Ryan Wagner Selected as New Voice of Oriole Park

A press release just sent out from the Orioles:

The Orioles today announced that Ryan Wagner has been selected as the new Voice of Oriole Park. Wagner was chosen to be the club’s new public address announcer out of a field of 670 applicants.

An Orioles fan originally from Baltimore, Wagner spent last season as a resident of Major League Baseball’s Fan Cave, watching over 2,450 major league games at a 15,000 square foot space in Greenwich Village in New York City. He also co-hosted a series of interactive sketch comedy skits and conducted interviews with MLB players and celebrities as part of his Fan Cave responsibilities.

"As a lifelong Orioles fan, being named the Voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards is indescribably amazing," Wagner said. "I spent my childhood attending games at Camden Yards, often pretending to be Rex Barney or David McGowan announcing Orioles legends. I will never forget the happiness and excitement I felt when I became a member of the Orioles organization, and I promise every Oriole fan that they will hear my very best effort, every time they come to the greatest ballpark in professional baseball."

"From a vast and diverse field of well qualified applicants, Ryan distinguished himself as the clear choice to be the new voice of Oriole Park," said Orioles Director of Communications Greg Bader. "Ryan’s traditional delivery is a style familiar to Orioles fans, and he brings an energy and freshness that we know people attending a game at Camden Yards will enjoy. The authenticity of Ryan’s voice and his smooth delivery are what stood out the most to us."

Wagner received his Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre from Frostburg State University and also attended the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland.

The search for the New Voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards attracted over 670 applicants. A committee of Orioles front office staff members narrowed the search to the top 25 finalists prior to selecting Wagner. To see a video of Ryan Wagner's audition, visit the Orioles Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Orioles.

I've never met Ryan Wagner, and he will hopefully do great at living up to the example set from my childhood and probably his as well, when Rex Barney's "THANK Youuuuuu" echoed throughout Memorial Stadium. I kind of hate him anyway; no one's life should be so charmed.