Memorial Stadium

I’m only 20 but every time I drive by where Memorial Stadium was, it makes me sad seeing old age homes (believe what it is) and other buildings on top of it. My father used to tell me stories about Wild Bill Hagy when he used to sit in the section with him, an the World Series games. He told me, an after watching old games comfirmed it, Memorial Stadium was loud an did not take anything. Apparently the fans kicked you at if you had on a NY or Boston hat. We need to get that atmosphere into OPCY! Well, on the flip side the neighborhood behind it has improved the past few years.

I am 51 years young and remember a ton of games I went there. The 1970 AFC Championship Game where we beat the Oakland Raiders 27-17 to go onto the Super Bowl where we beat Dallas 16-13. Johnny U’s last game at Memorial Stadium (I have a photo from that game in my basement).

The 1970 World Series game 3, when Brooks made that great diving stop on Cicny’s Johnny Bench’s line drive (I also have that photo in my basement). The ’83 World Series (games one and two), and the Fianl Game there (my now 25 year old son is in the video).

Yeah, I also remember those horrbile bathrooms, the cold concrete and croweded concourses, not to mention the awful parking.

I was 9 years old and I don’t remember too much. I do have a 4 piece section of the seats there in my basement.

His favorite was the Brooks Robinosn Farwell game.

 I went to many many games at Memorial. From the offices to the bullpen I’ve seen it all. I never knew so much stuff could be made from fiberboard. That place was propped up with concrete and tacks.

2:00PM Sunday NFL game. The old Colts played home games an hour later to avoid traffic problems with the folks attending church mostly along Loch Raven Blvd. Strange but true.

I have so many memories of Memorial Stadium I couldn’t fit them all in here. My first game ever there was in summer of 1975. My Dad took my brother and me to see a double-header against the 3 time champion Oakland A’s and we won both games! I will never forget walking up that endless ramp to the upper deck and seeing the field in person for the first time and watching batting practice. Priceless! It was a beautiful summer day and I saw many double-headers there. Can you believe they didn’t make you leave after game one and you got two games for the price of one??? Unheard of anymore. We used to sit in the mezzanine on the first base side. We lived in Westminster and Dad would come home from work and say “Bots want to go to the Orioles game tonight?” We’d be totally into it and we could go down on that day and get good seats. Saw so many great games there and remember seeing Brooks and Paul Blair and Eddie Murray as a rookie. I remember Eddie Murray winning a game against Seattle in the bottom of the ninth with a big home run.

Saw a game against the A’s in spring 1983 and had great seats near home plate. The game ended with a Denny Martinez strike out and Rick Dempsey ran off the field and threw the ball right at me and I DROPPED it! Uggh! Talk about a near perfect way to end my game. Felt like Bill Buckner there. The last season the O’s played there I was sitting there before the game and Melissa Saunders sportscaster came up and interviewed me about the end of the stadium and I made it on the news. lol

Went to one Ravens game there in November 1997 against the Eagles with my 6 year old son and I have never been colder in my entire life. We even bought extra hats and scarves at the game. Here’s the kicker – The Eagles missed the last second field goal and we sat through an entire OT 5th quarter and it was still tied. BRRRR!

Anyway there are a few cool stories of the coolest Stadium ever!

at Memorial Stadium, a 8-0 win over Oakland. Go to go on the field and hit against former O’s for Epilepsy Fundraiser (short fly balls-uggh). After going without a foul ball all my life, got two in back-to-back games. Saw a guy fall out of the upper deck, held onto by his buddy, who managed to drag him back up while the entire stadium and players stood in awe and watched.