BALTIMORE -- Camden Yards is filled with unique features and components that set it apart from most ballparks in Major League Baseball. There’s the retro design, the picnic area near Legends Park in left-center field and -- of course -- the B&O Warehouse and Eutaw Street.
On May 12, 2023, the Orioles added another exclusive: The Bird Bath Splash Zone.
It was the brainchild of three players on Baltimore’s 2023 roster -- left-handers Cole Irvin and Keegan Akin and catcher James McCann. At the time, the O’s already had water-themed celebrations, as they pretended to turn on a faucet after singles, imitated sprinklers after doubles and triples and drank from the homer hose in the dugout following home runs.
But what if there was a way to get the fans involved in the fun?
Thus, Section 86 was transformed into the Bird Bath. The first game featuring the splash zone also brought the introduction of Mr. Splash, an anonymous man wearing a floppy hat, goggles, a snorkel, water wings and a flamingo pool floatie who was “hired” to serve as the team’s chief hydration officer.
Mr. Splash uses a hose to spray fans seated in the Bird Bath Splash Zone. He began by only doing so after Orioles players hit for extra bases, though it didn’t take long for him to start spraying the hose more frequently.
The fans in the Bird Bath got quite wet during the splash zone’s debut night, as Cedric Mullins hit for the cycle during the Orioles’ 6-3 win over the Pirates.
“Mr. Splash was letting it fly out there,” then-Baltimore left fielder Austin Hays said after the game. “I know the fans were loving it; they were extra riled up tonight. Give that guy a raise out there. He was electric for the boys.”
The Bird Bath expanded for the 2025 season, as the splash zone grew to encompass Sections 84-86. Fans could buy special tickets to sit there during all 81 home games.
Sometimes, Mr. Splash isn’t the only person using the hose in the Bird Bath. Various special visitors have been invited to serve as “guest splashers,” often for an inning during a game.
Here’s a look at some of the most memorable “guest splashers” in the Bird Bath’s history:
Adam Jones-- July 28, 2023
No surprise that Jones was the first “guest splasher,” right? After all, the Orioles Hall of Famer was known for hitting his teammates in the face with pies during on-field interviews on MASN throughout his playing career with Baltimore (2008-18).
Jones donned the Mr. Splash outfit and wore a custom jersey reading “Captain Splash.” The night is more remembered for Anthony Santander’s walk-off home run in the ninth inning that lifted the O’s to a 1-0 win over the Yankees.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore -- July 30, 2023
Moore became “Governor Splash” during a Sunday Night Baseball matchup vs. the Yankees.
Mr. Splash had already been quite busy by the time Moore arrived for his time with the hose. The Orioles scored seven runs in the first inning en route to a 9-3 victory.
Ben McDonald -- Sept. 29, 2023
“Big Ben” became “Big Splash” the night after the Orioles clinched the American League East championship in 2023.
David Rubenstein -- May 10, 2024
The sale of the Orioles to an ownership group led by private equity billionaire David Rubenstein was finalized on March 27, 2024. On the 45th day of Rubenstein’s tenure as control owner, he went to the Bird Bath and became “Rubensplash.”
It’s hard to imagine many owners of sports teams would get this involved in the fanfare.
Joan Jett -- June 28, 2024
Jett might love rock and roll, but she also loves the Orioles. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer even tracks the scores of O’s games on the MLB app when performing concerts during baseball season.
On this night, the longtime Orioles fan became “Jett Stream” and took her turn as a guest splasher, something she was quite eager to do.
“The splasher -- that’s pretty cool,” Jett said during a phone call with MLB.com before her visit. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I just hope the Orioles hit for me, or I might have to make up some new splashing rules.”
Cal Ripken Jr. -- Sept. 6, 2024
On the 29-year anniversary of playing his record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game, Ripken went from “Iron Man” to “Iron Splash” in the Bird Bath.
Ripken is a frequent visitor to Camden Yards and can often be spotted in his seat in the first row behind home plate. But on this night, the Baseball Hall of Famer and Orioles legend ventured to left field to get in on the splashing fun.
MDFoodieBoyz -- April 13, 2025
Before they were parodied on Saturday Night Live in October, the MDFoodieBoyz (The Maryland Food Boys) visited the Bird Bath at Camden Yards early in the 2025 season for the Orioles’ Kids’ Opening Day.
The teen podcasters from Harford County have blown up on social media for their food reviews.
Nick Moore -- June 15, 2025
Moore typically spends more time at M&T Bank Stadium, as he’s the long snapper for the Ravens. But on Father’s Day, he came across Russell Street to Camden Yards and visited the Bird Bath, where he became “Dad Splash.”
Melvin Mora -- Sept. 21, 2025
For Fan Appreciation Weekend, the Orioles sent an O’s Hall of Famer to the Bird Bath.
Mora returned to Camden Yards, where he played his home games while playing for Baltimore from 2000-09. He was a two-time All-Star during that time and won an AL Silver Slugger Award in ‘04.