Oriole Park at Camden Yards facts for kids
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Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2021
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 Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Location in Baltimore
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Location in Maryland
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Location in the United States
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| Address | 333 West Camden Street |
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| Location | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°17′2″N 76°37′18″W / 39.28389°N 76.62167°W |
| Public transit |   MARCat Camden Station  Light RailLinkat Convention Center and Camden Station  Metro SubwayLinkat Lexington Market and Charles Center  MTA Maryland bus:69, 70, 73, 75 |
| Operator | Maryland Stadium Authority |
| Capacity | 48,876 (1992–2010) 45,971 (2011–2021) with standing room at least 48,187 44,487 (2022–present) |
| Record attendance | 49,828 (July 9, 2005) |
| Field size | Left Field Line – 333 ft (101 m) Straight Away Left – 373 ft (117 m) Left Center – 376 ft (121 m) Deep Left Center – 410 ft (125 m) Center Field – 400 ft (122 m) (Not posted) Right Center – 373 ft (114 m) Right Field Line – 318 ft (97 m)  |
| Surface | Kentucky Blue Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 28, 1989 |
| Opened | April 6, 1992 |
| Construction cost | US$110 million ($229 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HOK Sport (now Populous) |
| Project manager | Lehrer McGovern and Bovis |
| Structural engineer | Bliss & Nyitray, Inc |
| Services engineer | Kidde Consultants Inc. |
| General contractor | Barton Malow/Sverdrup/Danobe |
| Tenants | |
| Baltimore Orioles (MLB) (1992–present) | |
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, often called Camden Yards, is a famous baseball park in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is the home field for the Baltimore Orioles, a team in Major League Baseball (MLB). This stadium was the first of the "retro" style ballparks built in the 1990s and early 2000s. It opened in 1992, replacing Memorial Stadium. You can find it in downtown Baltimore, close to the Inner Harbor, as part of the Camden Yards Sports Complex.
Since it opened, Oriole Park has been praised as one of the best baseball stadiums. It inspired many new stadiums to be built in a similar classic style, moving away from the "cookie-cutter" stadiums of earlier times.
Contents
History of Oriole Park
Building the Ballpark
Before Camden Yards, most big baseball stadiums looked very similar and were often used for both baseball and football. Memorial Stadium, where the Orioles played since 1954, was one of these.
In 1984, the city of Baltimore lost its football team, the Baltimore Colts. To make sure they didn't lose the Orioles too, city and state leaders quickly started planning a new, special baseball park.
The stadium was designed by HOK Sport, a company known for creating classic-looking ballparks. The team's president, Larry Lucchino, wanted an old-fashioned stadium with modern comforts. He hired Janet Marie Smith, an architect, to help make this vision real. Construction started in 1989 and took almost three years. The stadium was named "Oriole Park at Camden Yards" after a debate, combining the team's name with the area's historic name.
Early Years (1992–2008)
The first game at Oriole Park was a practice game on April 3, 1992. The official opening day was April 6, 1992, with the Orioles winning 2–0 against the Cleveland Indians.
Camden Yards hosted the MLB All-Star Game in 1993.
On September 6, 1995, a very special event happened: Cal Ripken Jr. played his 2,131st game in a row, breaking a long-standing record! Exactly one year later, Eddie Murray hit his 500th home run at the park.
You can find a special orange seat in the right-center field bleachers (Section 96, Row 7, Seat 23). This seat marks where Eddie Murray's 500th home run landed. Another orange seat, which marked Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-breaking home run as a shortstop, was moved during later renovations.
The success of Camden Yards inspired many other cities to build similar, fan-friendly ballparks in their downtown areas.
Stadium Upgrades and Changes
After the 2008 season, the stadium got a new HD video screen and a better sound system. Before the 2011 season, all the seats in the lower part of the stadium were replaced. Some luxury suites were also changed into more casual party areas. These changes reduced the stadium's seating capacity.
For its 20th anniversary in 2012, Camden Yards received more upgrades. These included more food choices, wider walkways in the upper deck, and a new lounge area in center field where fans can stand or buy special seats. A restaurant called Dempsey’s Bar and Grill, named after a famous Orioles player, also opened. Bronze statues of Orioles players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame were added to the picnic area. The right field wall was also made shorter to improve views. In 2024, the lounge was renamed the "Coors Light Roof Deck," and a new T. Rowe Price sign was added above the video board.
Changes to the Field Size
In January 2022, the Orioles changed the left field dimensions of Camden Yards. The wall was made taller, from about 7 feet to 13 feet, and moved further back. This change was made to reduce the number of home runs hit to left field. About 1,100 seats were removed because of these changes.
The new left field is now one of the largest in the American League. It even has a unique shape where the wall gets closer to home plate near the bullpens, making it look a bit unusual.
The B&O Warehouse
A very cool part of Camden Yards is the old Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse at Camden Yards right behind the right-field wall. Instead of tearing it down, the stadium designers made it a part of the ballpark's look. The warehouse holds offices and a private club. No player has ever hit a legal home run into the warehouse during a real game! However, Ken Griffey Jr. hit it during the 1993 Home Run Derby.
Eutaw Street Fun
Eutaw Street runs between the stadium and the warehouse. It's closed to cars and is a lively place for fans. You can watch the game from here or visit shops and restaurants, like former Orioles star Boog Powell's barbecue stand. On game days, you need a ticket to be on the part of Eutaw Street next to the stadium.
Many home run balls have landed on Eutaw Street. The Orioles mark these spots with small baseball-shaped bronze plaques embedded in the street. As of 2024, 130 home runs have landed there. The first one was hit by Mickey Tettleton in 1992. The longest was hit by Gunnar Henderson in 2023, traveling 462 feet!
Special Moments at the Park
The Orioles celebrated the ballpark's 20th anniversary during the 2012 season. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is one of several places in Baltimore that have been called "Oriole Park" over the years.
Memorable Games
- September 6, 1995: Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's record for most consecutive games played. He even hit a home run in that game!
- September 6, 1996: Exactly one year after Ripken's record, Eddie Murray hit his 500th career home run here.
- October 15, 1997: The Cleveland Indians won a close game to advance to the World Series. This was the closest the Orioles have been to hosting a World Series at Camden Yards.
- April 4, 2001: Hideo Nomo pitched the first no-hitter in Camden Yards history.
- October 6, 2001: Cal Ripken Jr. played his very last MLB game.
- April 29, 2015: Due to events in Baltimore, a game against the White Sox was played with no fans in the stands. This was the first time in MLB history that a game was played without the public allowed to attend.
Firsts at the Ballpark
| Ballpark First | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Game | April 6, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Indians |
| Ceremonial First Pitch | President George H. W. Bush | |
| First Pitch | Rick Sutcliffe, 3:20 p.m. EDT – pitch was a ball | |
| First Batter | Kenny Lofton, Indians center fielder, flied out to right fielder Joe Orsulak on a 3–2 pitch | |
| First Hit | Cleveland's first baseman Paul Sorrento, singled to left-center with one out in the top of the second inning | |
| First Orioles Hit | Orioles first baseman Glenn Davis led off the bottom of the second inning with a single to center | |
| First Run | In the fifth inning, O's designated hitter Sam Horn walked, went to second base on third baseman Leo Gómez's single and scored on catcher Chris Hoiles' double | |
| First RBI | Chris Hoiles hit a ground rule double (ball bounced over the left-center fence) to score Sam Horn | |
| First Double | ||
| First Strikeout | Sutcliffe struck out Cleveland right fielder Mark Whiten in the second inning | |
| First Home Run | April 8, 1992 | Cleveland's Paul Sorrento (3-run homer) |
| First Orioles Home Run | April 9, 1992 | Mike Devereaux, leading off the fourth inning against Cleveland's Jack Armstrong |
| First Stolen Base | Cleveland's Mark Lewis (against Ben McDonald and Chris Hoiles), third inning | |
| First Grand Slam | April 17, 1992 | Randy Milligan, seventh inning, off Detroit's Les Lancaster |
| First Multi-Home Run Game | Milligan off Detroit's Scott Aldred and Les Lancaster | |
| First Triple | Cal Ripken, 6th inning, off Detroit's Scott Aldred | |
| First Save | April 19, 1992 | Gregg Olson, vs. Detroit, in a 3–2 victory |
| First No-Hitter | April 4, 2001 | Boston's Hideo Nomo, in a 3–0 victory |
Stadium Design and Cool Features
Camden Yards was built on land that used to be a rail yard for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From many parts of the park, you can see the old Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse at Camden Yards behind the right-field wall. Some seats also offer a great view of the Baltimore skyline.
The bullpen area, where pitchers warm up, has a unique two-tiered design. Above the bullpens, there's a picnic area with tables and umbrellas where fans can relax and eat. You can also find bronze statues of famous Orioles players in this area.
Outside the stadium, there's a statue of baseball legend Babe Ruth called Babe's Dream. You can also see sculptures showing the retired jersey numbers of Baltimore Orioles players.
Every seat in the stadium is green, except for one orange seat in right field. This special seat marks where Eddie Murray's 500th career home run landed.
How Camden Yards Changed Other Ballparks
Since it opened in 1992, Camden Yards has been a huge success and a fan favorite. Many other cities saw how popular it was and started building their own baseball-only stadiums with a traditional feel but modern features. These stadiums are often called "retro-classic" or "retro-modern" parks.
Camden Yards also helped end the trend of building multi-purpose stadiums that were shared by baseball and football teams. These shared stadiums often didn't work well for either sport because the fields are so different. Now, almost all MLB teams play in stadiums built just for baseball.
Some "retro-classic" parks inspired by Camden Yards include:
- Coors Field in Denver (1995)
- Oracle Park in San Francisco (2000)
- PNC Park in Pittsburgh (2001)
Some "retro-modern" parks include:
- Progressive Field in Cleveland (1994)
- T-Mobile Park in Seattle (1999)
- Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (2008)
LoanDepot Park in Miami (opened in 2012) was one of the first stadiums built after Camden Yards that didn't follow the "retro" style. It was designed to reflect the modern culture of Miami.
Other Events at Oriole Park
Concerts
Oriole Park at Camden Yards has also hosted concerts by famous musicians.
| Date | Artist | Opening act(s) | Tour / Concert name | Attendance | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 26, 2019 | Billy Joel | — | Billy Joel in Concert | 39,246 / 39,246 | $6,013,337 | This was the ballpark's first major concert. |
| June 12, 2022 | Paul McCartney | — | Got Back Tour | 40,733 / 40,733 | $9,806,025 | McCartney’s first solo concert in Baltimore and his first time performing in the city since The Beatles came to town in 1964. |
| September 13, 2024 | Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band | — | Springsteen and E Street Band 2023–2025 Tour | — | — |
Papal Mass
On October 8, 1995, Pope John Paul II held a special Mass at Camden Yards during his visit to Baltimore. This was one of the most important non-baseball events at the stadium.
Awards and Recognition
On May 6, 1992, Oriole Park received an Urban Design Award Of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects. In March 2013, it was named the third most popular American ballpark by TripAdvisor.
Fan Attendance
Between 1992 and 2000, the Orioles had over 40,000 fans at most games. In 1997, a total of 3.71 million people visited the park. Attendance went down for a while but has improved as the team has become more competitive. The highest number of fans at a single game was 49,828 on July 9, 2005.
On August 19, 2008, the stadium welcomed its 50 millionth fan. It reached this milestone faster than any other baseball park in history.
Getting to the Park
Right next to the Baltimore & Ohio Warehouse at Camden Yards is Camden Station. You can get there using the Baltimore Light RailLink or the MARC commuter train, which connects to Washington, D.C., and BWI Airport.
The stadium is in downtown Baltimore, close to the Inner Harbor. Oriole Park and the nearby M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens football team, make up the Camden Yards Sports Complex. Camden Yards is also a short walk from Babe Ruth's birthplace, which is now a museum.
Images for kids
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The Orioles hosting the Seattle Mariners on August 1, 2014
See also
In Spanish: Oriole Park at Camden Yards para niños
