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May 2, 2019May 2, 2019

Ribs, Rain & Royals – Kauffman Stadium: Kansas City, MO

1 Royal Way, Kansas City, MO 64129 (8/16/2018) – CB

Next city: Kansas City. A land where the glorious smell of barbecue is only topped by its fall-off-the-bone flavor. The aroma of Blackburne Mud, beer and sausage is not far behind. Kauffman Stadium is the destination, located in a city that is as deep in baseball tradition as any city in the Midwest. Seeing the Royals in their home is kind of like a homage to the dawn of my life, seeing a game in a city with an underrated passion of my national pastime, in the building where the home team won their 1st World Series on the day I was born (Hint: Not the recent one in 2015). Read with enjoyment, some spicy sauce and a Wet-Nap.

George Brett, batting a few raindrops. (8/16/2018) - CB — **George Brett, batting a few raindrops. (8/16/2018) – CB**

Game Time! (vs. Toronto Blue Jays – 8/16/2018): After a evening of gluttony at Gates, we rolled our way to the Truman Sports Complex anticipating a little rain, and hopefully 9 innings of ball. I strolled into the Royals Hall of Fame to escape the humidity, and absorbed knowledge on the impact the game has had on the City of Fountains. Free entry and central air also does well for business. After my ritualistic pre-game stroll, the skies weren’t too promising. About 2 hours of bolts buckets threatened to wash away my Kauffman experience, making me ponder of possible ways to revisit Kansas City, via another future arena excursion. Mercifully, the rain let up, and the couple of thousand waterlogged spectators remaining had a chance to enjoy baseball in dark skies. Close to half of the spectators were Blue Jay fans, and if they had come from Canada, I don’t blame them for their tenacity or perseverance. I too, had a 3-hour flight to the Midwest to see the final game of this series. I was going to end my night with a continental breakfast if I had to. Even with the buckets of rain that fell prior, I did not regret my aqua-air conditioned investment of bleacher seats in front of the fountains. After all, the humidity lingered with us, and I’m sure the players on the field, who were at that point in the season just playing for a paycheck based on where they were in the standings. But if GordoNation (RIP) can keep the fervor alive, there was no excuse for me to ride back into Independence without putting in my 9 innings, wet seats and all.

Wondrous (8/16/2018) - CB — **Wondrous (8/16/2018) – CB**

Around the Diamond: Umm. Hmm. Well…if you are like Brennan Huff and Dale Doback, you would love the plentiful space for activities! Other than the two stadiums located at the complex, there is not really anything to do or see after the game. I know I also was robbed of a tailgating experience due to Mother Nature’s plans. Then again, surrounded by highway with no other walkable attractions nearby, the dearth of watering holes and late-night munchie carts may win out as the wiser idea. If you would like to pay homage to the AFC, you may stop over to Lamar Hunt’s statue, situated outside the Chiefs’ home at Arrowhead Stadium. So, that’s something. If you do make the trek downtown, a visit to the Negro League Museum at historic 18th and Vine is a must for any sports or history buff.

Home Runs: Kauffman Stadium is one of the more kid-friendly parks around. The Outfield Experience offers an eclectic package of a carousel, a playground, a mini-golf green and areas where the kids can make Sluggerrr proud by hitting, running and pitching their way to sharper attention spans. Or maybe an early nap. Either way, an easier night for the parents. As the fourth oldest baseball stadium, The K is an important historic relic of baseball in a city where Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige played professionally, and was the city of the Athletics’ franchise’s second home in their almost 120 years of existence. Located within its walls is arguably one of the most appeasing yards around, with the color-changing fountains meshing harmoniously with the blue-seated backdrop. Maybe due to the recent performance of the club, getting a cheap ticket for a good seat in the secondary market is more than a guarantee. However, in speaking with a couple of the locals, the spectator experience had increased in cost over the last several years due to hosting an All-Star Game and 2 World Series.

The choices are endless (8/16/2018) - CB — **The choices are endless. (8/16/2018) – CB**

Fly Outs: Unless you are enthralled by the quantity and possibly quality of the modern parking lot (I wouldn’t know), there’s not much to enjoy outside the ballpark. Okay, there’s actually nothing to enjoy. There are sporadic tailgaters here and there, but the pregame hoopla of the the downtown ballpark is about as nonexistent as Chris Gaines’s award collection (Never forget!). Being 7.5 miles from downtown doesn’t help the scene much either, unless frolicking on I-70 is what you live for. There have been recent talks of moving the club downtown, which could boost attendance for a team that has been in the bottom-third of attendance in the American League 16 times since the year Y2K bunkers started aging real poorly. However, with the lease not expiring in over a decade, and competitive real estate near the hustle and bustle, a new park will be stashed away as a future luxury. Right along with the flying cars we still haven’t received from movies 50 years ago.

An award fit for the kings and queens of KC (8/16/2018) - CB — **An award fit for the kings and queens of KC. (8/16/2018) – CB**

The Final Play: The K is a park that definitely catches, then soothes the eyes with how the blues mesh with the natural Bermuda grass. I also appreciated the rebelliousness it represented, a baseball-only facility built in a time when multi-sport facilities and cookie cutters were the norm. I feel like I had a bit of a diminished experience due to the deluge, and with two clubs going nowhere that season battling out in front of the same quantity of people that admitted to watching Wild Wild West…and enjoying it. However my appreciation for the venue as a city icon didn’t lessen. Hate to get back at this, but if they were able to create a few pockets of lively ambiance on the outskirts, it would definitely enhance the non-game experience. It doesn’t have to be Patriot Place (Sorry, Chiefs fans. I know it’s still too soon). However it would be exciting to have a rib joint or two for a pre-game meal, or create a micro version of what is in South Philadelphia. Or maybe they can bring back the petting zoo and the mechanical rabbit that was present at the old Municipal Stadium!

Well, now you know!: Fenway isn’t the only baseball venue that’s lucky enough to contain a red seat. All seats in Kauffman Stadium are painted in Royal blue, with the exception of one seat in Section 127, Row C, Seat 9. The seat is dedicated to the honor of Negro League and overall baseball legend Buck O’Neill, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1938 -1947 and was a scout for the Royals. But no random spectator can just go on SeatGeek and claim ownership for the night. Members of the local community who embody the spirit of the late O’Neill get nominated to receive the honor to take a seat on the padded perch and enjoy the game how Buck would’ve.

Can’t get enough of Kansas City baseball and brisket? Click here to get linked up to the Kansas City gallery to experience more of The K, as well as photos from around KC!

August 9, 2018May 10, 2019

Fathers’ Day Fan Trip – Rogers Centre: Toronto, ON

***1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON (6/17/2018) – CB***

My next stop: the only active major league ball park of the Great White North. But just because this was in Canada, it wasn’t exactly a frigid experience. If I had predicted that I would have got my first solid tan of the summer, I should have also bet some of my hard-earned Canadian money at the casinos of Niagara…and still would have lost it all, but at least I’d be rich in Vitamin D, for whatever that is worth. Here’s to baseball in my mind, Canada in my heart and poutine in my stomach!

A Futures' Game of sorts. (6/17/2018) - CB — **A Futures’ Game of sorts. (6/17/2018) – CB**

Game Time! (vs. Mont… ehem, Washington Nationals – 6/17/2018): Fresh off of my visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the CN Tower in the previous afternoon, I psyched myself up for the main event of my Ontario trip. The place where Joe Carter did indeed hit the biggest home run in his life. Before the game, I took a journey to the upper deck in left field to get a good view of the diamond, as well as to be in the presence of where the ‘Sky’ in SkyDome came from, thanks to a few majestic home runs that have been hit. With a few of these, I can safely assume that some chemical assistance was required. By the time I got to my seat in the other end of the park, the clear Toronto sky replaced the concrete sunblock above. With the sudden splash of heat, I had a hunch that more beer was in my future, maybe even sneaking in a few before I got to relish in the sounds of two national anthems. I admired the sections of fans (I assume were from Quebec) that were donning their dusty Expos gear and grasping on to “Welcome Expos” signs as they watched the more Americanized, and arguably the more underachieving version of their old team. A fun part of this ballpark adventure is learning about the teams I am watching, and a Fathers’ Day game gave me a nice window into some of the players. For example, I learned that the song that reminds Aaron Sanchez of his dad was ‘Cats in the Cradle‘, which is undoubtedly the most ironic song for Fathers’ Day. Although, ‘Father of Mine’ gives it a run for its money. A nice touch was in the 7th inning stretch, where this Randy Newman-esque rally song blasted through the speakers, and perhaps powered the Jays to victory, with the 3 homers they hit in the 7th and 8th innings. I may not have had as good of a day as Randal Grichuk, but I felt joyful that I was able to enjoy a ballgame in a different nation with some like-minded fans of this grand ole’ game. Also, Mexico defeated Germany that day in the World Cup, so that was a plus. Just don’t remind of the recent USMNT qualifiers, and we’ll be good friends!

Home Runs: The presence of the dome guarantees at least a comfortable environment every game. Although on a sunny day, the Field Level seats are possibly the premier place in the city for a good sun bathing session! In addition, Rogers Centre is well-positioned, being about a 10-minute walk from just about everything you want to see in a dynamic and alluring city like Toronto, with places like Ripley’s Museum, Chinatown, Air Canada Centre, Toronto Harbour and about 27 fine Tim Horton’s establishments. I’m kidding… I think. It’s something about watching my beloved game in a locale with the metric measurements on the walls that gives me hope the baseball will still have a strong presence in the North American sports scene for years to come. Although known for it’s lagging attendance numbers for about the past 2 decades, this park drew the most fans out of any American League ball park for 2 consecutive years in 2016 and 2017 while the team was a solid contender in the American League. As a result, I imagine that many games created a sound wall that only a roadie for a death metal band could be accustomed to. I could only envision how lit this place gets indoors when the dome is closed, and the leaves turn colors outside.

Flyouts: Even though it does not produce the same wacky bounces as the old stuff, I still can’t get used to baseball on an artificial grass. Probably helped accelerate my burn by a shade or two, as well. With a near Fenway-sized crowd of 35,000+, I witnessed an engaged crowd peppered with jerseys of Donaldson, Stroman and Pillar to name a few favorites of the local 25. However, just like with the Trop, I felt like I was in a more unique situation with the crowd of the game in that it was a Fathers’ Day game, which generally brings in more fans due to summer-like temps and sentimentality. Like with other parks in striking distance of the powerhouses in the AL East, the larger crowds for this park will generally appear when the Red Sox and Yankees come into town, and overthrows the ratio of home and away supporters. I’m guessing that a Blue Jays – Mariners contest in August won’t generate the same buzz, unless Toronto is firmly in contention. It’s a shame, because from their recent playoff appearances, one could argue that a game at The Rogers Centre has one of the more insane environments for a baseball game in the optimal situation.

Safe to say, no gloves needed here. (6/16/2018) – CB

Around the Diamond: If you want to feel on top of the world in a touristy way, you are only a few paces to the CN Tower, where you can get a bird’s eye view of the game (An open-domed game, of course), while getting a solid view of Toronto and the many blues-and-greens from the glass of their tall buildings. A personal favorite spot of mine was Hunters Landing, which is situated a little over a half-mile (1.1 km for you internationals) away from the stadium. You have to praise a place that provides an outdoor bar on a nice day, along with a 30 oz. stein of grog before a game. Not a bad place to watch a World Cup, too! For a little fun of the electronic variety, located a line drive over the fence is the The Rec Room, which is basically a Canadian version of Dave & Buster’s. The scene around the Rogers Centre is a little more spread out, but there seems to be enough out there if you’re a professional tourist, or one of the dedicated barroom warriors looking to be boisterous.

Well, if I have to... — **Well, if I have to…(6/17/2018) – CB**

My Final Play: Even though Rogers Centre is a couple decades away from receiving their AARP card, the park is a bit of an historical relic, in that it was the first motorized retractable roof stadium built. That alone is worth a trip to this crown jewel of The Six. However, you can argue that a lot of the park’s natural character literally comes from up top. Like with Tropicana Field in Florida, the drab concrete exterior doesn’t exactly draw eyeballs. As you can imagine with a team that had a significant playoff drought (At least until a couple of years ago), and a recent regression from the club, the crowds may not be as consistently electric as they were for…let’s say an ALDS game against Texas. As talk of expansion becomes louder within Major League Baseball, my thoughts linger over to the return of baseball in French Canada. With a starving fan base, and hopefully with a stadium that’s actually made for baseball, the presence of a Montreal team could generate an inter-divisional, regional rival (in the new AL North, perhaps?), which could potentially generate increased crowds for both of ‘international’ cities in the biggest league in the sport. While there, I sensed an enormous pride among the fans for representing the one team up north of the border. A national team, of sorts. The Expos Part II strategy definitely won’t be the singular move to boost attendance numbers for all parks, but maybe it may take a two-team rivalry up north to create more Canadian clout, and more importantly generate more decibels on a regular basis in the future. After all, it’s the only way to have Toronto baseball.

Well, now you know!: Wanna watch baseball, but don’t feel like getting out of bed? The Rogers Centre has the only hotel located in a major league sports stadium. The Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel has 70 rooms with a stadium view (348 total), all located within Justin Smoak-home run distance over the wall in center field. The hotel’s greatest contribution to history is that it helped give this ballpark the colorful moniker of The SexDome. If your imagination is a bit slow, let’s just say the fans were not looking at the scoreboard.

Wanna see what Toronto is all about? How about getting up close and personal with a somewhat popular waterfall 130 km south? Check out my Toronto gallery here for more pictures.

July 31, 2018May 10, 2019

My Bizarro Baseball Experience – Yankee Stadium: New York, NY

**1 E 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 (5/26/2018) – CB**

If I’m going to complete my countrywide journey, this was an inevitable stop. A site that, from the womb, I was taught was the real-life equivalent of the Death Star (technically Death Star II), or Mt. Crumpit. There’s even a distinct memory of my mom not allowing me to get a Babe Ruth jersey when going to Cooperstown when I was a kid. Rivalry, much? As I walked off the D train and walked the scenic route towards my seat in Section 237, my fan-like curiosity couldn’t help but want to explore the second generation lair of my team’s rival and what makes it special to the 50,000+ per game that attend a game here. All of this, while feeling a little like if Michelangelo walked into the Technodrome.

***I don’t know if I should be here! (5/26/2018) – CB***

Game Time! (vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 5/26/2018): On this Memorial Day weekend, I decided to bring my girlfriend and a good friend of mine out to the bleachers to enjoy some brews and a ballgame, with slightly-camouflaged jerseys in view. Walking in, I definitely noticed an early 20th century essence emanating from the design, which was no coincidence. It was as if we were off to see Ruth, Gehrig and Lazzeri back in 1927 rather than Judge, Stanton and Sanchez. Based on the Red Sox record that year, and the social climate at the time, I’m glad that wasn’t the case! A surprising delight was going to my seat in the last row of the bleachers, and actually seeing bleachers behind the outfield walls. Generally, the bleachers are the the place to be for a simultaneous session of game-watching and people-watching, and this place was no exception. Even within the pack of Yankee fans and scattered presence of Angel red, I spotted a few fans for my hometown Crimson Hose, making me a coward for leaving my Sox gear at home in exchange for my 2014 Clint Dempsey USMNT kit (Hey, it was Memorial Day!). The passion really came out in the top of the 4th inning, after Sonny Gray got yanked, allowing 5 runs and walking 3 in less than 4 innings. One crimson-faced fan let his frustrations right out, and in a rare moment, I found common ground with a supporter from the Evil Empire, for I too would have been screaming at Sonny Gray and his 5+ ERA from the bleachers if the Sox had got him at the trade deadline a year ago. Stuff like that can bring the country back together! Anyway, there are some entertaining moments to witness that don’t truly get captured watching at home, like hearing the bleacher roll call to the players, and how the flood lights flickered after Gardner and Judge went back-to-back in the 1st. However, once the game got out of hand, the volume was a little toned down, but there was still enough of a presence to show displeasure in the bullpen taking a blow torch and setting any chance of a comeback in flames.

***Time to reload on bleacher fuel! (5/26/2018) – CB***

Home Runs: Boy, I do not regret getting bleacher seats for this. The environment at Yankee Stadium (especially in the bleachers) definitely rivals that of my hometown team, especially when their starting pitcher gets lit up and doesn’t even get out of the 4th inning. Despite leaving a place with so much history almost a decade ago, they did a good job of incorporating the feats and legends of the past, all while recreating the look of the old stadium inside and out. In walking past the gate into the stadium, you will see flags of Yankee legends hanging one behind the other, which had the feel of walking into a neo-Coloseum, with the gladiators of the past greeting you on the way in.

Flyouts: As you may expect from a New York venue, the food and drink, while good, can run a pretty penny. There is also that little issue of those empty padded seats at the Legends Suite that hug the front rows, with 2 tickets costing as much as the average honeymoon. However, that has been well documented. Call me jaded from the normal ballpark experience I get, but at times, it felt like being more in a shopping mall that happen to have a Yankee Stadium replica attached. Maybe a little more cracks and rust over time will open my heart more a bit in my next visit. There is also not as much of a scene as you’d expect when it comes to bars and restaurants. There is a pocket of watering holes by the River Ave. side of the the stadium. However, it is not much for a city that has many scenic and character-filled neighborhoods as any city in the world.

**Pit stop at Stan’s. (5/26/2018) – CB**

Around the Diamond: As mentioned before, there aren’t as many options as there are around many other ballparks. Pretty much all the bars nearby are located at the River Ave side of the stadium. There is a Hard Rock Cafe located in the stadium if you’re a music memorabilia junkie, or if you’re a natural magnet for tourist traps. The one watering hole I visited after the game was Stan’s Sports Bar, which provides the basics of want you want in a bar near a sporting event; 90’s-2000’s music you can sing along to with beverages to quench your thirst after a hot 3-hour game. However, I would be open to exploring more of the options in a future trip to the Technodr…I mean Yankee Stadium. You can bet I’ll be back to explore more of the River Ave selections in the near future. Billy’s, you’re next!

My Final Play: I can’t help to think that after my new Yankee Stadium experience, it made me think of the future of Fenway, or even Wrigley Field in that eventually these franchises will go the way of the luxury boxes and Legends Clubs and create a new home for their local 9. The new Yankee Stadium is a reminder that you can’t recapture all of history simply by building a replica from yesteryear. However, it’s also a reminder that the legacy of the team is carried by the generations of fans who go through the turnstiles. At the end of the day, even if all of the ghosts haven’t quite found a home here, it’s the New York tradition and passion that can make this place special a couple of decades down the road (I think that last sentence made the Red Sox hat on my head catch fire!). For that, this is a must go for any sports fan. Besides, I would not be doing my duty as a sports fan if I skip out on attending the best North American sports rivalry in opposing territory!

Well, now you know!: With a little less than a decade under its facade, I will admit that it was a little tough finding a unique nugget that hasn’t been noted in the past, or that involves the Yankee Stadium of the past. In fact, this piece of information is pre-grand opening. Remember when the new Yankee Stadium was going to have a dome? In an original 2001 proposal, both the new stadiums for the Yankees and the Mets had retractable roofs included. However, Mayor Bloomberg scrapped the original deal, which shifted more of the stadium construction costs on the team, after which the Yankees decided to save a cool $200 million and continued construction, sans dome.

Want to view more of Yankee Stadium and the Big Apple? Click here to get linked up to the New York gallery page to see more images of the park and the city.

July 23, 2018May 10, 2019

Charm City Travels – Oriole Park: Baltimore, MD

333 West Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201 (8/16/2016) - CB — **333 West Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201 (8/16/2016) – CB**

The next post will discuss my experience in Oriole Park, one of the more celebrated parks in the league. When you arrive here, it will be hard to disagree. To date, this is the park I’ve been to most outside of Fenway, due to the ease in which you can get tickets to watch the team of your choice, as well as the park’s close proximity to friends and family over the years. I welcome you to a new edition of the classic urban ball park!

**Chilling in the terrace boxes. (8/16/2016) – CB**

Game Time! (vs. Boston Red Sox – 8/16/2016): Out of all my times at Camden Yards, this was the 1st game for me getting the Light Rail experience into the pre-game festivities outside the stadium. After a couple of orange crushes from the bar, and snacking on a large bag of peanuts (which you can bring into the game), we made the humid journey up into our box seats. A convenient feature of this park were the indoor air-conditioned concourses, which on a predictably hot and muggy August evening in Maryland was a life saver. The contest was as good as expected, with the top 2 teams in the AL East separated by 1 game duking out in a back-and-forth affair. At one point, the O’s got their ‘Thank God I’m A Country Boy’ momentum boost, and tied the game up in the bottom of the 7th. However, it was the Mookie Betts show, who hit a 3-run blast in the Top of the 8th (He also drove in all 5 Boston runs) to put the game away. It was at that moment where I caught a glimpse of a woman giving me a laser stare from 3 sections away. My exuberance while wearing a Sox cap, perhaps? I did notice a small hole in the jersey I wore that night after the next laundry cycle, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions! But hey, at least half of the stadium left happy!

Someone's ready for a closeup. (9/19/2009) - CB — **Someone’s ready for a closeup. (9/19/2009) – CB**

Home Runs: As the first salvo launched against the stale cookie-cutter stadiums of the 70’s and 80’s, Oriole Park ushered the return of the ‘old school’ park. The combination of its throwback look inside and the cityscape outside its walls screams baseball paradise. It seems that no matter where your seat is, you a get a remarkable view of the game, all while feeling relatively close to the action. I even find it amusing when the Red Sox visit town, and the PA guy plays the first few notes of Sweet Caroline, and then cut the song right when the moment of mutual acknowledgment exists among Sox fanatics. And with outside staples Boog’s Barbecue, the crab cake vendors and even the little homerun markers on Eutaw Street, you could have just as enjoyable experience outside the park as you can inside.

Flyouts: For a park like this, it is pretty hard to come up with bold negatives, but here it goes! For one, the recent construction of some taller buildings has blocked what would be an immaculate view from the upper boxes. The home fans that do show for a game seem passionate for their O’s, but seem fewer and farther between. Even in the game I went to, the Orioles were in playoff contention, and yet about two-thirds of the seats were filled with somebody wearing red or navy-blue. As well, in wading through the web, there is a lot of chatter of higher ticket prices, which could explain some of the decrease in attendance. However, I feel that the presence of empty green seats is a silent protest of their current owner (Peter Angelos), who hasn’t presided over a set of consistently successful teams since the Clinton Administration. You can blame the resources of two of their division rivals, but many a mid-market team (Astros, Cardinals, Indians) have built teams on shrewd executives that make even shrewder moves, which always make them a threat to compete year after year. Eventually the apathy from the top affects the product on the field, which affects the number of bodies in the bleachers and grandstands.

Been 14 years since '04, yet he still follows me! (8/16/2016) - CB — **Been 14 years since ’04, yet he still follows me! (8/16/2016) – CB**

Around the Diamond: There are a few pubs which are located in stone-throwing distance, and a few more establishments within comfortable walking distance. The one place I have actually entered in the area was Pickles Pub, where I had my first (and definitely not last!) orange crush. Huge warning that on a hot day, these will be your best friend at pre-game, but depending on how much you pound, can turn on you by the time Thank God I’m A Country Boy plays from the speakers! On my next trip back, I would like to scoot over to the Babe Ruth Birthplace & Musuem. If you’re on a watering hole tour near the park, you can find a few in the surrounding streets. Appropriate, considering Babe Ruth pretty much grew up in a bar before getting sent off to boarding school. Another friendly warning in that if you are a Babe Ruth-type tour with your little ones that the location of that family bar is now let’s just say, a ‘gentlemen only’ establishment. As mentioned in the Flyouts, some of of the streets on the outskirts of Oriole Park display some of the poverty in Baltimore that you may have heard about. Thinking back, I’m wondering if this was the reason why my girlfriend’s cousin seemed incredulous as to why we took the train up to Lexington Market. In short, there are definitely safe areas around the park, but don’t wander too far off.

The Final Play: Oriole Park definitely deserves all the hype it gets in terms of ball park quality. Admittedly, I’m a bit jealous of the comforts, from the spacious seats to the funnel cakes. If you’re a baseball fan, a sports fan or a fan of just sitting and weirdly enjoy people in action within an open space for 3 hours, this park should be on the top of the list. However, in some ways, I feel like Oriole Park a is place of lost potential, and not because of the look and feel of the park, which rivals the other great parks of the league. It’s somewhat depressing to see vendors outside the park that are selling merch from my favorite team outside of a ballpark 400 miles away, which irks some in the Oriole fan base. Combined with a clueless ownership, and that the 2018 team is on pace for one the worst seasons in this young century, I empathize 100%. In short, this park has it all, minus the swarms large of orange-clad die hards that use to occupy these seats from the stadium’s infancy to its pre-tween years through the ’90s. Based on recent attendance numbers, it’s obvious that it’s not there right now, even to the point where they have initiative for kids to attend ball games for free! Simply put, it’s all about the fans having confidence not only in a winning team, but in an organization that is doing its very best to build a quality product that will contend year after year. When that happens, the country can once again see the best of what Camden Yards has to offer.

Well, now you know! – Many baseball enthusiasts have heard of the red seat in Fenway’s bleachers. In a sea of green that surrounds Oriole Park, there are 2 orange-colored seats, which mark historic occasions in Oriole history. One seat is located in left field (Section 86, Row FF, Seat 10), which marks the 278th dinger hit by Cal Ripken Jr. that broke the record for shortstops. The other is located in right-center (Section 96, Row 7, Seat 23) marks the 500th homer of Eddie Murray.

Want to be more charmed by the Charm City? Click here to get linked up to the Baltimore gallery page to view photos from around the park and city!