By Kevin Dayhoff, February 26, 2012
In 1895 local newspapers, “carried a baseball column every
week in the spring editions,” according to research by historian and Maryland
State Senator Joe Getty.
Getty wrote about his research in the early 1990s for the
Historical Society of Carroll County. “Following the Civil War, the sport of
baseball became increasingly popular in Carroll County. Large groups of
spectators would gather at the local ballfields to watch their friends and
neighbors take on the baseball clubs from nearby communities. The games not
only provided entertainment but also competitive outlets for rivalries between
Carroll County's towns and villages.”
Many readers have shared that some of their best childhood
memories centered on sports, especially baseball; whether it was pick-up
neighborhood baseball or attending local Little League or Babe Ruth League
baseball games.
When I visited the Orioles spring training practice in
Sarasota on February 23, I enjoyed chatting with the team’s Director of Public
Relations, Monica Barlow, from Ellicott City.
“It’s the 20th anniversary season of Camden Yards…,” said
Barlow. “You know it’s considered to the ‘the ball park that forever changed
baseball.’ (Now,) It’s the tenth-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball… and
every ballpark since has been inspired by – or used (design) elements from the
(Camden) Yard(s.)
“We have a number of renovations (planned for Camden Yards)
that we’re excited about…,” continued Ms. Barlow. “Most notably the six
retired-number sculptures…”
According to the Orioles
website,
“Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the beautiful baseball-only facility in downtown
Baltimore, became the official home of the Orioles on April 6, 1992.”
After last week’s column, some readers were curious about
where the early Orioles teams played. Before Camden Yards, many of us have fond
memories of attending games in the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street.
Memorial Stadium was the home of the American League Orioles
from April 15, 1954 to October 6, 1991. However, according to numerous sources,
including ballparksofbaseball.com, “The Baltimore Orioles of the International
League played the first game at Memorial Stadium on April 20, 1950.”
When the Baltimore Orioles were a part of the “American
Association League,” from1882 to 1889, the team played at a stadium called
“Oriole Park,” which was located at 25th Street and Greenmount
Avenue. Between 1889 and 1950, the team played in a number of locations.
Beginning around 1916 the team played at a wooden stadium, Terrapin
Park at the corner of 29th Street and Greenmount Avenue, until it burned to the
ground on July 3, 1944.
February 25, 2012 ...team by a score of 9 to 7." When
he's not trying out as a walk-on candidate for Orioles' spring training,
February 9, 2012 ...ball ... providing for both men and
women." When is not walking in circles on the track at McDaniel College
February 4, 2012 ... They are desperate men and declared
that they would not be taken alive." When he not hiding under the sofa
February 15, 2012 ... had assembled as early as the night
before to witness the hanging. When he's not stooped over pouring milk,
December 14, 2011 ... keep us safe for the Christmas season
. God bless them for their work. When he is not Christmas shopping,
January 5, 2012 ... apologize to readers for ... such
depressing news." When he is not singing, "Don't Worry, Be
Happy,"
January 15, 2012 BY KEVIN DAYHOFF, ... 848-6494. When he is
not marching around the house, waving the flag and singing "The Star
Spangled Banner,"
20120314 seo Recent articles in ExploreCarroll com by Kevin
Dayhoff
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