On Wednesday, the Orioles will resume the first homestand of the 2017 season with one game against the Toronto Blue Jays followed by a weekend series against the New York Yankees. The homestand will feature the third annual Kids' Opening Day on Sunday, April 9. The celebration will welcome children and their families to a new season of Orioles Baseball with many family-friendly activities and unique gameday opportunities for several lucky kids throughout the day. All fans ages 14 and under will receive an Orioles fedora, and fans ages 4-14 will be able to participate in a postgame Kids Run the Bases, presented by Weis Markets. It will be the first of 13 Sunday home games when kids can round the bases like their favorite Orioles.
Among the most exciting elements of Kids' Opening Day are opportunities for children ages 14 and under to be selected to participate in pregame experiences. On their way into the ballpark, 10 randomly selected young Orioles fans will receive an Orange Ticket for a memorable lifetime experience later that day; nine children will receive a ticket allowing them to take the field with the Orioles starters for the national anthem and one child will help deliver the lineup card during the pregame exchange at home plate.
Additionally, children 14 and under are encouraged to enter a video-submission contest held on Instagram and Twitter, with the winner introducing the Orioles starting lineup over the ballpark public address system. Parents can submit their child's video through April 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #KidsOpeningDay. A sample script and additional information can be found at www.orioles.com/kids.
There will be plenty of in-game entertainment for children as well, including the "Tweet for a Bird Visit" promotion in which fans tweet for the chance to have the Oriole Bird deliver an Orioles prize pack to their seats. Children are also strongly encouraged to show their Orioles spirit with costumes and signs, and some of the most-supportive young fans will receive Orioles autographed items for their efforts. Face painters will be available at the renovated Kids' Corner near Gate C from the time gates open until approximately an hour after the scheduled first pitch.
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.
* APRIL 7 - CATHY YOUNG; a registered nurse at MedStar
Franklin Square Medical Center from Baltimore, for her attentiveness to helping others in medical need both on the job and away from the workplace. She has received the Daisy Award at MedStar for being an extraordinary nurse.
* APRIL 8 - ASMA INGE-HANIF; an advanced nurse practitioner from Baltimore, for opening her home to Muslim women and children refugees who were sexually assaulted or victims of domestic violence and ultimately converting her home into a shelter. She also feeds the homeless through her "Chili Bowl Sunday" program and provides physicals to individuals wishing to participate in the Special Olympics.
* APRIL 9 - THOMAS MOORE; a middle-school student from Bowie, Md., who grew out his hair to donate it to cancer patients. His donation helped to provide three wigs for cancer patients who had lost their hair while undergoing treatment.
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.
TUESDAY, APRIL 4
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METROPOLITAN BALTIMORE SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore Youth of the Year Scholarship Award is a program designed to give deserving Boys & Girls Club members financial assistance as they pursue higher education. The application process required essays on home and family, school, moral character, and life goals, a speech about life goals and their journey, as well as character recommendations. Five finalists will present their application packets to a panel of judges, including ADAM and AUDIE JONES and other partners of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, on Tuesday, April 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Designated Hitters Lounge on the fourth floor of the Warehouse at Oriole Park. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 scholarship and the winner will receive an additional $5,000. This scholarship money is part of a $75,000 contribution from the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation and Adam Jones. The winner of the scholarship will be announced during a pre-game ceremony with Adam and Audie Jones on Friday, April 7.
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
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.
TRUMBO TO RECEIVE PLAYERS CHOICE AWARD FOR A.L. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Prior to the 7:05 p.m. game on Friday, April 7, Orioles outfielder MARK TRUMBO will be awarded the 2016 Players Choice Award for American League Comeback Player of the Year. The Players Choice Awards, in which the players recognize each other's excellence on and off the field, have been presented by the Players Association since 1992, with the Players Trust providing more than $4 million in charitable grants to causes selected by the winning players. In recognition of his outstanding performance, the Major League Baseball Players Trust will present a $20,000 grant to a charitable organization selected by Trumbo. Orioles pitcher and MLBPA Player Representative DARREN O'DAY will be representing his Major League peers in presenting Trumbo with the award. Trumbo led Major League Baseball with a career-high 47 home runs last season while also registering a career-high and team-leading 108 RBI.
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
PENNINGTON SEED ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH APPEARANCE
Larry Bigbie will be signing autographs from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ellicott City Home Depot.
SAFETY PATROL NIGHT
The Orioles have donated a total of 10,000 tickets to safety patrol students and their families throughout the state of Maryland as part of two Safety Patrol Appreciation Nights this month. The first night will be held on Saturday, April 8, and the second will be held on Saturday, April 22.
SUNDAY, APRIL 9
PENNINGTON SEED ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH APPERANCE
Joe Orsulak will be signing autographs from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Timonium Home Depot.
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 at Oriole Park to servicemen and women. This Sunday, April 9, military members from Ft. Meade will enjoy the game vs. the New York Yankees in a suite, have a meet-and-greet with BRAD BRACH and DARREN O'DAY, and receive a T-shirt and cap.
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 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 winner for Sunday, April 9, is RYLAN VANCOURT, a 10-year-old from Cockeysville, Md.