw Street.

The ballpark itself is a gorgeous one, with lots of nice brickwork on the outside. There are good views of downtown Baltimore looking out towards center field. The large screen display is very vivid and easy to see. Oriole Park is designed with the field level about 16 feet into the ground, making it easier to reach the upper levels without having to ascend so many staircases or ramps. From the upper level looking out, you can see M & T Bank Stadium where the Ravens play football and the round top of the B & O Railroad Museum. There are many food venues, including delis serving Maryland crab cakes, as well as usual ballpark favorites such as hot dogs, nachos, burgers, and garlic fries. I found a particularly good fresh squeezed lemonade stand on the upper level tool.

The home crowd at Orioles Park is very loyal, proudly showing off their orange. This crowd has it together, with appropriate chants and cheers supporting their team and individual players. The fans seem to be very much into the game and very knowledgeable. I really like a game where the fans are really into the game, not chatting or texting away on their Blackberries or iPhones. This makes for a very good game time experience.

Our only real difficulty was returning to the Washington DC area by public transportation. The MARC doesn’t run this late, as the game finished around 10 PM. We quickly exited onto S Howard Street light rail station for the train to Baltimore-Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport. From there, we took a bus to the Greenpoint Station for the Washington DC Metro trains.

Outside the center field area of the ballpark is a display with retired numbers of former players, including number 8, the Ironman, Cal Ripken. Cal has a 4 foot tall plastic number, and I think a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame should get a huge bronze statue. There is a bronze statue of Babe Ruth, as he was born in Baltimore. In fact, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is off Emory Street, just 2 blocks west of Oriole Park. Just behind the ballpark is the Sports Legends at Camden Yards museum, a sports museum, housed in the old B & O Railroad's Camden Station. I must say that we really enjoyed ourselves here with a good game, good food, great fans, and beautiful ballpark. I will definately come back here again to watch more games when I can.

From journal Our Nation's Capital

Editor Pick

Baltimore Orioles

  • May 16, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by rickhowe from Darlington, Maryland
Baltimore Orioles

Growing up in the shadow of Philadelphia, my childhood memories of live professional baseball were marked by the likes of Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts and the Philadelphia Phillies. Playing in old Connie Mack Stadium—a dark and claustrophobic place that always smelled of cheap cigars.

After that, and until we moved to Maryland in the mid-1990s, I had not set foot in a professional baseball stadium.

But we were so intrigued by the new stadium for the Orioles, Camden Yards, that we started going to games.

It helped that some guy named Cal Ripken was at the time approaching his Ironman record!

Camden Yards is an engineering marvel. It appears to be a classic turn-of-the-century (the 19th/20th century) palace, but while it exhudes classic architecture and design, it is light and airy, with large public spaces and comfortable seats.

Parking is easy close-in (albeit a little expensive), but many regular fans park in small lots scattered throughout the Inner Harbor area. Our favorite place is a chuch parking lot (for a $5 fee), only two blocks from the stadium

Food at the stadium is a treat—what other baseball stadium sells Crab Cakes? But our favorite place is Boog's Bar-B-Que (names for former Oriole Boog Powell), in back of right field, just over the flag court.

If you are lucky enough to score tickets in the 200-level, you're in the club level. That is helpful on a rainy day, because you can get away from the rain in the closed club area, with lots of places to eat, shop, relax and watch the game on television monitors.

Camden Yards is well-guarded and well-patrolled. When our son was only 12, and we were there with a friend, we had no problem letting him wander through the stadium, keeping in touch with inexpensive walkie-talkies.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a terrific family-friendly place, and even if the Orioles aren't playing well, it makes for a wonderful family afternoon or evening.

Very Highly Recommended!

From journal This is Rick's Guide to Baltimore, Hon

Baltimore Orioles Game/Camden Yards

  • July 15, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Sandieq from Peoria, Arizona
Baltimore Orioles Game/Camden Yards

This is another one of those must-do things. The ballpark is stunning. The layout is unsurpassed. Food and drink all were normally priced for a sports event. Make sure to bring your camera - there is not a bad seat in the house, so you will have plenty of photo ops.

Before we hit Camden Yards, we took in a couple drinks at the ESPN Zone. A lot of sports eye candy all over the place in there. Best sports bar I have ever been to. We then strolled to Harbor Place and took some pictures of the USS Constellation. We didn't go to the National Aquarium this time, but I have been there before. It is really something to see. I haven't even touched on all the historic places in Baltimore to see. Fort McHenry, Babe Ruth’s house, Edgar Allan Poe’s grave, and let’s not forget historic Fells Point. That is a good time right there. Something for everyone.

From journal Going Downtown to See The Orioles

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