I went to two of the Sox-Nats game in DC last week (my mother is from Boston and adept and getting great seats). I went to the game wearing Sox gear, as she would appreciate it (what can I say? Washington is all about politics) but it was just sad.
On Thursday, I was sitting in row A next to the Sox dugout and I literally couldn’t see one Nats shirt in my section. I saw two people in the section next to mine wearing hometown gear. That was it. Maybe the upper deck was different, but the third base line was at least 95% Sox fans, no exaggeration. At Sox games in OPACY, at least you could argue it’s closer to 50-50.
What pained me the most were the little kids who came running down between innings to try to get balls from the third base coaches. Universally they were wearing Sox gear, but they were all locally grown children.
I will say though that there were a healthy contingent of UVA grads (also mostly in Sox gear) who were happy to root for Zimm.

game that Lou Mantanez played in and he hit a home run in his first at bat (Texiera was at first and I was visualizing him in an O’s uniform).

Being a gentleman I went to get her a drink and missed it the lone homer. She told me she let out such a yell that the whole section went silent and looked at her she was literally afraid until I returned. Because of where we were it took most of the inning to get back to her with the drink.

That may not be a big deal except for the recent shootings in at the stadium … but its California. It ain’t right but it is what it is. Fan is short for fanatic … and yes the usher are the biggest trouble. This isn’t the Red Sox and Yankees mind you but if I could feel that level of intimidation in Anheim, I can’t imagine it at OPACY when the Sox and Yanks play there.

Stacey – now you could also just wait a day, watch the O’s fall behind to the Sawx 9-1, then pummel them for 10 runs in the 7th & 8th inning to complete the greatest o’s comeback in history. Now THAT would have been a great red sox game to witness with all those paying SAWX fans in attendance!!!!!!

I was never a big O’s fan or Baseball fan for that fact. I’ve always been more of a Raven’s fan. My friend though ever year he would come to class with his O’s cap on and shirt and give me facts about them that I didn’t care for. Other kids bided at him to admit their team of choose was better but he never gave in he would always say your team is good but the O’s are better even after losses. So I just overlooked it but over the years I started to like the Orioles more and more but not enough to watch the games or goto the games unless I was offered a ticket once in awhile. So in 2009 I decided I don’t support my home team enough and decided what the hell I’ll become more involved in baseball so now I watch a game every so often. Play with the O’s when I can on games etc. So then I decided to become part of this blog to help me gain more knowledge of the O’s.

I was raised an O’s fan – used to be a Junior Oriole [anybody old enough to remember that program from Memorial Stadium]? Bullpen parties with Palmer, Singleton, May, Murray, Hendricks, Belanger, and some kid named Ripken. O’s magic actually meant something. I moved to Rhode Island a decade ago knee deep in New England territory — here it’s Red Sox or Yankees fan; as an O’s fan, I was treated as more of an interesting side show. My wife took me to an O’s-Red Sox game last year for our anniversary, and imagine my surprise — it was definitely an eye-opener; not the Baltimore games I remembered. I was in a sea of Red and referred to as the O’s guy since I was the only person in our section who knew anything about the team. Until management gets its head out of its ass and takes the time to grow the talent and stick with it, we’re not going anywhere. It’s depressing to watch the Red Sox and Yankees off season efforts and then see who the O’s pick up. The AL East used to be a nasty 3 way battle with the Red Sox-Yankees-Baltimore — now it’s a two horse show with the occasional surprise [thanks Rays — give us hope!!]. Sorry, had to vent, but living in New England as an O’s fan will do that to you. The local fans are definitely hard-core — no issues with that; but it does suck to go back and visit home turf and be a visitor….

Thanks for the interesting write-up. It prompted me to register so I could respond.

I had kind of wondered what Baltimore fans thought of all the Sox fans that showed up to the games. Well, actually, I pretty much figured what Baltimore fans thought, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that your article wasn’t an out and out condemnation. You were evenhanded and fair.

For the record, I’ve been a Sox fan since the early 1970s, am not a Masshole (we call them that up here in Maine, too) and dislike bandwagon fans just as much as the O’s fans who posted here. I have a number of acquantances who were constantly spouting “the Sox will find some way to blow it” back in 2004. A couple of them even repeated it in 2007. It irritates me now when they go on about how great the Sox are (even though I agree with them.) REAL Sox fans supported them even before 2004, win or lose.

I have never been to Camden Yards, but I can certainly see the appeal for those who do go. It’s a beautiful park that is universally acknowledged to be a great place to see a baseball game. I’ve thought now and then about trying to take in a Sox game there, but have never been to Baltimore, so it would involve more than just getting tickets and showing up. I would have to learn a lot more about the area and how to get around.

On a final note – congratulations on the comeback last night (seriously.) You did it against the best bullpen in baseball and any real baseball fan has to acknowledge that accomplishment. The Boston media covering the game noted that something like that hasn’t been done to the Sox since 1989.