Subject: Camden Yards
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:14:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: Don Dudley - Sun Microsystems <ddudley@subtle>
To: Don.Dudley@Sun.COM

Content-MD5: uBpP1oHbiNkeQY6r8Hgj6A==
X-Mailer: dtmail 1.2.0 CDE Version 1.2 SunOS 5.6 sun4u sparc
content-length: 3112

>Next stop -- Bank One Ballpark, Braves vs. Diamondbacks, Saturday,
>September 19th.

Well, this information wasn't quite right.  How could I forget Camden
Yards?  I guess our visit to the ballpark was somewhat incidental to
the trip Jan, Leah and I made to Baltimore on Friday, August 28th to
bring Maura her things as she started college.

I was able to order our four seats a few days after the All-Star Game,
just as the Orioles were beginning their 31 of 41 rampage.  Our seats
were nothing special, other than all four being together, in lower left
field.

On the way to the park, we drove between the brand new Ravens' stadium
and Oriole Park at Camden Yards -- no comparison, I must say.  Having
attended games at Coors Field for the past four seasons, the look of
Oriole Park is quite familiar to all of us, but nevertheless we were
truly struck by its beauty in that downtown warehouse surrounding.

Upon entering, it is obvious that food has as large a role in the
experience as baseball -- the aroma hits you before you ever get inside
the gates.  We spent $36 on four sandwiches and four soft drinks -- it
was 92 degrees with barely a whisper of a breeze at game time.  Leah
and I opted for the famous Boog's BBQ, but Jan and Maura with
appropriate Pueblo training couldn't resist the chorizo.

Even my recent home-team, seven-in-a-row karma -- 6/10, Mets beat TB as
we Showed Up At Shea; 6/14, Red Sox beat TB (again) at Fenway; 6/20,
Tigers beat Royals at Tiger Stadium; 6/26, Rockies beat As at Coors;
7/25, Brewers beat Expos at County Stadium; 8/22, Mariners beat White
Sox at the Kingdome -- couldn't prevent the Orioles from losing their
fifth in a row on their way to 10 in a row, their longest losing streak
since they lost a record 21 in a row at the start of the 1988 season.
Their two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth fell one short, as they
hit into their fifth double play of the game, with the bases loaded to
end the game.

You would have to see this to believe it, but I think the highlight of
the evening was the style with which the hot dog vendor put mustard on
the dogs for the fans in left field -- one of those true masters.

The Orioles' deference to retired numbers occurs just outside the park,
where they have a statue of Babe Ruth, who was born nearby, and large
silver numerals for Frank, Brooks, Earl, Eddie and Jim Palmer (I
couldn't find #42 for a third Robby).

I may need more visits to more accurately measure, but all in all,
think I like Camden better than Coors, simply because there are a
couple of things at Coors that annoy me.  I think Coors has improved
slightly on the sight lines, e.g., from the concession area, but the
home run markers in the cement in the right field walk below the Camden
Warehouse are a nice touch.  The Oriole mascot is engaging rather than
borderline obnoxious.  The Coors public address announcer's
cheerleader-like delivery can also be irritating.

Now, I believe it's on to BOB, Phoenix, next, although I'd like to
sneak into Fenway this weekend -- Leah hasn't been there yet this
year.

Enjoying the Home Run Derby,

Don