Baltimore Orioles

Back to the big leagues…  And back to Camden Yards.  The first retro stadium, and one I had taken a tour of a few years ago.  Gorgeous park.  Lots of food(bring lots of money) and the sausage tastes great.  $8 beers not tested. $10 parking, not bad for the bigs.  3 homeruns by the O’s won it 4-2.  This was a Sunday Night Baseball game against the Yankees.  The Yankees fans made plenty of noise as well.  Don’t like the lack of a on all the time line-score.  They had 2 beautiful screens in center, but if they wanted to show some video or animation, the line score disappeared.  Of course, I love seeing the warehouse past right field.  Makes me think of Ripken and his streak.  Sat upper deck 3rd base first 7 innings, then moved down behind home plate, no usher giving me a hard time.  I appreciate that.  Rich people shouldn’t have all the fun!  The fans were really into it, both because the O’s are doing well right now, and they don’t like the Yankees much.  Great time there, if you get a chance to go, take it!!

Bowie Baysox

I got there an hour early to take a relaxing tour, but they started playing instead!  Apparently they were going to be playing a doubleheader to makeup for the previous day’s rainout.  As is customary in minor leagues, that means two 7-inning games.  Average stadium, more the tan split face block instead of the red brick.  Lots of bench general admission seating.  Capacity ~10000.  There were maybe 1500 there on what began as a sunny summer day. In the bottom of the first, the Senators pitcher walked 3 people in a row to set up a nice grand slam!!  He didn’t even make it out of the first inning, Bowie up 6-0.  The Baysox pitcher went all 7, and threw a no-hitter!  I think this is the second one I saw, after a combo no-no I think at Greensboro, 4/24/12.  I tried to stay for the second game, but it started to rain, and I had still had to set up camp before the Orioles game that night.  Could have had a triple header!!  The chicken sausage with pepper and onions was great, and a craft beer, something with devil in the name of it.  Expensive though. 7.50 for the beer, 12 GA tickets, 6.50 for the sausage.  OK hat.  Kind of a ho-hum experience from the stadium though.  I could imagine if there were more fans it could be quite fun.  Free onsite parking though!