As I walked around Camden Yards on the clear evening on the 21^st anniversary of 9/11, I took it all in and reveled at the energy. I also noted what I considered a very small crowd for the first-place team in the AL East.  Lots of smiles, and a long line at Boog’s Barbeque, and LOTS of orange as it was shaping up to be yet another great night at The Yard.  Crystal blue skies, just like those on 9/11/2021. Looking around, it seemed hard to fathom what extremely difficult and tragic world events we had all endured since that unforgettable day. The warm sun for a September evening was a reminder that these days will soon be coming to an end as the fall season moves in with the calendar.  The excitement was in the air and a positive feeling was all around that was palatable.  At that moment I took it all in, was mindful, and considered this bliss was something that we probably haven’t had in Baltimore for a very long time.  

As we worked our way around the concourse to get to the third base side, it struck me how many older people were at the game and how such a huge percentage of the ushers and other staff were people in their later years.  The older fans and the ushers had that pleasant look of pride and it was another positive sign to see.  Fans coming in with walkers and canes and in wheelchairs to see their cherished team was a validation of how special it is to go see a team you love and support. Why would these fans make the effort to make their way to the ballpark when they could sit in the comfort of their home and watch the game?  Baltimore has always had a love of baseball and we are fortunate to have so many foundational players who are still involved with the team and the city. 

We got to our seats in our usual third base lower box section and as is typical, were surrounded by as many opposing team fans as Oriole fans.  Sitting close to the visiting team dugout is where the visitors tend to sit so they can get the best view of their team and gather with their fellow fans.  On this particular night it was the St. Louis Cardinals and it was cool to see fans wearing Cardinal jerseys. 

A few minutes after we took our seats, a very outgoing and friendly woman wearing a Cardinal’s jersey took her seat next to me.  She was in awe of the beauty and vibe of our stadium, and I could feel her excitement.  A few minutes later she tapped my arm and asked if I could take her picture.  We walked down a few steps and I took several pictures of her with her favorite team and the warehouse in the background.  As we sat back down, I asked her if she was from St. Louis and she smiled and said “yep!”.  She then told me how her and her husband have been visiting all the stadiums and they were in Baltimore for two of the three games in the Cardinals series.  We chatted back and forth and I soon discovered she was living my dream of visiting the baseball stadiums around the country.  I asked her about the best and the worst and asked her if she ever had any altercations with opposing fans on her trips.  She had an incredible story about being in Pittsburgh and being involved in an actual brawl and it was unreal.  I just sat and smiled and was beaming as I bonded with this fellow baseball fan.

A few innings later, my new friend Sue grabbed my arm and said we were going to see how close we could get to where Cal Ripken was sitting.  We darted up the steps and as we cut across to the homeplate area, a fan yelled over and yelled to Sue.  I was like “how do you even know people here?” and she replied, “Oh, I met her on the plane.”   All of a sudden I met a new baseball friend, Denise, also from St. Louis.  Denise was on a three year quest to visit every baseball stadium and she had a custom T-shirt on showing all her stops. I just smiled and reveled in the fact that I was running around the stadium with two fanatical baseball fans like myself whom I just met.  We ended up sending Sue down the steps to try to get close to Cal as we chickened out and ran back down the concourse.  Cal was right behind home plate with a camera on him and we didn’t need to show up on tv trying to stalk him.   Wow, how much fun this night was!

The Cards were in the lead as the Orioles trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the fifth.  A few singles and a double and next thing you know it was bases loaded.  Cedric Mullins stepped up and hit a grand slam and suddenly, the Orioles were winning 8 to 5!  The Orioles fans around us were screaming and jumping and we were high-fiving people we never met before and who we’d most likely never see again. The energy was buzzing, and I felt such extreme joy.   Here we were amongst strangers bonding and smiling and having the greatest time.  I was super mindful the entire night as I looked around and really soaked it in. Again, wow!  Look at this energy and goodwill amongst so many strangers. 

As the game ended and the Orioles won, I was a bit sad to have to go.  My friend Sue stood up and made a statement to our entire section.  She said “from one bird to another, we wish the Orioles the best of luck to get to the play offs and the World Series”.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye.  We told each other we hoped to cross paths again at a stadium in the future and then started our walk out in the sea of orange. Again, wow, just wow.  The connections we made tonight over the love of America’s greatest pastime will not be soon forgotten.   

My dad took me to my first game so many years ago at Memorial Stadium. He taught me all the rules and the strategy of the game and I grew up watching all the games with him. My dad and I shared the love of baseball and were always fans of the Baltimore Orioles no matter where we lived.  While living in Connecticut, we went to Yankee Stadium, and while living in California, we went to games in Anaheim to see the Angels.  It was a dream to end up back in Baltimore in the 80’s and I attended game one of the 1983 World Series with my Dad. We attended the last game at Memorial Stadium and the first game at Camden Yards. I got to see Cal Ripken break the Iron Man streak at 2131 games and attended the Wild Card series in 1996.  Over the years my dad and I would watch games nightly on tv and chat about all the plays.  This was our true connection.  It’s now the end of September and the Orioles have clinched a playoff spot and just won the AL East.   I think of my Dad as I watch every game and know he must be so happy.  Baseball will always be a part of me.  “Dad, look at these kids!”  “They are doing it! “  Let’s Go O’s!

This is the remembrance tattoo I got for my dad this past summer.

Baseball will always be a part of me.