Awhile back I did a post about Angels Stadium and the Anaheim Angels. In that post I stated I was going to do a post about some of the other ballparks I have been to and talk about the home team. While originally writing this, the Angels were playing the Baltimore Orioles, thus I decided to share my visit to their home park called Oriole Park of Camden Yards. On a side note, the Angels took the series!!! (sorry Orioles fans)
Oriole Park
I will start by telling you that it is the first of the “retro” major league ballparks. The construction of the park was completed in essentially 33 months from the time razing previous structures on the 85-acre parcel began June 28, 1989, in the area known as Camden Yards. It remains one of the most highly praised parks today. The great success of Camden Yards sparked a trend in the construction of more traditional, fan-friendly ballparks in downtown locations across the U.S. By the 2012 season, all but two teams played in baseball-only parks.
On September 6, 1995, Camden Yards witnessed Cal Ripken, Jr.‘s record-setting 2,131st consecutive game. Exactly one year later, Eddie Murray blasted his 500th home run there. Two orange seats stand out from the park’s dark green plastic chairs. One is located in Section 96 and commemorates the spot where Eddie Murray’s 500th home run landed. The other, in Section 86, is the landing spot for Ripken’s 278th home run.
A few notes of interest:
- The park is only 2 blocks from the birthplace of baseball’s most legendary hero, George Herman “Babe” Ruth.
- The ballpark originally seated 48,041 (and now seats 45,971), and the project cost was approximately $110 million.
- On April 6, 1979, The Oriole Bird hatched out of a giant egg at Memorial Stadium and became the official mascot of the Baltimore Orioles.
- On October 8, 1995, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Camden Yards as part of his visit to Baltimore, one of the most prominent non-baseball events at Camden Yards.
Baltimore Orioles
On September 28, 1953, baseball’s owners unanimously agreed upon the move of the St. Louis Browns to Baltimore. When I originally wrote this in 2014, they had just celebrated the 60 years that the Orioles have been in Baltimore. Although it didn’t start as well as they would have hoped for, as they went 54-100 and 57 games back in the division. However, in 1960 the team made a charge for the pennant and finished with 85 wins.
Then in 1966 the Orioles, AKA the Birds, acquired Frank Robinson which turned out to be the missing piece needed to make a successful run for the Championship. They ended up defeating the favored LA Dodgers in a 4-game sweep. Just to prove that it wasn’t a fluke that they won the World Series in 1966, the Orioles again went to the series in 1970 and beat the Big Red Machine (Cincinnati Reds) 4-1. They would go to the World Series, and few more times, and win it all in the 1983 season.
In 1982 Rookie Cal Ripken Jr started his opening day game going 3 for 5 with a home run. He would go on to be known as the “Iron Man” playing in 2,632 consecutive games breaking Lou Gehrig‘s record set 56 years prior. He would often hit more than 20 home runs per season and had a career total of 431.
Sadly, for Orioles fans anyway, there hadn’t been a lot to root for since their last winning season and unsuccessful World Series run in 1997. That was until 2012 when Buck Showalter (who became their manager in 2010) came on the scene and would lead them to post their first winning season and post season appearance in 14 years.
Above is s a picture of all the retired numbers of the Baltimore Orioles. They are:
- 20 – Frank Robinson
- 5 – Brooks Robinson
- 4 – Earl Weaver
- 22 – Jim Palmer
- 33 – Eddie Murray
- 8 – Cal Ripken, Jr.
- 42 – Jackie Robinson – All of MLB
Hope you have enjoyed reading about the Orioles and their home stadium, Oriole Park. If you haven’t been there, I highly suggest taking in a game there someday. it is a great park and I really enjoyed my visit and watching a couple of games while in the area in August of 2009. Their mascot, the Oriole Bird, got everyone excited and kept us entertained pregame and in between innings. It was a great park and I was really happy to be able to go and see it in person. Here is a link to their website if you are looking for more information than listed below. Go O’s, unless you are playing the Angles, lol
Oriole Park Visitor Information
Address:
333 West Camden Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Phone:
888-848-2473
Tours:
Tours last approximately 90 minutes, and tickets are sold in advance or the day of the tour, subject to availability. More than one million fans have taken a tour of Oriole Park since the ballpark opened in 1992. For more information, call the Tour Information Line at 410-547-6234 or visit online at orioles.com/tours.
Tour Schedule
April, May, September – Non-Game Days
Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.
April, May, September – Game Days
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1 p.m
June, July, August
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m.
Sunday (non-game days only): 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
October
Sunday: 12 p.m.
- No tours will be held if there is a daytime game (any game that begins before to 3:30 p.m.)
- When there is a 4 p.m. game, tours will be offered at 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- No tours will be held on Ravens home game dates
All tour dates and times are based on ballpark availability and are subject to change. Tour tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
What You Will See
- The Orioles dugout (Tours beginning after 1 p.m. may not visit the dugout on game days)
- The Press Levels
- The Scoreboard Control Room
- Our exclusive Suite Level
- Orioles Legends Park
- Eutaw Street
*Areas visited are accessible to all
Pricing:
- Adults – $15
- Children (ages 3 to 14) – $10
- Seniors (60 and over) – $10
- Children under 3 years – free
- Discounted rates are available for groups of 25 or more. To schedule a private tour, please call Ballpark Tours at (410) 547-6234.
FROM REISTERSTOWN, WESTMINSTER AND HANOVER, PA AREAS
Take MD 140 (from Westminster area) or MD 30 (from Hanover area) to I-795 South. Take I-795 to I-695 East (Balto. Beltway). Take I-695 towards Towson to Exit 23; take I-83 South to downtown Baltimore, it will become President St. Turn Right onto Lombard St. and proceed for approx. 1 mile. For public parking, turn Right onto Howard, Eutaw, Paca, or Greene Streets. For the stadium entrance, turn Left onto Howard St. and make a right at the 3rd light for permit parking on North, East, A, or B/C lots.
FROM WESTERN MD AND POINTS WEST
Take I-68 (National Freeway), to I-70, to I-695 (Balto. Beltway). Keep Right/South onto I-695 (toward Glen Burnie). Take I-95 North (Exit 11) towards Baltimore. For public parking, take 395 North (Exit 53) and keep Left at the split to enter downtown. For public parking, turn right on Pratt Street or left on Lombard Street and select a parking garage/lot. For the stadium entrance and permit lots, take Russell St. North (Exit 52) and turn Right onto Lee Street.
FROM NORTH (YORK, HARRISBURG, CENTRAL PA AND N. CENTRAL BALTO. CO.)
Take 1-83 south to I-695/ I-83 towards Baltimore. Continue to Exit 23 (I-83 South, Jones Falls Expwy.) Take I-83 South to downtown Baltimore, it will become President St. Turn Right onto Lombard St. and proceed for approx. 1 mile. For public parking, turn Right onto Howard, Eutaw, Paca, or Greene Streets. For the stadium entrance, turn Left onto Howard St. and make a right at the 3rd light for permit parking on North, East, A, or B/C lots.
FROM NORTHEAST MARYLAND, DELAWARE AND POINTS NORTH
South on I-95 through the Fort McHenry Tunnel; For public parking, take 395 North (Exit 53) and bear Left at the split to enter downtown. Continue north for parking locations off of Howard Street or turn right on to Pratt or Left on to Lombard Street. For the stadium entrance and permit lots, take 395 North (exit 53) and bear right at the top of the ramp. Lots A, B/C, North and East can be accessed via this ramp.
FROM ANNAPOLIS AND EASTERN SHORES
From Bay Bridge, west on US 50/301 to I-97 North. Continue on I-97/MD 3; at interchange with I-695 (Balto. Beltway), bear right to ramp leading onto westbound I-695. Continue on I-695 to Exit 7 (MD 295/B-W Pkwy) or Exit 11 (I-95). For stadium permit lots, take MD 295 North into downtown Baltimore, as it becomes Russell St and turn Right onto Lee St. For public parking, continue north on Russell Street to Pratt Street and turn right for various garages or lots. Or from I-95, for public parking, take 395 North (Exit 53) and keep Left at the split to enter downtown. Turn right on Pratt Street or left on Lombard Street and select a parking garage/lot. For permit parking, bear right when on 395 North and use the slip ramp which comes down at the foot of the warehouse and the ballpark. Lots A, B/C, East, and North can be accessed via this ramp.
FROM WASHINGTON D.C., VIRGINIA AND POINTS SOUTH
Take MD 295 (B-W Pkwy//Russell St.) to downtown Baltimore. Continue onto Russell Street and turn Right onto Lee Street for stadium permit lots. For public parking, turn right onto Hamburg St. just after Ravens Stadium and follow signs for Lots F, G, H. or continue on Russell Street and turn right on to Pratt Street to parking garages and lots in the city.
Parking:
Oriole Park is easily accessible via major highways. General parking on a day of game basis is available in Lots F, G, and H. Subject to availability, limited parking may be offered in Lots B and C on a first-come, first-served basis. Off-site, over 30,000 spaces are located in garages and lots throughout the downtown/Inner Harbor area within one mile of Oriole Park. For directions to the park, more information on parking, and details on equal access accommodations, please visit orioles.com.
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