I took vacation last week and packed it full of baseball. On Wednesday, my friend Jerry and I saw the Phillies beat the Cubs at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The next day, I drove to Baltimore to connect with relatives to catch an Orioles’ game against the Tigers and then two games against the Angels.
The Baltimore trip had been planned for a couple of months, but the Phillies game was a bit more impulsive. I got the tickets a few days in advance after learning that the promotion for the Cubs’ “getaway day” game in Philly was “Seniors Stroll the Bases,” the 55+ version of “Kids Run the Bases.”
I’d stood on major league baseball fields a couple of times before but until Wednesday, I’d never set foot between the foul lines. The Phillies and event sponsor Independence Blue Cross did a nice job of accommodating us gray-haired fans as we took a leisurely walk from first base to second to third to home.
The next day, I picked up my brother-in-law Mike and my nephew Toby in Trenton and drove us down I-95 to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, arriving at the Hilton hotel that’s a bloop single away from the main, Eutaw Street gate to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
At the hotel we connected with Mike’s two other sons and his son-in-law. We headed to Pickles, a bar across another street from the stadium, and enjoyed a few pre-game beers before watching the Tigers take down the O’s.
We went back to Pickles the next evening before watching the Orioles defeat the Angels. The game’s start was delayed more than an hour by rain, then interrupted again by rain.
My New York son arrived via Amtrak on Saturday afternoon, and we all watched from good seats in right field as the Orioles again defeated the Angels.
As I’ve noted before, Camden Yards lives up to its reputation. The park is in a wonderful setting in the heart of the city, and there’s no shortage of places to eat, drink and be entertained. The plaza behind the left field fence is a great place to watch batting practice and — with luck — snag a batted ball. The Orioles this year started a “value” menu for beer, hot dogs and snacks that keeps prices under $6 for some items.
After having dropped 72 bucks in Philly for two cheesesteaks and two beers, I was pleased to save a few dollars in Baltimore.
The family camaraderie on this, our third annual Baltimore outing, was the best part of the experience. Gorging ourselves on baseball was a close second. 🧢
The Ball Caps Blog 
Ha! I was at the Wednesday game too! Since I turned 55 in April, I jokingly told my kids I now qualified. Then I thought…Why not! I almost couldn’t believe how long the line was to do it…and I almost packed it in. But I hung in there and did it. It was my second time in a calendar year on the CBP field – last August, I had a photo pass to shoot Springsteen there. It was a good game to be at, beautiful weather and a Phillies win.
It was a fun thing to do. We were a section or two away from where they fed us into the crowd. We left our seats a minute before the final out was recorded and were way back in the line. I looked back when we reached third, and no one was left coming down the stairs. An impressive turnout (and welcome to the club!)
Sounds like a fantastic “feed the baseball fan adventure.” Glad to hear it went well. I cheated a few weeks ago at American Family Filed and participated in the senior stroll. (I’m still 54.) Shhhh.
Yeah, let’s keep that secret off the internet! Thanks.
Is your typical baseball audience anything like your typical cricket audience? Since the games have nothing in common, and baseball being a close cousin of the game of rounders… I have the impression that there is a lot of beer involved, that the games have a more sedate pace… I know test matches are usually five day games… Do you get the toffs that just sup Pimms and applaud politely?
We don’t have the stamina of cricketers! No tea breaks for us.
No tea breaks???? Steady on now!
72 dollars for two cakes and a couple of beers??? WTF!!! That’s just robbery!
Just a tad pricey!
And you actually paid that? Life must be good!