My 5 year old son hates wearing hats. It makes me kinda of sad because I think he has the perfect head for a baseball hat and it brings back memories of me playing baseball at his age. I love baseball.
I grew up as an Oriole fan. My first memories is sitting in my father’s lap watching Earl Weaver’s last game (the first time) in 1982. As fans cheered and cried, a bawling Earl returned to the field after the game to wave his goodbyes. I remember crying and asking my dad “why does he have to leave?”
The next year the Orioles were playing the Phillies in the World Series. It was my birthday and everyone was celebrating it in the dining room except me. I was in front of the TV watching the game.
From 1988’s 0-21 start, ’89’s Why Not? season, ’92’s Camden Yards birth and the Jeffrey Meier debacle in 1996… I have remained a true fan that bleeds orange and black.
Even now after 14 years of losing I can’t escape my love for the O’s. Each spring brings a renewed spirit of hope. Maybe this year they can finish above .500. Perhaps this is the year Wieters will become great or the young pitching will fulfill their talents.
But in the end we can’t escape that the O’s owner is the worst owner in all of sports. He has taken a proud franchise and ruined it.
I may be too old to change loyalties. My heart is stuck with the Orioles. But there is one thing I can do to Peter Angelos…
Yesterday my son wore a hat and kept it on for the first time. We went to the park and he looked so handsome running around and playing on his scooter… adjusting the hat as the wind blew it around on his head. He reminded me when I was a kid playing outside with my baseball hat on.
But my son was wearing a Cardinals hat and I couldn’t have been more proud. The Oriole hat I bought for him will gather dust as it remains on his bedpost until it is donated to the local thrift shop. I want my son to have the chance to not just follow a winning franchise… but a team that cares about it’s fans. Sadly, that is not the Oriole Way anymore.
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