The Baltimore Orioles play at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The stadium is easy to get to, right off I-95 to I-395 at the bottom of the ramp into town. The light rail stops here for every game. Parking in lots around the stadium (if not at the stadium) is close and usually costs less than $10. The stadium was designed to bring spectators closer to the action, and it does. Watch out for foul balls! A promenade follows the warehouse building along the outfield wall. Stop at the deck overlooking the bullpen to watch the pitchers warm up. The food is pretty good and ranges from hot dogs to Italian sausage to crab cakes. Former Oriole Boog Powell's barbecue stand sends a cloud of smoke up over the scoreboard wall and the pit beef sandwiches are worth the wait in line. The park also offers tours that give visitors a chance to sit in the dugout and in the press box from April to September. Call tel. 410/547-6234 or visit www.theorioles.com.
An Orioles game might be a great place to bring a client (the stands are full of them), but a minor league game is the place to bring your family. In addition to lower ticket prices (less than $10) and more intimate stadiums, many teams have playgrounds, fireworks, and special events for families.
In Aberdeen, Maryland's newest team, a Class A squad affiliated with the Orioles, is owned by Aberdeen native Cal Ripken and his family. The brand-new stadium where the team will play is next to the Ripken Academy's six ballfields, each a youth-sized replica of other stadiums--Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Memorial Stadium, Yankee Stadium, and Ebbetts Field. The Oriole Park field will be home to the Cal Ripken League World Series. For information call tel. 410/575-7600 or visit www.ripkenbaseball.com.
The Bowie Baysox, a Class AA Orioles affiliate, has a fireworks display after every Saturday home game. The team plays in Prince George's Stadium. For tickets, call tel. 301/805-6000 or visit www.baysox.com.
The Delmarva Shorebirds, of the Class A South Atlantic League, are an Orioles affiliate, and play near Ocean City at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. For tickets, call tel. 888/BIRDS96 or 410/219-3112.
The Frederick Keys, a Class A Orioles affiliate, play at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, off Route 70. Current Orioles on the disabled list come here to get back into shape. The Keys even draw fans from the Baltimore area. For tickets, call tel. 301/662-0013 or visit www.frederickkeys.com.
The Hagerstown Suns, a Class A team of the San Francisco Giants, play at Municipal Stadium. For tickets, call tel. 800/538-9967 or301/791-6266, fax 301/791-6066, or visit www.hagerstownsuns.com.
Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum/Baltimore Orioles Museum--Yes, the Babe was a Yankee but he was born in this narrow rowhouse. Two rooms are set up as they would have looked when he was living here. Exhibits include a wall enumerating his home runs; and memorabilia from his career as well as from his days at St. Mary's Industrial School in Baltimore, where he learned to play the game. The Orioles and gone-but-not-forgotten Colts have their own exhibits. The Colts exhibit includes old films, ancient uniforms, and memorabilia from stars Johnny Unitas and Art Donovan. The Orioles' exhibit takes visitors up to today with mementoes of various World Series, All Star games and, of course, Cal Ripken. It's at 216 Emory St.; tel. 410/727-1539; fax 410/727-1652; www.baberuthmuseum.com. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 seniors, $3 ages 5 to 16. It's open April to October daily 10am to 5pm (until 7pm on Orioles' home game days; November to March daily 10am to 4pm. Closed January 1, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25. From Camden Yards, walk 2 blocks west on Pratt and south on Emory. It's a tiny street.
The Ripken Museum pays homage to more than Cal, Jr. It's a testament to the "Ripken Way," that took six Ripkens to professional baseball leagues. What makes this museum interesting is not just the exhibits, but the staff. They speak of the Ripkens as friends and knew one or all of them personally. Some of the most interesting items are from Cal, Sr. and his brothers who played minor league ball in its early days. It's at 3 West Bel Air Ave., Aberdeen, MD 21001, tel. 410/273-2525; www.ripkenmuseum.com. Admission is $3 adults, $2 seniors, $1 ages 6 to 18. It's open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday to Saturday 11am to 3pm, Sunday noon to 3pm; from Labor Day to May 1, Friday to Monday 11am to 3pm, Saturday 11am to 4pm.
To read our complete coverage of what's doing, where to stay and what to eat in Maryland, visit our free online destinations section here https://www.frommers.com/destinations/maryland.