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Camden Yards
Experience
Baltimore, MD -
6/29/2002
by: Anthony Lorenzo
I will always have
fond memories of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and the city of
Baltimore. Not only was it the first trip in Michael and Anthony’s
Baseball Ballpark Tour, but also more importantly it was where I met
Rachel.
It was June 2002,
Michael and I were watching a Mets game and were discussing Shea
Stadium, which at the time was the only place we had ever seen a
baseball game together. To us Shea Stadium was remarkable, it was
where we saw many memorable Mets wins, but at the same time we
wondered what else was out there. It was the time in our lives when
we wanted to explore. Michael and I were two college semesters away
from the “real world” and wanted to enjoy one last summer as
irresponsible kids. We decided on that night that we were going
 to
visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. We thought it would be
a great way to show our independence and at the same time see areas
of the county neither of us had ever seen before. So it was set!
Michael and I would be traveling the United States and Canada in
search of unique and memorable experiences. What better way to
being this journey than visiting what many call the best ballpark in
the Major League Baseball, Oriole Park at Camden Yards located in
the great city of Baltimore?
June 29, 2002. The day was finally
here. Michael borrowed his mother’s car for the 4-hour trip south
to Baltimore aka Charm City. We reserved a room at the Radisson
Hotel, a short walk from the ballpark, and had purchased our
tickets. Baltimore here we come! After a fun drive, we arrived at
the Radisson at 3PM. After checking in and unpacking we where ready
to go, but there were 4 hours before first pitch between the
Baltimore Orioles and their inter-league rival Philadelphia
Phillies. Mike and I decided to go out and explore Baltimore,
making sure we would have an authentic Baltimore dinner. Sure we
could have gone into the Inner Harbor, the tourist friendly run of
the mill dining experience, but we wanted a unique experience that
only Baltimore could offer. Baltimore is know for its’ excellent
seafood, especially their crabs. Mike asked a bellhop where we
could go for great seafood. He wrote a few places down, but
suggested Obrycki’s.
Obrycki’s was a great restaurant. In
fact, I have never had better seafood before or since that night.
After dinner Mike and I took a cab to the ballpark. It was a warm
and muggy night. The Philadelphia Phillies were in town, so there
where thousands of Phillies fans at Oriole Park. The construction
of Oriole Park at Camden Yards signaled the dawning of Baseball’s
Ballpark Renaissance. Not only did it raise the bar for other MLB
parks, but also was the centerpiece for the revitalization of the
Inner Harbor. Oriole Park at Camden Yards can accommodate 48,876
fans. Mike and I were two of the 48,692 in attendance to watch the
O’s crush the Phillies 11-1 on the heels of Gary Matthews Jr. 5 for
5 and Jason Johnson’s complete game. Baltimore will always have a
special place in baseball
 history.
The greatest player that ever lived, George Herman “Babe” Ruth, was
born in Baltimore, in fact his father owned a tavern that once stood
where Oriole Park’s Centerfield bleachers now reside. The Babe Ruth
Museum is a great place to visit while in Baltimore. There are
numerous pieces of unique Babe Ruth memorabilia that make the price
of admission worthwhile.
Not only will
Baltimore be memorable because it was where the Ballpark Tour began,
but also more importantly it was where I met Rachel, who in the past
2+ years has filled my life with love. To be honest meeting Rachel
was pure luck. She was down in Baltimore celebrating her birthday
with some friends. Mike started a conversation with one of them;
the next thing I know Rachel and I was sharing a cab together. I
didn’t even want to go out that night, but as fate would have it I
met the women of my dreams. That is something that cannot be
measured. That is what the Ballpark tour is all about. Challenging
myself to go out and experience new things with my brother Michael.
These experiences have given me perspective and I have had the time
of my life doing them. For once I can have my cake and eat it too.
Although there will be many more trips after Baltimore, none will
have the impact those two days did.
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