Welcome back to another FanPost Friday. Last week I asked about your game day rituals and we got a lot of good responses. Check them out:
- Jakattak88 travels all the way from Hagerstown to see the Orioles.
- Russellgood2573 and his dad get to the game early to see batting practice.
- PhilR8 wins his food and beer money at the casino before the game.
- Gamecock24 spends game day with his dad.
- 2632 has the greatest game day companion of all.
- tflach2 has to go to his Orioles games at Tropicana Field
- Broktun has an even longer drive than Jakattack, which he makes with his girls.
Great FanPosts, everyone! I really enjoyed reading about the different ways we all enjoy Orioles baseball. Today's FanPost Friday writing prompt comes from Camden Chatter Astronaut Mike Dexter. What is another ballpark that you have visited that you can give us a report on?
We're talking likes, dislikes, unique features, surrounding attractions, how it compares to OPACY, and anything else you can think to share. If you have something to tell us, head over to the FanPosts and get to writing! This can be a major or minor league ballpark, or even indy league if you're a big fan of the York Revolution.
The only ballpark I visit with any regularity is Camden Yards, but I do try to visit other ballparks (both major and minor league) every year. One of my favorite summertime activities is traveling up I-95 to Aberdeen to see the Ironbirds play and to partake in one of their crab nights.
If you haven't been to Ripken Stadium, it's a beautiful ballpark. I've been to games for all O's minor league affiliates other than the Tides, and Ripken Stadium provides the best views and, in my opinion, overall experience. The community has really embraced the team and most of the games have almost a full house coming to see the team.
Out in right field at Ripken Stadium there is what I call the crab deck. I don't know if that's what they actually call it or if I just made that up. It's a two-level set of picnic tables where, several times per season, you can buy a ticket that includes a two-hour crab feast. They have crabs, corn on the cob, pulled pork, hot dogs, and other delicious goodies.
Is there any better way to spend a lazy summer night than picking crabs and watching live baseball? If there is, I haven't discovered it. Depending on the size of your group you may be seated with people you don't know. I'm generally opposed to interacting with strangers, but eating crabs is a social activity. At my last crab night my family sat with a father and son from New England who were on their yearly baseball road trip. We had to teach them how to eat crabs.
Aside from having crab night and an above average ballpark, the rest of the Ironbirds experience is similar to most other minor league parks. But sometimes you get to see Cal Ripken!
What non-OPACY ballpark can you tell us about? Head over to the FanPosts and tell me all about it.