BALTIMORE — The Orioles on Tuesday announced their intention to recognize the 30-year anniversary of their iconic ballpark leading up to and throughout the 2022 season.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened with the 1992 campaign and since has hosted several notable moments and players in baseball’s history, particularly Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game. During the season, “past Orioles who have had an integral part in the history of the ballpark” will be welcomed to Camden Yards, the team said in a statement.
Although more details of celebrations and recognitions are to come, the Orioles have announced that every uniformed member of the team will have a patch honoring the ballpark’s 30th anniversary on the right sleeve of their jerseys. The club’s team store will also feature various 30th anniversary products.
MLB owners have locked out the players since early December as the two sides slowly work toward a new collective bargaining agreement. Assuming an agreement is reached and the season begins on time, the team will celebrate the 30th anniversary with on-field ceremonies ahead of both Opening Day’s March 31 contest with the Toronto Blue Jays and Aug. 6′s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the latter of which will feature an Oriole Park-themed giveaway.
Throughout the season, an exhibit commemorating Camden Yards’ history will be within the ballpark’s gates, where fans will be able to make contributions via their photographs and memories. There will be $10 seats available in the outfield Eutaw Street bleachers for each Monday-Thursday home game, excluding Opening Day. The team has yet to announce when individual game ticket sales will begin. All Birdland Members, the team’s version of season-ticket holders, will receive a vial of dirt from the Oriole Park infield and an exclusive hat.
Over the past 30 years, Oriole Park has brought more than 72 million people downtown Baltimore and created more than $10 billion in economic impact, the club said in its announcement. As part of the anniversary celebration, the organization will continue its impact in the community by partnering with Habitat For Humanity to build three homes, two rowhome rehabs and a community green space in the Pigtown neighborhood. Members of the Orioles’ front office, Orange & Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program and other organizational partners will contribute to the yearlong project.
More details on the anniversary recognition will be available throughout the season at orioles.com/OriolePark30, the team said. In 2021, the Orioles ranked 26th of the 30 major league teams in average attendance, though each club had varying attendance limits early in the season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
