The Orioles return home Friday, June 30, for a three-game homestand featuring a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays. To celebrate Independence Day, all Orioles coaches, players, and on-field personnel will wear special stars and stripes accented jerseys and caps on Sunday. Each player's authentic, game-worn jersey and cap will be autographed and auctioned on www.orioles.com/auctions from July 2 at 1:00 p.m. through July 9 at 10:00 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore through the Orioles Charitable Foundation. The Orioles will wear a gray road version of the stars and stripes accented jerseys on July 3 and July 4 while facing the Brewers in Milwaukee.
 
As always, students can enjoy a special discount on Friday nights, and children ages 4-14 can participate in the post-game Kids Run the Bases presented by Weis Markets following Sunday games throughout the year. The club will also host more than 500 children as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program during the homestand. On Saturday, July 1, the Zach Britton Bobblehead giveaway will be distributed to the first 25,000 fans 15 and over.
 
BIRDLAND COMMUNITY HEROES PROGRAM
Through the Birdland Community Heroes Program, the Orioles recognize community heroes who have inspired others through their spirited commitment to extend a hand in charity, service, hope, and harmony. This recognition honors the heroism of members of our extended Orioles community from all walks of life, occupations, and diverse backgrounds living in our region, our country, and abroad, who have distinguished themselves by selflessly working or volunteering in fields that care for, serve, teach, protect, and improve the lives of others, around the corner or around the globe, who are most in need.
 
The Orioles recognize local Birdland Community Heroes at Oriole Park during every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday home game.  
JUNE 30 - HEATHER HARVISON; for her dedication to providing opportunities for young women from Baltimore as the Founder and Executive Director of Sisters Circle. For the past 15 years, Harvison has paired young women entering middle school with volunteer mentors. She was named one of The Daily Record's 2014 Top 100 Women and she was honored with the Junior League's Woman of Distinction Award in 2016.
 
JULY 1 - MAKENZIE GREENWOOD; for her passion for helping to fight hunger in her community. After hearing about the Little Free Pantry project, Greenwood made it her mission to create Hampstead's very own Little Free Pantry. She partnered with her church, and a local scouting group to build the pantry, which works on an anonymous give-and-take system. While balancing school and various extracurricular activities, she still manages to solicit donations, and check on the pantry regularly. It opened earlier this year and has already helped more than 100 individuals and families.
 
JULY 2 - OJ BRIGANCE; for sharing his perseverance and love of life with others who suffer from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Brigance was a longtime football player who won championships with both the Baltimore Stallions in the CFL, and the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. He now serves as the Senior Advisor to Player Development for the Ravens. In 2007, after his ALS diagnosis, Brigance and his family created The Brigance Brigade Foundation, which works to equip, encourage, and empower people living with ALS by providing access to equipment, resources, guidance, and support services for patients and their families. Days before the 78th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's famous speech on July 4, 1939, Brigance will bring awareness to the illness that plagued them both.
 
Through the Orioles' Great Americana Music Weekends, the club will also continue the tradition of celebrating American principles and ideals with live performances of classic, American songs during the seventh-inning stretch featuring "This Land Is Your Land" on Fridays, "America, The Beautiful" on Saturdays, and "God Bless America" on Sundays.
 
FRIDAY, JUNE 30
 
STUDENT NIGHTS
Friday nights are Student Nights at Oriole Park. Any student with a valid ID may purchase a Left Field Upper Reserve ticket for only $7 at every Friday home game during the 2017 regular season. Tickets must be purchased at the Box Office ticket windows at Oriole Park in advance or on the day of the game, subject to availability.
 
SARAH MARIE CHARLES TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM
On Friday, Pasadena, Md. native and alumna of Archbishop Spalding High School SARAH MARIE CHARLES will sing the national anthem prior to the game. Charles is starring in the Broadway show "Finding Neverland." She has appeared in other Broadway shows including "Peter Pan," "Titanic," and "Spring Awakening."
SATURDAY, JULY 1
 
ZACH BRITTON BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY
On Saturday, July 1, when the Orioles host the Rays at 4:05 p.m., the first 25,000 fans ages 15 and over will receive a Zach Britton Bobblehead. The bobblehead features the 2016 American League Reliever of the Year in his classic pitching stance. It is the first of two bobbleheads to be given away this season.
 
INSPIRING 11-YEAR-OLD TO THROW CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH
11-year-old GARRETT ROGERS was in critical condition after being struck by a drunk driver in Millsboro, Del. while retrieving balls across the street during his baseball practice in 2016. He sustained fractures to the majority of the right side of his body, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and was placed in a medically-induced coma. After months of intense rehab, Rogers is taking remarkable steps towards recovery. He continues his journey daily, slowly returning to sporting activities, and will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Saturday's game against the Rays.
 
SUNDAY, JULY 2
HAVE A CATCH SWEEPSTAKES WINNER
On Sunday, 7-year-old CONNER MACONAUGHEY from Berkeley Spring, W. Va., will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game. He won the opportunity through the Orioles' 'Have A Catch' sweepstakes. Maconaughey has been playing baseball since he was two years old and wants to be a Major League player when he grows up. He is currently a member of the Morgan County WV Little League Orioles.
 
THE ORIOLES RADIO/WENDY'S STARTING NINE SWEEPSTAKES
For the first of three Orioles home games this season, nine lucky children ages 6-12 have won a chance to take the field with the Orioles starting lineup during the national anthem in the Orioles Radio/Wendy's Starting Nine sweepstakes. Parents who would like to enter their child for a future game must visit a Baltimore-area Wendy's to pick up a coloring sheet. Once the child colors The Oriole Bird, parents should fill out the registration form and mail it to the address provided on the form. In addition to taking the field, winners will receive an Orioles t-shirt and four Upper Reserve tickets to the game.
 
KIDS RUN THE BASES PRESENTED BY WEIS MARKETS
Sundays are family days at the ballpark, when all fans ages 4-14 will be able to participate in a postgame Kids Run the Bases, presented by Weis Markets. This is the seventh of 13 Sunday home games when kids can round the bases like their favorite Orioles.
 
MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM PRESENTED BY GEICO
As part of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Program presented by GEICO, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered, private suite at each Sunday home game to servicemen and women. This Sunday, military members from the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) Detachment 7 will enjoy the game in a suite, experience a meet-and-greet with BRAD BRACH and DARREN O'DAY, and receive a T-shirt and cap. The soldiers will be deploying to the Middle East in support of United States Central Command in July.
 
STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY
The Orioles will again feature the Steal Second Base contest during every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest challenges a young fan to race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base and back. Fans can enter the contest at any Fan Assistance Center. The lucky winner will receive four tickets to that day's game, an Orioles/ESSKAY jersey T-shirt and an Orioles cap. The contestants will also get to keep the authentic base that they steal. The participant for Sunday is WILLIAM McQUILLEN, a 6-year-old from Washington, DC.
 
JUNIOR ORIOLES DUGOUT CLUB GAME
Thousands of children who participate in the Junior Orioles Dugout Club will be in attendance on Sunday to root for the Orioles. The game will be the third of the season for Slugger Plan members. Kids ages 14 and under who join the Club receive a membership card, a lanyard and ticket holder, a subscription to Orioles Kids magazine, an Orioles cap, sport socks, tickets to six pre-selected Orioles games, all in a Dugout Club backpack. Friends and family members of Dugout Club members can purchase tickets on Dugout Club days for as low as $6 each. Both the Ace Plan and the Slugger Plans are sold out for this season.