Two years ago today, my girlfriend and I were sitting inside a Subway restaurant at the intersection of Pratt Street and Howard Street in downtown Baltimore, patiently awaiting the start of Orioles FanFest 2013. Spirits were as high as they had ever been in Birdland, as the O’s were coming off their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1997 and fans were ready for another exciting year under manager Buck Showalter.
As I bit into my meatball sub a couple minutes after 9:30, I felt a buzz in my pocket. I pulled out my phone and saw a notification that left my jaw on the floor and my body frozen for a few seconds…
The great Hall of Fame Orioles manager, Earl Weaver, had passed away at the age of 82.
What was supposed to be an exciting day in Birdland turned somber in the blink of an eye. I sat there, speechless, staring down at my unfinished sub. I texted my dad to let him know what had happened. I knew that the death of The Earl of Baltimore would hurt him more than it hurt me, and I nearly shed a tear as I hit ‘send.’
I was not alive to have the privilege of watching Earl manage the O’s, but you can bet I’ve seen my fair share of highlight reel arguments between the chirpy 5’6” Earl and countless umpires. He was a legend, and rightfully so. His .583 regular season winning percentage is good for 9th all-time. He led his Orioles to a winning record in 16 of his 17 seasons and appeared in 4 World Series including one championship in 1970.
Not too shabby.
On Saturday, June 30, 2012, the Orioles unveiled a statue of Earl Weaver in the center field picnic area, now known as Legends Park. The frail 81-year-old delivered a six-minute speech during which he made sure to thank his players for contributing in a big way to his success as a manager.
Later that season, on September 29, the Orioles honored Brooks Robinson, unveiling his statue and completing Legends Park. As part of that ceremony, all six Orioles greats were taken around the Oriole Park warning track in fancy convertibles. Earl, pale and sick with the flu, was coughing and shivering as he sat in his chauffeured car. He was clearly in bad shape, but he knew how much he meant to the 46,000+ Orioles fans that filled the stadium.
A few short months later, as the doors of the Baltimore Convention Center opened up and FanFest 2013 began, we mourned the loss of our beloved Earl. Now, two years later, we remember how blessed we are to be able to call Earl our own.
Rest in paradise, Mr. Weaver. Don’t forget to start Paul Blair in center field up there.
#RIPEarl pic.twitter.com/JS0PghJ1C8
— Ryan Blake (@ryguyblake) January 19, 2015
