Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Home of the Orioles- Games 2 and 3

Alright, time to switch things up.  I’m very behind on keeping up with our travels, and I want to get caught up!  Also, because I’m so far behind, I am losing details, which isn’t ideal.  I don’t have the time to dedicate to this that I once did, but I’m still going to make it work.  So from here on out, if we see a full series at a stadium, it’s just getting one post.  Perhaps someday we’ll get back to multiple posts, but for now, thems the rules.  Sound good?  Great.
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I wrote about our first game at Camden Yards, but during that game I was tired and slightly sunburned from the golf tournament and getting in late, so games 2 and 3 were the true test for the stadium.  And while both the teams we saw battle it out were not good, Camden still found a way to show out!

We started the day of the 2nd game with a ballpark tour, which was great.  All ballpark tours are great, but there’s something about these historical stadiums that attract the most special types of tour guides- the lifelong fans who love getting to nerd out about their home away from home.  It was toasty, but we loved getting to wander around the stadium, finding the plagues for Red Sox players’ home runs, and learning all about the Orioles and Camden.  After that, we were ready for some baseball!

The Seats

For game 2, we were in Section 18, which is on the first baseline.  These were the most expensive tickets of the 3 we snagged, and we weren’t disappointed.  The views were great and different than our other two games.  My only complaint was that it was HOT.  Living in Montana, you lose sight of what the impact of humidity is.  I was sweating bullets the entire time, so thankfully the section was only sparsely populated and we were able to spread out a bit.  Also, it was a Hawaiian shirt giveaway, so I was able to slip into that once I sweat through my cute Baseballism tank top.  Despite the humidity, though, we had what was probably our highlight of our visit to Baltimore in this game- Joel caught a foul ball hit by Mike Trout!  He was a gem and gave the ball to the boy sitting a couple of rows in front of us, and it was super cool.
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In game 3 we found ourselves in section 54, which was on the 3rd baseline and even more sparsely populated than the section we sat in for game 2.  By that point we’d learned that all drinks would heat up within minutes, and ice was no match for the humidity.  As a result, we had several hard apple ciders, which I decided when lukewarm to warm taste ok since we drink apple cider warm.  

The Eats

Before the second game, we wandered down by the Harbor to find something to eat.  Joel spotted a place he wanted to try that was a chain that I’ve forgotten the name of, and I went kicking and screaming and did not enjoy it at all (it was probably fine, I’ve just gotten snobby about food over the years, and this was honestly probably the start of that).  After dinner was where the harbor area shined, though.  We went to Captain James Seafood Place, which was fantastic.  Great views and food and made up for the whole chain restaurant situation earlier in the day.

For our last day in Baltimore, we went for some breakfast at Miss Shirley’s Café, which was a long wait, but one that was worth it, at least for me.  Joel has never been much of a breakfast person, so I think he didn’t even eat, but that’s fine, because I love breakfast enough for the both of us.  I literally used to eat breakfast food for all 3 meals in college and could probably still do so if I had the same resources at my disposal.  This breakfast talk is making me hungry for a classic lunch omelet.
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We also made a stop at Dempsey’s Brew Pub and Restaurant at Camden Yards, but mostly just for relief from the beating heat.  We didn’t have any food there, but the vibes were good if you’re looking for a place to hang before a game.

Other Deets

Like in game 1, we used the stadium parking lot because it was easy and cheap.  Additionally, we parked super early both days and then walked to the Harbor.  It wasn’t too far, and we always felt safe.  I know Baltimore gets a hard rap, and maybe we were young and naïve, but we felt fine during our time around the stadium.

Even if you don’t have reservations or meal plans anywhere near the harbor area, I would still recommend making a stop there.  The views are great, it was pretty lively, and you can even find a scooter to rent and bop around the area.  The only time I realized that we maybe should be more aware of our surroundings was actually in a CVS when I saw that they lock up their deodorant and soaps so people can’t steal them, which made me really sad!
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Seeing the Orioles have success this year, I can’t help but be happy for them and their fans despite being a Red Sox fan.  Camden Yards is a beautiful venue, and it deserves to host a lot of engaged fans watching a great team… that will ultimately fall to the Red Sox in the playoffs.