An Interview with Ballpark Designer Janet Marie Smith

Ballpark designer Janet Marie Smith is known for her work on the design and construction of Camden Yards, her role senior vice president of planning and development for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and overseeing the preservation and expansion of Fenway Park from 2002-2009.  Now she’s working along side former Boston Red Sox executive Larry Lucchino planning the site for the future Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A, International League).  Read more here.

Mock Takes In-Depth Look at #1 Ed Smith Stadium

In compiling information to draft articles for the USA TODAY Spring Training Preview, Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com partnered with data-mining firm ReviewTrackers to look at all 23 spring-training ballparks.  Surprisingly, Ed Smith Stadium, the spring-training home of the Baltimore Orioles, came in at #1 for overall fan experience.  Intrigued to dig deeper, Mock talked with baseball architect Janet Marie Smith, Orioles’ Executive VP John Angelos, Manager Buck Showalter, pitcher/broadcaster Jim Palmer, and designer David Schwartz.  The complete rundown and interviews/quotes are available here.

Live Like Baseball’s Iron Man

Are you a baseball fan with deep pockets?  If so, you have an opportunity to snatch up the home of Major League Baseball’s all-time record holder for most consecutive games played.  Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr.’s palatial 24-acre estate in Reisterstown (MD) is going on the auction block on May 12th.  The property, which includes a baseball field, was originally priced at $12.5 million.  View details here.

Miami Stadium (aka Bobby Maduro Stadium) Gets Historical Marker

For thousands of kids who grew up in Miami (FL), going to the old Miami Stadium in the Allapattah neighborhood was a part of coming of age.  Read more here.  See GoFundMe page here.

Miami Stadium Site to Receive Historical Marker

As Miami prepares to host the upcoming 2017 MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park — the city’s first time hosting the annual celebration of baseball — it is fitting news that fabled and demolished Miami Stadium (AKA Bobby Maduro Stadium) will finally receive a historical marker where it once stood.  Read more here.  Click here to see the sweet throwback unis worn by the MLB Marlins in 2013.

Camden Yards Ranked #1 for 2016

For the third consecutive year, Oriole Park at Camden Yards was ranked No. 1 MLB Ballpark Experience by Stadium Journey.  Read more here.

Sale of Muckdogs Mucked Up

Naomi Silver, chief executive and chief operating officer of the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, International League), said the sale of the Batavia Muckdogs (Single-A, New York-Penn League) fell through because the prospective ownership group was not granted permission from teams and leagues that have territorial rights in Waldorf (MD).  Read more here.

Muckdogs to Waldorf: Not So Fast?

Initial reports about the latest rumor said a minority-led group purchased the Batavia Muckdogs (Single-A, New York-Penn League) and wants it to move to Waldorf (MD).  And that’s where a sort of spider web of overlapping baseball intrigue begins to occur for the potential move.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Orioles First at MLB Bat in China

Deeming baseball a “bourgeois indulgence for the rich,” Mao Zedong, China’s longtime communist leader, banned the game in 1966 during his Cultural Revolution.  Fifty years later, the Baltimore Orioles are in the leadoff spot for mounting effort by Major League Baseball to revive the game there.  Read more here.

Team and State Officials Begin to Explore Camden Upgrades

The Baltimore Orioles are considering updates to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the 23-year-old stadium still celebrated for its retro charm and historic B&O Warehouse as the right field backdrop.  Read more here.

In an Unprecedented Move, Orioles Will Play in Empty Ballpark Today

With Baltimore under a nighttime curfew and police and National Guard troops deployed across the city after a night of riots, the Baltimore Orioles will close the gates to Oriole Park at Camden yards to the public for its game Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.  Read more here.

Protest Rally Forces Orioles to Close Gates to Keep Fans Safe

The Baltimore Orioles closed the gates at Oriole Park late Saturday night and forced fans to remain inside for their own safety as violent protesters continued to menace the area around the ballpark, causing both consternation and understanding in the stadium concourses.  Read more here.

Camden Yards: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Whether you use its official title, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, or just shorten it as most to Camden Yards or just Oriole Park, it’s a wonderful gift to Baltimore Orioles fans and baseball fans as a whole.  Read more here.

Ballpark Quirks: Oriole Park at Camden Yards’ B&O Warehouse

In a series called “Ballpark Quirks,” Sports Illustrated takes a look at the distinctive features and oddities that make up each of MLB’s 30 parks. Up now: Oriole Park at Camden Yards’ B&O Warehouse.  Read more and view photos here.

Royals, Orioles Will Pay Tribute to Negro Leagues

The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles will don Negro Leagues uniforms on May 18 at Kauffman Stadium.  The Royals will be wearing Kansas City Monarchs jerseys and the Baltimore Orioles will be sporting those of the Baltimore Black Sox.  Read more here.

Orioles Unveil 60th Anniversary Logo Patch

The Baltimore Orioles have unveiled their 60th anniversary jersey patch for the 2014 season.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Baltimore Orioles Facebook Photo

IronBirds Are ‘Back in Black’ with Orioles Inspired Uniforms for 2014

The Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds (New York-Penn League) are “Bringing the Magic Back” in 2014 with new uniforms from Under Armour that feature the true colors of the Baltimore Orioles.  Read more here.  Watch “Back in Black” video here.

Orioles to Host First-Ever Ice Show at Ed Smith Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – In a first for Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles will present “Ice on the Diamond – A Holiday Celebration,” a dazzling, holiday-themed show featuring world-class ice skaters on a specially engineered ice stage at the ballpark on Friday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The stadium will be decorated for the holidays, creating a festive backdrop to this family-friendly

Orioles Let Fans Design T-Shirt

As part of their Fan Appreciation Week, the Baltimore Orioles are asking fans to design the team’s final T-shirt giveaway, which will take place on Thursday, September 26.  The deadline for submissions is August 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET.  Learn more here.

Home of Martha’s Vineyard Sharks Getting Makeover

The home for the summer collegiate Martha’s Vineyard Sharks (Futures Collegiate Baseball League) is getting a few upgrades before the season begins in June, including installation of lights and stadium-style seating from Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles.  Read more here.

Texas-Sized Food Additions Too Big, Too Late

The Texas Rangers and Delaware North Companies Sportservice introduced five new Texas-sized foods items at Rangers Ballpark on Thursday in preparation for the playoffs.  The Rangers were then cut down by the surprising Baltimore Orioles in a one-game playoff Friday, bringing to an abrupt halt the team’s postseason and gluttoned-up menu.

Ripken to Sell 2131 Truck

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. has announced that he will be auctioning off the 1994 Chevy Suburban he drove for several years during his legendary career.  The vehicle was driven by Ripken to Camden Yards the nights he tied and broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played on September 5 and 6, 1995. Ripken also drove the Suburban to Baltimore Orioles post-season

Camden Yards at 20…and Beyond

My oh my, has time flown by.  Today marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of Camden Yards, as the Baltimore Orioles kickoff the 2012 season against the Minnesota Twins at 3:05 p.m Eastern.  With a few cool fan-friendly ballpark improvements already in the bag for 2012, the Baltimore Sun takes a timely look at the future for the once trend-setting stadium.  Our friend Joe Mock (BaseballParks.com) is quoted extensively in the story.  Read more here.  View video clip of improvements here.

Changes Coming to Camden Yards for 20th Anniversary Season

The Baltimore Orioles have released a rendering of some of the changes coming to Camden Yards in time for the ballpark’s 20th anniversary season, including a more fan-friendly short porch in right field, a new bar and raised seating area behind center field, and six new statues honoring Oriole greats Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, Eddie Murray

Orioles Search for New Voice

After 14 seasons, Dave McGowan stepped down as the public address announcer for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.  A competition that began with 670 hopefuls is now down to 25 semi-finalists.  Read more here

Orioles Announce Oriole Park Improvements

PRESS RELEASE – As part of a continued commitment to honor the proud history of the franchise, and in conjunction with efforts to improve the design aesthetic and functionality of the ballpark and the bullpen picnic grove in center field, the Orioles today announced plans to enhance the fan experience at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for 2012, highlighted by a newly renovated area to honor

Cartoon Bird is Back!

The Baltimore Orioles unveiled their uniform changes for 2012, highlighted by the return of the cartoon bird as the logo on the club’s home and road caps and the introduction of an alternate orange jersey for Saturday home games.  Read more and view new unis here.

Hapless Orioles Hire Duquette as GM

The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly hired Dan Duquette to replace Andy McPhail as general manager. The Orioles have been on a pathetic losing streak for the past 14 years.  Duquette has been out MLB for nearly a decade.  Read more here and here.

Brooks Robinson Statue Unveiled

A 9-foot-tall, more than 1,500-lb. bronze statue of Baltimore Orioles great and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson wearing a gold glove was unveiled on Saturday near the left field entrance to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.  Read more and view statue here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the story.

Camden Yards: 20 Influential Seasons (+ Our 2010 Slideshow)

Has it really been 20 season since that Camden Yards, home of MLB’s Baltimore Orioles, opened for business?  Ryan Loy from The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, PA) takes a look at the now-seasoned stadium and its architectural influences across the industry.

The New Ed Smith Set for Christening on Tuesday

After a $31.s million makeover, the new Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota (FL), the spring training home for the Baltimore Orioles, will open for business on Tuesday when the Birds take on the Tampa Bay Rays.  Read more here and here.  Compare the old with the new.  View renderings here.  Nicely done!

Work on Orioles’ Spring Home Continues

Renovation work on Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota (FL) continues, as the the spring home for the Baltimore Orioles gets a $31 million makeover.  Watch video here.

City to Issue RFP for Frederick Ballpark

We know the Atlantic League is gunning to snag Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Single-A Frederick Keys, but this is the first we have heard that the mayor will officially issue a request for proposal for groups to come forward and make a pitch for the park.  The current lease with the Keys was only extended for six months to cover the 2011 season.

Orioles End Affiliation with Appy’s Bluefield Orioles

After 53 consecutive years in Bluefield (WV) and Bowen Field, the Baltimore Orioles are pulling up stakes.  Bluefield Baseball Club, which operates the Bluefield Orioles, and the Appalachian League are currently working to find a MLB replacement.  Read more here.

Baysox, Orioles Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Bowie Baysox and the Baltimore Orioles announce today an extension of the organizations’ Player Development Contract. Under the agreement, the Baysox remain the Orioles class Double-A affiliate through the 2014 season. In addition to extending their agreement with the Baysox, the Orioles also reached agreement

Ripken to Break Ground Today on Replica Ballpark for Kids

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Cal Ripken, Jr. will break ground today on a new youth-sized replica of old Memorial Stadium, the former home of the Baltimore Orioles, on the stadium’s original site on 33rd Street as part of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation‘s “Swing for the Future” campaign.  Read more and watch Cal Ripken, Jr. interview here.

After Nearly Two Decades, Time for a Camden Yards Makeover

The Baltimore Orioles have brought back Janet Marie Smith, the architect/urban planner largely credited with developing the new retro- style ballpark mimicked around MLB and the minors, to give Camden Yards a sprucing up.  It is hard to believe that Camden Yards made its debut almost 2o years ago in 1992.  Read more here.

Lowest Attendance Ever at Camden Yards

The Baltimore Orioles are 1-7 this season and could be headed toward their 13th straight losing season.  Fans have obviously grown weary of the team’s losing ways.  On Monday night, a crowd of 9,129 fans watched the once proud Orioles’ franchise take another one in the chops at one of America’s most beautiful ballparks.

Sarasota Approves Orioles Ballpark Deal a Second Time

In order to bolster their case in a lawsuit over alleged backdoor dealings (the breaking of open meetings and public records laws) when $26 million in bonds were approved to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium for the Baltimore Orioles, Sarasota County Commissioners held a public hearing to listen to presentations, go over all the facts, and allow for public comment on the project.  Read more here.

Lawsuit Delays Renovations to Ed Smith Stadium

A lawsuit filed by Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government and Citizens for Sunshine has thrown a wrench into plans to issue $26 million in bonds to renovate Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home for the Baltimore Orioles.  Read more here.