Since I relocated to the Maryland-DC area, I’ve managed to get to at least one Astros game at Camden each year since 2017 (except for 2020). Usually, I’ll take the Baltimore Light Rail to the Stadium. The Light Rail is hardly the most efficient and best public transportation medium in the region, but to get to games for a decent price and to save on the traffic angst, it is a reasonable deal ($4 for a round-trip ticket). Ended up in a couple of conversations with some O’s fans. Historically, I have found those to go fairly well. Baltimore fans LOVE their team, but they don’t have the rep of being [KITTENS], unlike some other fanbases.
If you ever find yourself coming from South of Baltimore and want to use the Light Rail, go to North Linthicum station. Usually plenty of good parking and given the divergence of the southbound line to either Cromwell or BWI, you give yourself better options. The Light Rail isn’t always the best for efficiency, so you will wait, but if you wish to reduce the wait time, give yourself that option.
As for Camden Yards, it maintains a good balance of old-school charm and modern amenities. Never had a bad view or experience at the park. Getting there a bit early meant a good chance to walk around and take in some of the sights. The Wall of Fame for the O’s greats, the statue part, with the statues honoring the best of the best (like Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Brooks Robinson, Earl Weaver, and Cal Ripken). Ended up nearly at field level along the 3rd Base line.
The 1st part of this doubleheader was a designated Field Trip Day with 2,000-3,000 grade school students at the park. Much of the pre-game festivities involved those kids, from weather training, to a pre-schooler throwing out the first pitch (surprisingly, Houston did not sign her to a pitching contract) and a combined junior high choir/string ensemble did the National Anthem. They did make their presence known via noise in volume. Take your standard grade school kid, their propensity to be loud and multiple that by a few thousand…you definitely heard them. Not surprisingly, the designated “song” that was voted on to play between one of the innings was the theme to SpongeBob Square Pants.
It was quite the experience watching Yordan Alvarez playing left field in person. From the seats right next to the field, you realize just how large a human being he is. His fielding…well, there is a reason he doesn’t play out there all the time. While the RBI double that scored the first run isn’t all his fault, Yordan isn’t known for speed. Perhaps a more athletic LF guy limits Pete Alonso to moving to 3rd, but still, it was not a great situation for Yordan. Also, Alonso, aka the Polar Bear, ran the bases like an actual polar bear on its hind legs. You could have timed him with a sundial running to home. Welcome to the 2026 Astros.
The entertainment between the 3rd and 4th innings brings you the Old Bay Crab Shell Game, whereby three crabs all have caps and one of them has a white ball underneath said hat (Crab #2 was the winner). Can you think of a more stereotypical Marylander thing than a crab shell game sponsored by Old Bay? Then between the 5th and 6th inning, you had the condiment race. It is a weak comparison to the presidential run down at Nationals Park, but it has its amusements. Also, don’t bet on Mustard. Between the three of Ketchup, Mustard and Dill Relish, the respective records were 10-0-8 (after that race). Mustard, at least in Baltimore, sucks.
Should you come to Camden Yards, know that Section 84 is the “Bird Bath”. Started a couple of seasons ago, it has taken on a life of its own. Every time the O’s hit a homer, they have someone spray that section with water. Unfortunately, for Houston, they saw two such soakings, due to the 2x Grand Slams that they hit. Given that it was only in the mid-60s, I don’t think the Bird Bath felt all that good for the O’s fans. A small measure of comfort to a less-than-thrilled Astros’ team.
By the 7th inning stretch, Game 1 was effectively over. Houston did get some guys on-base but only drove in 3 total runs. For the kids who came to the game for a field trip, it was a good time to watch. They got to sing along with everyone in the 7th Inning Stretch for the “God Bless America” portion, as well as the local tradition of John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”. Usually, the O’s Bird Mascot is somewhere prominent in the park during the song. It is arguably most amusing when said bird is up by the press box playing a faux violin, but this time, he was trying to country dance with a fan over the home team dugout. Not a proper two-step. Would like to think that Orbit could manage that better.
There is something serene about a ball game in the late innings of a sunny afternoon. Especially if the game is all but decided. At this point, the buzz is there, but it is a bit subdued. There is almost a peaceful feeling. Yes, the game may lack a degree of excitement and thrill, but then you remember that you are at a ball game on a gorgeous afternoon. Hard to beat that, even if the result is not what you would hope.
There was some trash talking, but oddly enough, it was O’s fans taunting their own team. Kinda funny, especially since the O’s were in full control. However, we all had to chuckle when the guy, probably fortified with a few Natty Bohs, yelled for the O’s Shortstop to move over and get that single. Did manage to sit next to an entertaining elder fan (not the yeller). Guy had been to Astrodome and Daikin Park, so a decent conversation. Likely he could recount when Brooks Robinson was an up-and-coming left corner.
One thing about this doubleheader was that if you had a ticket for either game, you could stay for both matchups. There was only a 30+ min delay between games, and fans were NOT required to leave the stadium after Game 1. In one way, that was nice that you didn’t have to leave. On the other hand, the usual pre-game pomp and circumstance was absent. When the teams changed uniforms and got back out to play, there was the announcing of the lineups and that…was it. No national anthem, no first pitch, nothing else.
The vibe for the second game was completely different. Arguably the crowd population was down by 75%. You could clearly hear the sound of the ball hitting the glove, the crack of the bat, the giggle of a single child. It felt like a spring training game. Also, it seemed like there was a greater percentage of Houston fans for the second game than O’s fans. Likely that took a lot out of the O’s, as the Astros jumped on Brandon Young. 5 runs in the 1st, and a quick Alvarez homer in the 2nd, and the team that just got spanked 10-3 was quickly up 6-0. McCullers even had a quick first inning.
Unfortunately, I had to depart quickly after the 1st inning, but at least got to leave the park on a good feeling. Did run into some O’s fans waiting for the Light Rail who asked, a little drunkenly, if I had seen the two grand slams from Game 1. I nodded, said yes, and pointed out that Houston was up 6-0, which seems to take a little steam out of their trash talking high. Did note that we (Houston) had our pitching staff, so that left all with a laugh. Always nice to show diplomacy.
Overall, a grand day for a ballgame. Would be nice if Houston wasn’t playing like they wanted that #1 pick in the 2027 Draft, and if the O’s weren’t so mid. I guess there is a chance, however small, that Houston could meet up with Baltimore in a playoff series, but likely, Houston does not return until 2027. Still, hard to be too down on a day like this past Thursday.
Anyway, the experiences of one Astros fan taking in some baseball in Baltimore. For reference, since my near annual pilgrimage to Camden Yards, Houston is 7-3 in those games. I’ll take those percentages. Hopefully, Houston can add to that. Will they? Stay tuned.
Feature photo by l4blitzer.
