Inside Camden Yards

Vanhooser, Cassandra M

You'll enjoy a tour of Baltimore's old-style ballpark, even when the Orioles aren't playing.

Tour guide Mike Heid strides through Oriole Park at Camden Yards followed by a group of curious fans. When he stops, he lays his hand on a foul pole that marks the edge of right field and waits until he has the attention of the small crowd.

"The Orioles played in Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street until the city built Camden Yards," he explains. "The two foul poles were moved here when we opened in 1992. A lot of people believe that if you touch them, they'll bring you good luck."

As the tour resumes, each person surreptitiously touches the pole, hoping to capture a bit of the magic in this place.

Field of Dreams

One of the most popular ballparks in Major League Baseball, Camden Yards was the first of today's retrostyle stadiums, built to reflect the best of the old while offering modern technology and conveniences. Construction on the 85-acre site began in June 1989. It took 33 months and cost $110 million to complete the stadium.

Eli Jacobs, who owned the team when the ballpark was built, wanted it called Oriole Park. Former Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer favored the name Camden Yards for the area of the city in which it is located. So it became Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Now, even when the Orioles are playing on the road, fans still flock to the stadium for a behind-the-scenes look into the team's inner sanctum.

A Look Inside

Today, Oriole Park at Camden Yards stands blissfully quiet. A warm spring breeze tugs at the pennants raised over the outfield wall. A lone groundskeeper pampers the emerald diamond of grass, spraying it with a water hose after clipping it to perfection. "I prefer Camden Yards on nongame days," Mike confesses. "There's nothing more serene than an empty ballpark."

It appeals to true baseball aficionados such as Ken Harris too. "No matter where I go, I love to visit ballparks," the Yankees fan says. "You get to see the inside of the stadium and learn more about the players."

Wendy Potter, long an admirer of Orioles Iron Man Cal Ripken, Jr., added the ballpark to her agenda while in town on vacation. "I love Camden Yards," the Bernardsville, New Jersey, resident says. "I like it when it's quiet like this."

Her daughter Caroline grudgingly admits that she enjoyed the tour once it started. "I wasn't really excited," the teenager says, "but it was really cool going inside. My favorite part was seeing the VIP rooms. You get a gorgeous view of the field."

Mike understands their enthusiasm perfectly. "I love the O's, but I really love baseball," he says. "I'm not nearly good enough to play professional ball, so this is a way for me to get on the field." CASSANDRA M. VANHOOSER

Oriole Park at Camden Yards: 333 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; (410) 547-6234, 1-888-848-2473, or www.orioles.com. Tour times (nongame days): 11 a.m., noon, 1, and 2 p.m. Monday-Friday; every half hour between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; and 12:30, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Price: $7.

RUTH'S ROOTS

Babe Ruth grew up near Camden Yards and played his rookie season with the Orioles. The city pays tribute to him at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, just two blocks from the ballpark. Here you'll also find exhibits on the Orioles, Maryland's Negro League teams, and the Baltimore Colts.

The museum will expand in May to include exhibits honoring sports legends from throughout Maryland. For more information call (410) 727-1539.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Apr 2005
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