The Orioles return home Friday, August 18, for a six-game homestand featuring a three-game weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels and a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. The homestand will be highlighted by a celebration of the 25th anniversary season of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, two giveaway items commemorating the 25th anniversary season, and the annual Cardboard to Leather™ collection. 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 nearly 1,000 children as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program during the homestand.
During the weekend series, the Orioles will celebrate Oriole Park at Camden Yards and honor the first team to play at The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball™. The festivities will begin with a sold out 25th anniversary luncheon hosted by the Oriole Advocates and presented by MECU, Baltimore's Credit Union on Friday. Prior to Friday's game, all fans will receive a 25th Anniversary Poster presented by MECU. Additionally, there will be a postgame fireworks display presented by Baltimore Area Credit Unions, which will feature popular music from 1992.
Prior to Saturday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Angels, all fans entering the ballpark will receive a 25th anniversary Oriole Park at Camden Yards replica ballpark. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as 20 members of the 1992 Orioles are expected to attend pregame festivities including Orioles Legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer CAL RIPKEN, JR., Orioles Hall of Famers BRADY ANDERSON, RICK DEMPSEY, CHRIS HOILES, MIKE MUSSINA, and GREGG OLSON, as well as former Orioles DICK BOSMAN, GLENN DAVIS, MIKE DEVEREAUX, LEO GOMEZ, SAM HORN, TIM HULETT, BEN McDONALD, MARK McLEMORE, JOE ORSULAK, JIM POOLE, BILL RIPKEN, RICK SUTCLIFFE, MARK WILLIAMSON, and Orioles Bullpen Coach and former Orioles reliever ALAN MILLS. As part of the celebration, Anderson, Devereaux, Hoiles, Horn, and Orsulak will participate in a Home Run Derby beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Oriole Park. Following the Derby, the returning 1992 Orioles will be introduced on the field as part of a special pregame ceremony.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary celebration, all uniformed personnel will wear 1992 replica throwback jerseys and caps that will later be authenticated, autographed, and auctioned off at www.orioles.com/auctions to benefit the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation. Additionally, replica jerseys of returning members of the 1992 Orioles will also be autographed, authenticated, and auctioned off at www.orioles.com/auctions with proceeds also benefitting the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.
FANS ENCOURAGED TO DONATE TO ORIOLE ADVOCATES' CARDBOARD TO LEATHER™ EQUIPMENT COLLECTION
On Sunday, the Oriole Advocates will conduct their annual Cardboard to Leather™ collection presented by Legg Mason. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently-used baseball equipment to the game, and financial donations are also accepted. Legg Mason will contribute $5,000 to the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation for the Cardboard to Leather™ collection. Additionally, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will award a grant of $5,000 to the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation for the purchase of new equipment. During Sunday's game, the Oriole Advocates will be conducting a silent auction of sports memorabilia on the lower concourse near Gate E to benefit the collection. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., fans will have the chance to bid on baseballs, photos, bats, and jerseys autographed by current Orioles. Additionally, Cardboard to Leather™ volunteer RICHARD "DICK" COPPAGE will be honored as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero for his work in collecting thousands of items to send to children in the Caribbean.
The Oriole Advocates created the Cardboard to Leather™ program in 1992 to provide baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Since the program's inception, the Oriole advocates have distributed equipment to youth baseball players around the world in places such as Afghanistan, Aruba, Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Serbia, Venezuela, and throughout the United States. In the last eight years alone, the Oriole Advocates have been able to impact more than 50,000 children internationally and domestically through the Cardboard to Leather™ program. Earlier this season, Orioles pitcher UBALDO JIMÉNEZ visited Dunloggin Middle School to help eighth-grade students pack donations for distribution in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
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.
· AUGUST 18 - LYNN COFFLAND; for providing opportunities for combat-wounded veterans to regain their physical and mental health through the Catch A Lift Fund. Coffland started the nonprofit organization in honor of her late brother who was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army. Catch A Lift helps veterans recover, rehabilitate, and reintegrate through physical fitness.
· AUGUST 19 - AMY CRONE; for helping Maryland farmers provide healthy food to Maryland residents. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Maryland Farmers Market Association (MDFMA), Crone connects members of our community with Maryland farmers markets and provides resources to managers, farmers, and consumers. MDFMA helps residents access local food and helps low-income Marylanders purchase fruits and vegetables at markets through the Maryland Market Money program, a fund match for customers who receive federal nutrition benefits.
· AUGUST 20 - RICHARD "DICK" COPPAGE; for his dedication to the Oriole Advocates' Cardboard to Leather™ collection. After retiring five years ago, Coppage has collected over 1,000 items for underprivileged children in the Caribbean through yard sales, thrift shops, friends, and family.
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, AUGUST 18
STUDENT NIGHT
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.
ORIOLES AND ORIOLES REACH TO HOST FUNDRAISING EVENT TO BENEFIT SHANNON'S FUND
The Orioles and OriolesREACH will host a private fundraising event for Shannon's Fund on Friday, August 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Oriole Park. The event includes a pregame barbecue, an opportunity to watch batting practice from the Roof Deck bar, a visit from an Orioles player, photos with The Oriole Bird, two complimentary drink tickets, as well as fireworks following the conclusion of the game. Additionally, a silent auction will be held near Gate E to benefit Shannon's Fund. An endowment at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Shannon's Fund was established by the Orioles and OriolesREACH in 2008 to provide financial support to hospital patients and their families to assist with many expenses associated with the treatment process. The endowment was created in memory of SHANNON OBAKER, the club's former Director of Community Outreach, who bravely fought cancer for a year before she passed away in 2007 at the age of 29.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK CEREMONY
TIM BECKHAM will accept his American League Player of the Week Award from Orioles Executive Vice President DAN DUQUETTE in a special pregame ceremony on Friday. Beckham was also recently selected by fans for the final Orioles T-Shirt giveaway on Monday, September 4.
ORIOLE PARK 25TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER
All fans attending Friday night's game against the Angels will receive the Oriole Park 25th Anniversary Poster presented by MECU, Baltimore's Credit Union. The poster depicts the beauty of Oriole Park, and quintessential moments in Orioles history including EDDIE MURRAY's 500th home run, CAL RIPKEN, JR.'s 2,131 game, and the celebration of clinching the AL East in 2014.
FIREWORKS NIGHT PRESENTED BY BALTIMORE AREA CREDIT UNIONS
On Friday, August 18, the Orioles will host Friday Fireworks Night, presented by Baltimore Area Credit Unions. Fireworks will be set off approximately 10 minutes following the conclusion of the game. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the ballpark, the fireworks will be set to popular music from 1992. The final Friday Fireworks Night of the season will take place on September 22.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
25th ANNIVERSARY SEASON AT ORIOLE PARK AT CAMDEN YARDS CELEBRATION
Throughout the weekend, 20 members of the 1992 Orioles - the first team to play at Oriole Park at Camden Yards - will return to celebrate the ballpark's 25th anniversary season. On Saturday, they will be introduced on the field as part of a special pregame ceremony. Additionally, five returning players will participate in a Home Run Derby at 6:00 p.m. All uniformed personnel will wear 1992 replica throwback jerseys and caps that will later be authenticated, autographed, and auctioned to benefit the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation. Upon arrival, all fans will receive an Oriole Park at Camden Yards Replica Ballpark.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR TO THROW CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH
The 2017 Maryland Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist, ATHANASIA KYRIAKAKOS, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Sunday, August 20. Kyriakakos teaches at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical Senior High School and is a world-renowned artist who represented Greece in the 50th Venice Biennale, created artwork for the 28th Olympic Games in Athens and also received a Fullbright Fellowship. The Orioles will donate a catered suite to Maryland's Teachers of the Year from 24 local school districts, each of whom will be recognized in a pregame ceremony.
MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM
As part of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Program, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered, private suite at each Sunday home game to servicemen and women. This Sunday, military members from Catch A Lift Fund will enjoy the game in a suite, experience a meet-and-greet with DARREN O'DAY and CHRIS TILLMAN, and receive a T-Shirt and cap. Catch A Lift helps veterans recover, rehabilitate, and reintegrate through physical fitness. Founder LYNN COFFLAND will be honored as the Birdland Community Hero on Friday evening.
CARDBOARD TO LEATHER™ EQUIPMENT COLLECTION
On Sunday, the Oriole Advocates will conduct their annual Cardboard to Leather™ collection presented by Legg Mason. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently-used baseball equipment to the game, and financial donations are also accepted. The Oriole Advocates will also be conducting a silent auction of sports memorabilia on the lower concourse near Gate E to benefit the collection. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., fans will have the chance to bid on baseballs, photos, bats, and jerseys autographed by current Orioles.
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 fifth 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.
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 EMORY FIELDER a 6-year-old from Baltimore.
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 11th of 13 Sunday home games when kids can round the bases like their favorite Orioles.
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
ORIOLES ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH SERIES
Every Monday and Thursday home game, former Orioles players will sign autographs on Eutaw Street as part of the Orioles Alumni Autograph Series. On August 21, former Orioles DAVE FORD, TIPPY MARTINEZ, and NATE SNELL will sign autographs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the autograph location will take place on the Lower Level Concourse near the Fan Assistance Center behind home plate.
MARYLAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES SUMMER READING PROGRAM RECOGNIZED
During a special pregame ceremony, representatives from each Maryland county library will be acknowledged for their work with the summer reading program. As a reward for young people who participated in their library's summer reading program, the Orioles donated 5,000 tickets to games on Monday or Tuesday. The summer reading program is an essential part of building children's vocabulary and preventing summer learning loss.
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT WINNER TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM
On Monday, America's Got Talent's sixth season winner, LANDAU EUGENE MURPHY, JR. will sing the national anthem prior to the game. Murphy won the hit talent competition show with the largest vote total in the show's history. He wowed fans with his interpretations of Frank Sinatra, Frank Martin, and others. He has released three albums, and is currently traveling around the country performing.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22
RBI DIVISION CHAMPIONS CELEBRATION
The Orioles will recognize the division champions of the Baltimore Orioles RBI League in a pregame ceremony before Tuesday's game against the Athletics. After a 10-week season with 42 different teams and more than 600 players, five teams won their respective championships: Liberty Road Redwings (10-12 baseball), Baltimore Rattlers (13-15 baseball), the 16-18 baseball champions (which will be determined later this evening), James Mosher Batting Babes (10-14 softball), and Edreco Eagles (14-18 softball). Additionally, the Orioles will recognize the Senior Orioles RBI baseball team which won the Mid-Atlantic RBI Tournament to advance to the RBI World Series in Cincinnati earlier this month. This was the second-straight team from the Orioles RBI program to advance to the RBI World Series. The Orioles will donate more than 1,000 tickets to all Baltimore Orioles RBI teams for Tuesday night's game.
2017 DREAM WEEK CHAMPIONS HONORED
The 2017 Dream Week Champions, who were managed by Orioles Hall of Famer RICK DEMPSEY, will receive their championship rings in a special pregame ceremony on Tuesday. A group of 120 Orioles fans traveled to Sarasota, Fla. from January 22 to January 28 to live out their fantasy of being a Major League player. Dream Week players received instruction from and were coached by former players throughout the week, including Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer JIM PALMER, MIKE BODDICKER, AL BUMBRY, and other Orioles Alumni. Participants played daily doubleheader intrasquad games and received the full Major League treatment, including personalized Orioles home and road jerseys. The club's 2018 Dream Week will take place from January 21-28, 2018 in Sarasota. Fans interested in participating in Dream Week should visit www.orioles.com/dreamweek, call 410-547-6063, or email [email protected] to register or to receive more information.
2017-18 ORIOLES PET CALENDAR ON SALE TO BENEFIT BARCS
On Tuesday, the ninth annual Orioles pet calendar will go on sale with all proceeds benefiting the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), a nonprofit shelter that accepts and cares for all animals in need. The 16-month calendar, sponsored by Pet+E.R., includes photos of Orioles players with their pets and various BARCS animals. This year's calendar features BRAD BRACH, DYLAN BUNDY, CHRIS DAVIS, CALEB JOESPH, KEVIN GAUSMAN, MYCHAL GIVENS, J.J. HARDY, MANNY MACHADO, TREY MANCINI, WADE MILEY, DARREN O'DAY, JOEY RICKARD, CHRIS TILLMAN, MARK TRUMBO, as well as manager BUCK SHOWALTER. The 2018 calendar will be available for $15 at Oriole Park, the Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria in York, Pa., and at www.orioles.com/petcalendar.
Additionally, KEVIN GAUSMAN will appear for a calendar autograph signing by Gate E from 5:45-6:15 p.m. prior to Tuesday's game. The first 100 fans who purchase the 2017-18 calendar can receive a voucher for one autograph per person. Once the vouchers have been handed out, no additional fans will be able to enter the line. Gausman and his wife, TAYLOR, teamed up with BARCS earlier this season to launch a new program "Tails with Tales," that encourages childhood reading and promotes social interaction with shelter pets.
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY NIGHT
Students, alumni and supporters of Morgan State University will be in attendance on Tuesday night to cheer on the Orioles and celebrate Morgan State University Night at Oriole Park. This is the first of four university pride nights at the ballpark, with Penn State University on August 28, Towson University on August 29, and University of Maryland on August 31. When fans from each school purchase tickets through the university pride night offer, they will receive a unique Orioles cap featuring their school colors, while supplies last.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23
JUNIOR ORIOLES DUGOUT CLUB GAME
Thousands of children who participate in the Junior Orioles Dugout Club will be in attendance on Wednesday to root for the Orioles. The game will be the sixth and final of the season for Ace 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.
SENIOR DAY AT THE BALLPARK
During Wednesday's game, the Orioles will host over 1,000 fans 55 and over who purchased a Senior Day ticket package. The sold-out package includes Club Box tickets or Lower Reserve tickets and an Orioles plush throw blanket. Fans with a Senior Day ticket package must pick up their Orioles blanket outside of the Orioles Team Store on Eutaw Street between 1:00 p.m. and the end of the eighth inning by presenting their specially-marked ticket.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
O'S ZONE RALLY PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER
On Friday, August 25, the Orioles will host an O's Zone Rally presented by Budweiser at Valley Inn (10501 Falls Road, Timonium, MD 21093) from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Former Oriole AL BUMBRY will be signing autographs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and The Oriole Bird will be on hand taking photos with fans. All fans are welcome to attend.