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In 2009, the Orioles kicked off a new program celebrating the rich history of the organization, the Orioles Alumni Autograph Series. Before every Monday and Thursday home game this season, fans are invited to meet some of their favorite former Orioles at Camden Yards. The former players sign autographs and share memories at the MASN Booth on Eutaw Street for one full hour before each game. Some of the players appearing this year have included Al Bumbry, Bill Hunter, Tippy Martinez, Mike Cuellar, Paul Blair, Joe Orsulak, Andy Etchebarren, Ron Hansen, Chris Hoiles, Curt Motton, and Larry Sheets.
Once again, fans celebrated the start of the baseball season with Orioles FanFest at Camden Yards on April 4. More than 10,000 fans gathered at Oriole Park for a fun-filled day of Orioles Baseball. Fans enjoyed the opportunity to watch the Orioles take batting and fielding practice, and participated in player autograph sessions featuring the entire team, fan forums, interactive games, museum exhibits and a special memorabilia sale that benefited the Orioles Charitable Foundation.
OriolesREACH began the 2009 season on Opening Day as the team arranged for 50 members of the local RBI League to line the orange carpet holding Orioles flags during player introductions. Participants also received free tickets to the game.
OriolesREACH teamed up with Giant Food and Ellio's Pizza to present the Honorary Bat Kids Program. Kids ages 6-14 could pick up an entry form at any Giant Food to become eligible. The Orioles selected one boy and one girl winner for each Monday-Saturday home game from May 29 to September 5 and the winners received four complimentary tickets to the game, on-field access to watch the Orioles take batting practice, autographs, and a t-shirt. They also participated in an on-field pre-game ceremony, where winners were presented with an Official Honorary Bat Boy/Girl certificate and an opportunity to take a photo with the Oriole Bird.
More than 500 local college students cheered on the O's on April 8 as part of the CollegeTown Heavy Hitter program. CollegeTown, an organization that works to bring Baltimore colleges and universities together, teamed with the Orioles to provide tickets to several Baltimore-area colleges and universities. Students were recognized on the center field MASNvision video board, and representatives were honored during a pre-game ceremony.
On April 15, in recognition of the 62nd anniversary of Jackie Robinson becoming the first African-American player in Major League Baseball, all Orioles players and coaches wore Robinson's famous number 42 for the game in Arlington, Texas, against the Rangers. Each jersey was then autographed, authenticated and made available for auction on Orioles.com. The auction raised more than $16,000 for the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation and the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
Then, in a pregame ceremony on Tuesday, April 21, the Orioles celebrated Jackie Robinson Day at Camden Yards by recognizing Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar Ashley Waith. Waith, a Baltimore native and freshman at Stevenson University, was presented with a number 42 jersey by Orioles outfielder Adam Jones. Ashley is one of over 1,300 young men and women who are able to attend college thanks to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Major League Baseball and the Orioles.
On April 25, both of Baltimore's home teams partnered as the Orioles joined forces with the Ravens to provide a day of fun for fans of both teams. Before that evening's O's vs. Rangers game, Ravens running back Le'ron McClain threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Then the Ravens Marching Band, mascot Poe and team cheerleaders entertained fans at Oriole Park. Also, the selection of the Ravens' first round pick was broadcast on the MASNvision video boards.
More than 16,000 area Little Leaguers were able to spend a day in the Big Leagues as the Orioles hosted two Little League Days in 2009 on April 26 and May 31. The annual events bring local Little League players and coaches to Oriole Park to participate in a pre-game parade around the warning track on the field. In addition, Orioles players line up in the dugout to greet each Little League player as the parade passes by. Each team also received an autographed player photo to use as a fundraiser for their league. On September 20, a similar Youth Sports Day and pre-game parade celebrated area youth football, lacrosse, baseball and other fall sports teams.
On April 27, Citi kicked off a new program with OriolesREACH to help explain the importance of saving to students from local elementary and middle schools. Throughout the year, five events were held at Oriole Park, coinciding with Citi's donation of $24,000 to the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation. At each game, tickets, concession vouchers, hats, t-shirts and bus transportation to the game were provided for the students. The program, part of the ABA Education Foundation's Teach Children to Save Program, helps children learn the basics of saving money and how to distinguish wants from needs. On April 27, outfielder Adam Jones greeted a group of students from Mary E. Rodman Elementary prior to the game.
For the second consecutive season, OriolesREACH partnered with MASN and WJZ TV to host Field Trip Day at Oriole Park. On April 29 nearly 4,000 students from local elementary and middle schools gathered at Camden Yards to learn about the weather from WJZ TV's First Warning Weather Team of Bob Turk, Bernadette Woods and Tim Williams. Orioles Head Groundskeeper Nicole Sherry also discussed with the students how these weather patterns affect the playing field at Camden Yards, as well as impact the game itself. The students learned about the jet stream, clouds, winter weather, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes prior to that day's afternoon game.
OriolesREACH, in conjunction with Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, celebrated Mother's Day at Oriole Park with special pre-game ceremonies featuring the local winner of the 'Honorary Bat Girl' contest. The nationwide campaign was designed to raise awareness and support for the annual Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer program, a joint program between MLB and Komen for the Cure, the world's largest breast cancer organization.
The local winner of the contest was Cathy Greer, a 51-year-old mother of three from Hollywood, Maryland, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 at the age of 42.
Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis, whose mother survived breast cancer, was part of a celebrity panel that took part in voting for Honorary Bat Girl winners.
To celebrate Memorial Day, the Orioles hosted several events at Oriole Park to honor those who proudly serve our country through military service. The Orioles teamed with AT&T's Cell Phones for Soldiers program and the Maryland National Guard's A Taste of Home in a ceremony prior to the afternoon game against the Blue Jays. Orioles and AT&T representatives collected hundreds of cell phones to be donated to military families. Also, AT&T donated 60,000 prepaid phone cards to the Taste of Home organization, a group that provides physical and emotional support to Maryland's sons and daughters stationed overseas.
The team also honored two winners of the Army Child, Youth and School Services essay contest, "What does it mean to you to be a military child?" Carolyn Mason, age 9 from the Aberdeen Area Youth Center, and Brianna Lloyd, age 8 from the Edgewood Youth Center were honored in a pre-game ceremony. The Orioles also provided 200 tickets to military families for that day's game.
In a special first pitch ceremony, a Maryland National Guard Unit presented the Orioles with a framed photo and an American flag that was flown in Afghanistan as a thank you for the team's donation of hats to the children of Afghanistan. Ursula Bowen, the wife of SFC Collin Bowen, who was killed in action in Afghanistan, threw out the ceremonial first pitch that day.
In addition, the Orioles, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, wore special "Stars and Stripes" caps and paused play at 3:00 p.m. in observance of the National Moment of Remembrance, honoring Americans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
On May 29, OriolesREACH hosted the 55th Annual Safety Patrol Day at Oriole Park. More than 10,000 tickets were distributed to safety patrol students throughout Maryland in appreciation for their service to their schools. In a pre-game ceremony, Norman Wallace Jr., a school safety patroller from Hybla Valley Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia, was honored with a commemorative plaque for his efforts in saving a young boy's life by pulling him out of the path of an oncoming car.
The Orioles hosted nearly 1,000 children and family members from the Girl & Boy Scouts of America at the O's vs. Tigers game on May 30. Each participating scout received a specially designed Orioles Scout Night badge and also took part in that evening's color guard ceremony.
In cooperation with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, as well as several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, the Orioles hosted Safe Kids Day at Camden Yards on May 31.
The event promoted the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Program focusing on educating parents and children about on-line safety, as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Take 25 program, which is commemorated every year on or near May 25 and asks parents to take twenty-five minutes to discuss safety with their kids.
NCMEC's mascot Clicky was on hand to promote a message about being safe and responsible on the internet. Plus, federal, state and local law enforcement partners promoted an anti-drug and anti-gang message, along with their iconic mascot McGruff the Crime Dog. Lifetouch created SmileSafe Kids ID cards while other non-profit organizations were on hand to deliver messages about keeping kids safe and healthy.
On June 9, the Orioles hosted over 3,000 students from Baltimore City Schools to reward them for having perfect attendance during the 2008-09 school year. Monae Dewitt, an "Iron Student" who has recorded perfect attendance for 13 years of school, threw out the first pitch prior to the game between the O's and Mariners.
The Orioles joined with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to promote prostate cancer awareness in 2009. Outfielder Nick Markakis and Manager Dave Trembley served as the team's representatives for an on-field ceremony for the MLB Home Run Challenge. With support from Major League Baseball teams, players, managers, coaches, groundskeepers and umpires, each home run hit in 60 selected games leading up to Fathers Day from June 11-21 raised money to fight prostate cancer.
The Orioles hosted a group of cancer patients and former patients, along with their family members and friends, for St. Joseph's Hospital's Survivor Party on June 14. The team donated more than 20 individual suites and three party suites, including food and beverages. In addition to attending the game, two patients - Melody McMillan and Mike Nelson -- threw out the ceremonial first pitches prior to the game against the Braves.
Following the game on June 14, the Orioles hosted the 28th annual Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game at Camden Yards. Each All-Star team was made up of 15 student-athletes, four alternates and three coaches from across Maryland. Prior to the O's game that day, the All-Stars were recognized in an on-field ceremony and were presented with a bat by Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora.
The Orioles welcomed nearly 2,500 members and supporters of the Police Explorer Scouts Police Athletic League for the 27th Annual Buddies Night at Oriole Park on June 18. Members of the Baltimore Police Youth Choir performed the National Anthem, and the Baltimore Police Department presented the colors prior to the game. This year, more than $18,000 was raised for local PAL Centers and Explorer Scouts through the Buddies Night program.
More than 18,000 members of the AFL-CIO attended the Orioles vs. Nationals game on June 26 in a celebration of Union Night. AFL-CIO members from Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and Pennsylvania attended the game and took part in special pre-game ceremonies.
The Orioles hosted the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Tournament at Oriole Park on June 27. The top 16 qualifiers from Maryland and Virginia competed in hope of advancing to the National Finals at the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in St. Louis. Participants were also honored in an on-field ceremony before the Orioles game against the Nationals.
This June, OriolesREACH and the Orioles Wives partnered to conduct two nights of silent auctions at Oriole Park to benefit two very worthwhile organizations.
On June 29, more than $11,500 was raised for the University of Maryland Hospital for Children. On June 30, an additional $15,300 was raised for The Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund, a fund established earlier this year in memory of the Los Angeles Angels pitcher and Maryland native who was killed in a car accident in 2009. The Fund provides financial support to youth baseball organizations.
OriolesREACH, in conjunction with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, hosted the 2009 National Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth (P.L.A.Y.) Campaign at Oriole Park on June 30. Players from the 13-15 year old division of the Baltimore RBI League spent the day learning about living a more active, healthy lifestyle with fun exercises and question and answer sessions with Orioles outfielder Luke Scott and Head Athletic Trainer Richie Bancells. The P.L.A.Y. Campaign was created in 2004 by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society and has conducted more than 35 events in 20 Major League Baseball ballparks.
The Orioles Wives, Oriole Advocates, MASN and WJZ-TV teamed up to host the 23rd Annual Orioles Food Drive at Oriole Park July 31-August 2 to benefit the Maryland Food Bank. Representatives were stationed at each entry gate at the park to collect non-perishable food items and cash donations for the Maryland Food Bank and their work with local soup kitchens, food pantries and emergency shelters throughout Central Maryland. In 2009, more than 4,000 pounds of food were collected along with a record-breaking cash donation of $31,000.
On September 5, the Orioles wore special commemorative uniforms to honor the Negro League's Baltimore Elite Giants. After the game, all jerseys were autographed, authenticated, and placed for auction on Orioles.com, with proceeds benefiting the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.
On September 19, OriolesREACH will once again team with the Oriole Advocates for the Cardboard to Leather Collection. Fans are invited to donate new or gently used baseball and softball equipment at the game to underprivileged children through the Melvin Mora Foundation in Venezuela and the Sebaco Valley League, a Nicaraguan youth baseball league with more than 500 participants. A silent auction will also be held.
In 2008, The Cardboard to Leather Collection collected more than $5,500 in cash donations and gathered more than 225 boxes of equipment having a total weight of 9,559 pounds.
