In the summer of 2004 Matt and I drove down to Baltimore to enjoy a game at the ballpark that started the recent retro-ballpark craze, Oriole Park at Camden Yards.The highlight of Camden Yards is definitely the Baltimore & Ohio warehouse that stands just beyond the right field bleachers.  This massive building gives the stadium its own unique atmosphere.  Matt and I pondered which players, past and present, might have the ability to shatter a window in the warehouse.

Besides the warehouse, Oriole Park has everything you’d expect from a quality baseball stadium.  The view is terrific, the field is beautiful, and the stands were immaculate.  You’d never guess the park was over ten years old when we visited.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays scored early, including a solo homerun by Rocco Baldelli.   But the Orioles came back, thanks in part to B.J. Surhoff who was filling in for an injured Jay Gibbons, and who drove in two runs (I didn’t even know he was still playing!).  Baltimore’s closer, Jorge Julio, made it interesting in the ninth, giving up a run on two hits and a walk, but the Orioles ended up with the win, 5-4.  The highlight of the game was a close play at the plate that caused an obviously frustrated Lou Pinella to come out of the Tampa Bay dugout and argue with the umpire.

While Camden Yards doesn’t have a lot of standing room areas, it does have a section where fans can stand just above the visitor’s bullpen.  This is a great opportunity for fans to harass the opposing pitchers!  Towards the end of the game Matt and I went down here and got to watch the relievers warm up up-close and personal.