“Best Fans in Baseball?” Let’s Live Up to that, Baltimore!

This article is directed at a select few who are ruining the reputation of the Orioles fan base.

Before the start of each Orioles game, Orioles PA announcer Ryan Wagner addresses the fans as the “Best Fans in Baseball.” However, as I sit at games, especially Yankees and Red Sox games, I find myself questioning this statement. I routinely see arguments and fights breakout in the lower sections between O’s fans and fans wearing the other team’s logo.

On June 1, 2013 a Yankees fan was seriously injured when he confronted two men who were harassing him for wearing a Yankees hat. It’s now being reported that during yesterday’s game, an Orioles fan spit on a Yankees fan without provocation. I was at this game and although I didn’t see this particular event, I did see the cops separating two fans and ushering them out of the park. I don’t know what they paid for their seats but I’m sure they expected to see more than three innings.

Folks this is a game. Fans of other teams suffer through the work week just like you and me. They paid their hard earned money to watch the game. In fact, some of these people may work with you. I became an Orioles fan because I was born and raised not far from Camden Yards. Not everyone stays in the city they were born in and just because they move doesn’t mean they have to give up allegiance to their hometown team.

The Yankees come to town for a weekend series in mid-June. My wife’s parents are coming down to catch one of the games at the Yard. They were born and raised in New York and are lifelong Yankees fans. I have genuine concerns about what the people around me are going to say or do. I know the staff and Oriole Park do their best to stop this behavior but it only takes a split second for a supposed “fan” to do something stupid.

This is an increasing problem throughout all of sports but we can’t control what goes on at other ballparks/stadiums. We can control our own behavior. If you ever see an Orioles fan “acting up” step up and say something. Don’t let “Baltimorons” ruin our reputation.

Camden Yards is known as an attraction and it is something we should be proud to have in our city. So the next time you sit next to someone wearing the other teams colors, welcome them to our ballpark. Talk up the O’s and Charm City so that they want to come back.

Baseball is America’s pastime that everyone should be able to enjoy. Let’s make Ryan Wagner’s statement that we’re the best fans in baseball a fact. A full ballpark of happy fans, regardless of who they’re cheering for, means more money for the Orioles. This means more money to spend on the 11 pending free agents – which is a topic for another day!