Visiting the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Orioles were fourth in their division (35-35), taking on the top team in the AL Central, the Indians (37-32). The Orioles won the game 6-5 with Manny Machado going 4 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 rbi.

Box Score

Machado up to bat.

Machado had been slumping during the season, and I was hoping to see some spark. Edwin Encarnacion hit a two run shot in the first inning into the upper deck putting the Orioles behind, but Machado hit a bomb in the bottom of the first.

I was perched in left field behind a family that was very excited to see Franciso Lindor. While I wished I had gotten to see Corey Kluber pitch the previous night, the Orioles were held scoreless so I saw a good game for the home team.

While I've been to very few ball parks, Oriole Park has a great atmosphere. It's easy to see why so many owners wanted to replicate it. Eutaw street is hectic, but I had fun seeing names from the '90s of the players I used to follow. Every home run that reaches Eutaw street is commemorated with a bronze plaque embedded into the sidewalk. Of course I had to find Griffey's two plaques.

Opening in 1992, Oriole park was the first retro park, causing other team owners to demand similar parks. While many have tried to outdo the park, none have matched it.
The big feature at Camden Yards is B&O warehouse behind right field. Eutaw street is between the stadium and the warehouse, providing stores and restaurants.

Ken Griffey, Jr. All Star Home Run Derby July 12, 1993

Ken Griffey Jr. April 24, 1994

Bronze plaques mark the spots where baseballs have hit the street. Only one plaque is on the wall of the warehouse, where Ken Griffey Jr. hit a ball during the 1993 home run derby. Griffey has a second plaque on the street.

Cal Ripken Jr.

Eddie Murray

 In the outfield is a courtyard with full size bronze statues of former players.

 

Just outside of Eutaw street are statues commemorating retired numbers. These include Brooks Robinson #5, Cal Ripken Jr. #8, Eddie Murray #33, and others.