Birdland Insider: Recapping 2023 Birdland Caravan Across Maryland
Over the course of four days, Orioles players and front office staff, split between two buses, traveled a total of 703.7 miles across Maryland, making 15 stops in 12 cities, and bringing the magic of Orioles baseball straight to the fans.
While the O’s did a lot of traveling, so did their fans. Some fans came from as far as New Jersey and New York to get the opportunity to meet their favorite players in person, and it certainly did not disappoint.
Bel Air High School Fan Rally
Bel Air, Md.
To be able to interact, to see the excitement -- that was the huge change from last year in the second half. The fans’ reactions to the team and then going into the offseason, hearing how people watched us closely and how fun we were to watch, that’s great to hear.
Brandon Hyde
The 2023 Birdland Caravan kicked off with a fan rally at Bel Air High School where Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde and Executive President and General Manager Mike Elias interacted with fans, answering questions about what they can expect from the 2023 season, and hearing from a potential future catching prospect.
Maryland Food Bank
Halethorpe, Md.
Gunnar Henderson, Ryan McKenna, Ryan Mountcastle, and Kyle Stowers, alongside Hyde and Elias, began the second day of Birdland Caravan by giving back to the community. The group, along with other Orioles staff and volunteers, spent their morning at the Maryland Food Bank where they packed 11,000 pounds of food, providing 9,166 meals to families in need.
Evolution Brewing Co.
Salisbury, Md.
Two years later, Elias fulfilled his promise to the Delmarva community and brought the Birdland Caravan to Salisbury, where more than 500 fans came out to show their love and support for the O’s.
Bowlero College Park
College Park, Md.
Heston Kjerstad, Adley Rutschman, Ramón Urías, Terrin Vavra, and Elias impressed hundreds of fans with their bowling skills Saturday morning.
Bowie State College
Bowie, Md.
Hundreds of fans of all ages attended numerous autograph sessions throughout the weekend. The intimate setting allowed for fans to meet their favorite players, a moment that had been on one cancer survivor’s bucket list. It was also a place for families to share their love of Orioles baseball with the next generation.
Frederick Community College
Frederick, Md.
Wilde Lake High School
Columbia, Md.
Checkerspot Brewing Co.
Baltimore, Md.
It’s just a buzz and energy that you feel coming to events like this. You see the people are excited, and when you feel that kind of encouragement and support, it only helps everyone come together and continue to try and do great things.
Adley Rutschman
By 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, an hour before the Happy Hour officially began, Checkerspot Brewery in Baltimore was already at capacity and a line outside was forming, despite freezing temperatures. More than 500 fans ended up circling through the brewery over the next two hours, bringing “Let’s Go O’s” chants with them wherever they went.
TopGolf Baltimore
Baltimore, Md.
It’s electric, people are excited. They love the guys that are on this team now. We have some identities, we have some different things that the fans get behind certain players. You have the Omar whistle behind [Félix] Bautista out there. Those are things that you love as a fan. Those are things that make the stadium atmosphere fun. It’s been great…It’s just a really exciting time in Baltimore and Birdland.
Austin Hays
Sheraton Baltimore North in Towson
Towson, Md.
York Expo Center
York, Pa.
Winters Mill High School
Westminster, Md.
More than 300 fans came out to Winters Mill High School on Sunday to see Félix Bautista, John Means, Dillon Tate, Sig Mejdal, and Eve Rosenbaum.
Fans got to know their favorite players off the field, like who is most likely to cry at romantic movies (John Means), who was most likely the biggest troublemaker in school (Félix Bautista), and who is most likely to get in trouble with the skipper (Félix Bautista).
Crooked Crab Brewing Co.
Odenton, Md.
To see all the support in the offseason like we’re seeing and doing things like this, seeing all the fans and the smiles on their faces and the cheering, it’s really, really fun to see. Baltimore has such great fans and I’m glad we’re finally getting them out to support and cheer us on.
John Means
There is a buzz in Birdland. The excitement for the 2023 season could be felt at each of the 15 stops throughout the four-day winter tour. The O’s will be back together in Baltimore on Thursday, April 6, when they take on the New York Yankees at Oriole Park, and if Birdland Caravan was any indication, this year’s home opener will be special.