Oriole Park at Camden Yards: A Historical Remake with History

One of the proudest emblems of Baltimore and also one of the country’s nicest baseball stadiums, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is home to the Baltimore Orioles. The orange-clad team arrives each spring through fall for baseball season, and orange-clad fans pack the seats of the stadium to cheer on their team. A statue of Babe Ruth greets visitors as they enter Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Located in the neighborhood of Camden Yards, the stadium was completed in 1992 to replicate ball parks of old times. At the time, many ballparks were being created into multi-purpose stadiums. Camden Yards was the first of such “retro” ballparks and became a trend across the country to create more fan-friendly parks. Two orange seats stand out among the rows of green ones: one marking where Eddie Murray’s 500th home run ball landed, and another commemorates Cal Ripken Jr.’s landing spot for his 278th home run as a shortstop.

The park’s unique combination of historical elements and a retro style makes Camden Yards different from other ball parks. It incorporates the former B&O Warehouse, which once served the B&O Rail line Camden Station (now a MARC commuter train line and light rail stop). Inside the former warehouse are offices, service spaces and private dining.

The stadium itself has 4,631 club seats and 72 luxury suites. More than 40,000 fans crowd the stadium on average per game. The scoreboard holds an advertisement for the Baltimore Sun, and each time a hit occurs, the “H” in “The” lights up, and the “E” will flash when there’s an error. HD video screens surround the stadium and are reinforced with a high-fidelity sound system. Outside on Eutaw Street, which is closed off to traffic, pedestrians must have a ticket to walk through; many fans will tailgate in the bars, restaurants and barbecue stands lining the street. Many a home run has landed in this area, and small bronze plaques mark the spots where they have landed.

Nearby is a museum dedicated to Babe Ruth, at the site of his birth. It is said that his father once owned a pub at the current center of the field. Another nearby museum, Sports Legends at Camden Yards, opened in 2005.

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