Your First Home O's Game!

[Roll Tide]

Don't remember the year...was at memorial stadium. Won free tickets from a Sun paper sales contest. Eddie hit a homer to in the game in the 9th.

[OrioleMagic79]

June 25, 1993. Orioles won 7-6. Jim Abbott pitched for the Yankees, Fernando Valenzuela pitched for the O's. Todd Frohwirth got the win...

A few interesting notes:

1. All-Star Game was approaching in Baltimore, so I went to All-Star FanFest before the game, which was awesome...in the Baltimore Convention Center
   
2. It was Jeffrey Hammonds's MLB Debut. He had two hits and the game winning RBI, I thought he was going to be the greatest player of all time (I was 13 years old, give me a break)
   
3. Buck Showalter was the manager...of the Yankees...
   
4. and the worst part of it all...I went to the game as a Yankee fan...but left an Oriole fan for life and went out and bought a 8x10 picture of Jeffrey Hammonds for my baseball memorabilia collection...

In my defense, I wasn't born in Maryland and I had never been to an Orioles game, so cut me a little slack on the last one...my first MLB game was a Pittsburgh Pirates game in 1992 when they played the Cardinals and Barry Bonds was still a Pirate...but he sat out the game and only got a pinch hit appearance in the last inning to try and win the game...which he didn't...looking back, that pleases me now

The Box Score from the game

[stomperspc]

I am pretty sure it was September 11, 1988. I know the Orioles played the Blue Jays and I know Flanagan pitched for the Blue Jays because I can remember having it explained to me by my dad that he used to pitch for the Orioles. It was definitely a day game and we tended to mainly go to Sunday games as a kid, so that part checks out. The only thing I am unsure about is I would have sworn that the Orioles lost and they won that day. It is probably just the fact that I had a terrible record at live O's games as a kid, so I probably just assumed they lost that day as well.

I don't remember much about the game beyond that. The most vivid memory I have of the game is seeing the Oriole Bird mascot sans bird head. We were sitting in the upper deck in the last couple of rows. I turned around at one point and the Bird was ducked behind a pillar, with his Bird head tucked under his arm. It definitely freaked me out a little bit. That has to be the first thing they teach you in mascot school - "never take your head off in public."

[The Wedge]

I really don't remember too many details, I was too young. I'll guess that it was between 80-82 when I was about 3 to 5 years old. I remember it was a Westinghouse Night, and we were in the nosebleeds, and the angle of the stairs scared me, and I think we might have been in the very last row, too, because I seem to remember the view over the edge out of the park absolutely terrified me.

[ScottP]

1962, O's and Tigers; don't remember who won but Boog played LF and hit a home run. Thing I remember most (and this stayed with me every time I went to Memorial Stadium) was seeing all that green as I walked up the ramp; for some reason I don't get the same feeling at Camden Yards.

[hallmt18]

Great thread! 1980 vs. the Yankees at Memorial. My older brothers took me. I had just turned 8. I don't remember any details about the actual game, other than the fact that the O's won.

Details I remember:

* The crowd started a "REGGIE SUCKS" chant. My brothers looked at each other, then looked at me, and said, "Don't tell Mom and Dad about this."

* Remember driving in heavy traffic down 33rd St after the game through that tree-lined section.

The second game I ever went to (I'm pretty sure) was the last win for the O's in 1982. They had swept a doubleheader against the Brewers on Friday, and needed wins on Saturday and Sunday to take the division and make the playoffs.

Details I remember:

* I had a soccer game that morning. I remember wishing the game would end so we could get to Baltimore.

* People would charge $5 and let you park in their yards or in alleys near the stadium. We parked in an alley.

* The Orioles won 11-3. It was close until the O's broke it open late. We sat in the metal bleachers out in left field. Memorial Stadium was electric. The most exciting event I had ever been to (maybe until Game 2 against the Yankees this postseason). http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL198210020.shtml

* A bunch of people in the alley where we parked had their tires slashed. Came back to the car to find out we had TWO tires slashed. Pretty sure that was the last time my dad went to Memorial Stadium.

[DrungoHazewood]

I really don't remember too many details, I was too young. I'll guess that it was between 80-82 when I was about 3 to 5 years old. I remember it was a Westinghouse Night, and we were in the nosebleeds, and the angle of the stairs scared me, and I think we might have been in the very last row, too, because I seem to remember the view over the edge out of the park absolutely terrified me.

The upper deck of Memorial scared the heck out of me as a youngin', too. On the far end there was a rickety-looking chain link fence that was the only thing between you and the abyss.

I also remember being scared of getting hit by a foul ball, even in seats that were pretty darned unlikely to ever get one.

[The Wedge]

The upper deck of Memorial scared the heck out of me as a youngin', too. On the far end there was a rickety-looking chain link fence that was the only thing between you and the abyss.

I also remember being scared of getting hit by a foul ball, even in seats that were pretty darned unlikely to ever get one.

Now that you mention it, I remember that fence now, and yes, even at my young age I remember knowing it wasn't going to hold up at all. I think that experience is why whenever I see the Naked Gun and Drebin accidentally shoots the woman in the upper deck with the knockout dart and she falls forward, my reaction is always "that's NOT funny." (even if she lived in the movie, it's just seeing it happen)

[Dr. Unk]

1972 against the Brewers, I think. Can't remember if we one. One day when I get a chance, I will try to post pics from the program. The concession prices will floor you.

[Number5]

My Dad took me to see a double header against the Tigers. The only things I remember are having a great day with Dad, and the Tigers brought in a relief pitcher named Nischwitz - and the man sitting behind me yelled out "Hey, Nitwit!" which had me giggling for weeks.

Though I didn't remember this, I found on Baseball Reference that this was Ron Nischwitz's MLB debut, and the date was Monday, September 4, 1961. Labor Day double header. And the O's won both games!

I remember the Orioles had a marketing slogan in 1961 on TV, "It can be done in '61."

[TXOriole]

1986. Best baseball summer of my life. Grew up outside of Philly and my dad was a Phillies fan, so most of the games I attended as a little one were at the Vet. But in 1986, the local little sponsored a trip to an Orioles game. Kirby Pucket homered for Minnesota and Fred Lynn had a 3 run homer in an Orioles 7 run 7th. Ken Dixon was the winning pitcher.

What I remember most about that game was during an inning a lot of us kids were inside walking around and spending money at the souvenir shops. Me and another kid from my team were going to be All-Stars that summer. I was a catcher and he was a pitcher that everyone feared because of how fast he could throw at only 12 years old. So me, him and a few others went to the stand where they gunned your speed. Most kids threw around 50-55 and then he threw 63. I went last and threw 64. During the season, I had to catch all the time because our back-up broke his arm, but after seeing I threw so hard, the coach decided to let me pitch in the All-Star tournament where I went 3-0 and got the win in the championship game. Those were the first and only 3 games I ever pitched.

But because I showed value as a pitcher in addition to my catching and hitting, I was selected to the Knights of Columbus All-Star team which was a regional team that traveled to a major tournament. I never pitched in it, but caught and hit horribly. Eventually, the other catcher was started over me in the championship game, but he got hurt mid way through and I went back in. Eventually hit the game winning 3 run homer in the bottom of the 7th.

All that happened because I went to my first O's home game and impressed a coach on a pitching radar gun.

[isestrex]

Technically I went to a few Memorial Stadium games as a child but I don't remember much of them so I'm not counting them.

The first game I remember attending was (I think) on June 20th 1992. I remember very distinctly looking at the lineup and seeing Cal hitting 3rd but Billy hitting 9th. I asked my dad (as a 7 year old) why the brother didn't bat next to each other. My father crushed me by telling me that Billy wasn't really anywhere close to as good as Cal. I also remember Cal ending the game in the 9th inning but I was confused why they didn't go all through the lineup. I complained that it was unfair that Billy didn't get as many at bats as Cal did.

[crowmst3k!]

I'm fairly certain that this is the first I attended.

I was 3 years old.

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http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL198809220.shtml

[badcobully]

May 15, 1998

The Mike Mussina broken nose on a come-backer game. My dad has been an Indians fan since the 40's and I bought tickets for us to go see the Indians/O's at Camden Yards. My dad got sick just before our trip and couldn't make it. So my wife and I went alone. I had tears in my eyes walking into the stadium, seeing the field, seeing Cal, Brady and the boys. It was the most emotional I have ever been at a ballpark....and it was only May. I don't a chance to see many games in Baltimore due to my location, but I do see them at Fenway more. I proudly wear my O's gear and cheer loudly though. My son and I are loyal O's fans and luckily for him he got a taste of Oriole Magic for the first time as a 17 year old this past season.

[NCRaven]

Early June 1966, Memorial Stadium, for my 6th birthday. I had a hot dog. Got a signed Boog Powell ball. Don't know and I'm pretty sure I didn't care who won.