The Orioles will open a three-game homestand tomorrow when they host the Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m. ET. During the homestand, the Orioles will conduct the annual P.L.A.Y. Campaign Clinic at Oriole Park, host more than 450 children as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program, and celebrate the second "Birdland Social" event of the season with numerous prizes and promotions for fans throughout the night.
On Thursday, August 4, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Rangers, the Orioles will host Social Media Night, presented by T-Mobile, for 250 of the Orioles' most engaged fans on social media. The "Birdland Social" event will include an exclusive pregame party on the centerfield Roof Deck featuring Orioles reliever DARREN O'DAY (@DODay56) and MASNsports.com writer ROCH KUBATKO (@masnRoch), who will take part in exclusive question-and-answer sessions with those in attendance.
Tickets for the Birdland Social pregame party range from $35 to $60 and include access to the private event, a catered menu, two drink coupons per person, a ticket to the game (Roof Deck, first few rows of Eutaw Street Bleachers, or Upper Reserve with varied pricing), and an exclusive Darren O'Day Omoji T-shirt. The party will begin at 5:00 p.m. and continue until 6:30 p.m. Participants will have early access to the ballpark at 4:45 p.m. through the 323 West Camden Street lobby in the Warehouse. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at orioles.com/birdlandsocial.
Social Media Night encourages fans to use #BirdlandSocial throughout the event. There will also be promotions and prizes for all fans, including Catch a #Winner, player selfies, and #BringMeFood. Fans who retrieve baseballs during batting practice that have been stamped "#Winner" can redeem a special prize at the Orioles Fan Assistance booth. Several lucky fans at the game will be selected at random to snap a selfie with an Orioles player. Additionally, fans who tweet during the game using #BringMeFood will be eligible to receive complimentary food delivered to their seats, just by tweeting the hashtag along with their desired menu item, and their exact seat location. Additional promotions will take place throughout the night both for fans in attendance and those following at home. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to the Orioles' social accounts for details, announcements, and exclusive clues. A complete list of the team's social media platforms is available at www.orioles.com/connect. Additional information about the Birdland Social is available at www.orioles.com/birdlandsocial.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2
ZION HARVEY TO THROW OUT THE CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH
Prior to the 7:05 p.m. game on August 2 against the Texas Rangers, 9-year-old ZION HARVEY from Owings Mills, Md. will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Harvey became the first child in the world to undergo a bilateral hand transplant last summer at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He has spent the last year working to regain hand function and the ability to throw a baseball through rigorous hand therapy sessions.
BRADY ANDERSON & B.J. SURHOFF TO TRAVEL TO CUBA AS PART OF GOODWILL TRIP
The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, in conjunction with Cuba's Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation, will play three games against some of Cuba's top baseball teams as part of the Ripken League Goodwill Mission Trip from August 2-6 in Cuba. Orioles Vice President of Baseball Operations BRADY ANDERSON will manage the team while Orioles Special Assignment Instructor B.J. SURHOFF and co-founder of the league and Orioles scout DEAN ALBANY will serve as coaches for the games. Both Anderson and Surhoff played for the Orioles in the club's historic exhibition game in Havana, Cuba in 1999.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3
ORIOLES HOST ANNUAL P.L.A.Y. CAMPAIGN CLINIC
On Wednesday, August 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Orioles catcher CALEB JOSEPH, Orioles head athletic trainer RICHIE BANCELLS, and members of the Orioles athletic training staff, in conjunction with the P.L.A.Y. Campaign, will welcome 100 youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore to Oriole Park. Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth (P.L.A.Y.), is a public awareness campaign through the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), in conjunction with the Taylor Hooton Foundation. The P.L.A.Y. campaign combats childhood obesity and promotes healthy living and decision-making among young people throughout the country. Joseph will speak to the youth about making smart life choices, avoiding drugs, and living an active and healthy lifestyle. The Orioles will also provide P.L.A.Y. clinic participants with tickets to attend the 7:05 p.m. game against the Texas Rangers that night.
VANCE WORLEY TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT T-MOBILE STORE IN ESSEX
Orioles pitcher VANCE WORLEY will make an appearance at the T-Mobile Store in Essex, Md. (1101 Eastern Blvd. Essex, MD 21221) from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Wednesday. Worley will sign autographs and greet fans. The event is free of charge and open to the public.
ORIOLES PARTNER WITH MARYLAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO PROMOTE SUMMER READING
Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Library Development and Services once again organized a Summer Reading Program at public libraries throughout the state of Maryland. This year's theme, On Your Mark, Get Set….Read!, focused on young people's passion for play through the exploration of sports, games, and movement through books, science activities, art projects, and more. The Orioles donated 5,000 tickets to the games on August 2-3, as a reward for students who completed the summer reading program. The Orioles will also acknowledge Summer Reading Representatives from each county library in a special ceremony on August 3, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Rangers. Last summer, more than 200,000 children and teens participated in the Maryland Public Library Summer Reading Program. The program is a collaborative project between the local public libraries and the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Library Development and Services, with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Maryland is a participating member of the national Collaborative Summer Library Program.
CHEF BRYCE TAYLOR TO THROW CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH & PREPARE SIGNATURE DISH
Prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Texas Rangers, 13-year-old Chef BRYCE TAYLOR will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Chef Taylor, a Food Network Teen Chef and Junior Finalist from Food Network's show Chopped Junior, will also prepare his ginger turkey burgers at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant as a special entrée available for fans. Additionally, Chef Taylor will serve as a celebrity guest judge for the cooking competition between ADAM JONES and the winner of MASN's 2016 CareFirst Fan Challenge at Dempsey's on Wednesday. A Baltimore native, Chef Taylor began cooking with his mother at age 5. He competed on Food Network's Chopped Junior in 2015. He will be available to media on the warning track at 6:15 p.m.
ORIOLES HOST YOUTH FROM KIDSPEACE AT THE BALLPARK
In partnership with manager BUCK SHOWALTER and his wife, ANGELA, the Orioles will once again host 150 youth for KidsPeace Night on August 3. Children from KidsPeace will receive game tickets, concessions vouchers, an Orioles t-shirt and cap, as well as transportation to and from the game against the Texas Rangers. KidsPeace will hold a silent auction on the concourse that night featuring signed memorabilia items. KidsPeace is a nonprofit organization that provides mental and behavioral health care for disadvantaged, challenged, and vulnerable youth in Maryland. Representatives from KidsPeace will also be available at the community booth with information about the organization as well as the annual KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K Race and 1 Mile Walk that will take place at Oriole Park on Saturday, October 29. For more information, visit orioles.com/KidsPeace. United Concordia Dental has partnered with the Orioles to support KidsPeace and to help provide emotional and physical health care and education services. Additionally, United Concordia Dental donated $10,000 to KidsPeace.
ORIOLES HOST LIGHT CITY SCHOLARS
The Orioles will host 11 members of the Light City Teen Scholars on Wednesday, August 3, for a day of learning and baseball. The Teen Scholars will meet with several members of the Orioles front office, experience what it takes to work behind the scenes of a Major League Baseball game, and stay for that night's game against the Texas Rangers as guests of the Orioles. The Light City Scholars are made up of Baltimore City high school sophomores and juniors who were chosen for the year-long program of educational opportunities, hands on learning experiences, vocational training, team building, and leadership development. Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre in partnership with the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts manages the program to help empower the students to become engaged leaders and help them to develop a voice and a vision for themselves, their community, and their world.
ORIOLES JUNIOR RBI BASEBALL TEAM COMPETES IN RBI WORLD SERIES
For the first time in Baltimore Orioles RBI history, a team from the program has advanced to the RBI World Series. The Orioles Junior RBI Baseball team, managed by head coach BOBBY GORSUCH, will compete in the RBI World Series in Cincinnati from August 3-8. The Orioles Junior RBI Baseball team consists of 15 local Baltimore baseball players from the 15 and under Orioles RBI division. The team advanced to the RBI World Series after defeating Harrisburg RBI in the Mid-Atlantic Junior RBI tournament on Sunday, July 24. During the RBI World Series, the team will play against RBI teams from around the world and will play at the Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds, among other local fields. Other RBI World Series events and activities include a "Workout Day" in front of Major League scouts, a Reds baseball game, and a community service event. The Orioles will provide the Orioles Junior RBI team with uniforms, turf shoes, batting practice pullovers, t-shirts, and catcher's equipment for their trip to the RBI World Series.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4
MANNY MACHADO'S "PLAY BASEBALL" CLINIC
On Thursday, August 4, Orioles third baseman MANNY MACHADO will host a clinic for over 200 participants of Baltimore City's Recreation & Parks "Play Baseball" youth program from 11:00 a.m. to noon at Patterson Park. Machado will instruct participants on a variety of baseball skills and will participate in a question and answer session. Machado hosted his third annual Celebrity BaseBOWL Tournament on May 15 to benefit the Baltimore City Foundation, which supports the "Play Baseball" program. This year's Celebrity BaseBOWL Tournament raised more than $92,000. This initiative provides a free, eight-week summer baseball camp for local youth ages 9-12 by providing equipment, uniforms, transportation, and field refurbishment.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
CASEY CARES FOUNDATION 5K RUN/WALK AT ORIOLE PARK
The Orioles and OriolesREACH will once again partner with the Casey Cares Foundation to host the seventh annual Casey Cares 5K Run/Walk at Oriole Park at Camden Yards with Orioles first baseman CHRIS DAVIS serving as race ambassador. With the Orioles on the road in Chicago, Davis' wife, JILL DAVIS, will be on site to cheer on race participants. The 3.1 mile run/one mile walk starts at 8:00 a.m. and begins at Oriole Park and ends on the field. Participants will partake in a pre-race warm-up with the Oriole Bird and will be able to enjoy music, other entertainment, and post-race refreshments. The Orioles will acknowledge the top race winners in a pregame ceremony prior to the August 16 game against the Boston Red Sox. Registration for the race is open now for both teams and individuals. Entry fees are $45 per person through Friday, August 5, or $50 per person on race day (cash or check only). Children 8 and under can register for only $20. To register, visit www.orioles.com/caseycares. All proceeds will benefit the Casey Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides personalized, uplifting, and ongoing programs with a special touch to critically-ill children and their family members throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Over the past two years since moving to Oriole Park, the race has raised nearly $300,000.