When people think of baseball in Baltimore, most people think of the Orioles and then how bad the team is or how expensive the games are. The Orioles lack the excitement that they used to have. Many people don’t go to the games anymore because the tickets cost a lot of money and the Orioles aren’t fun to watch. But the Orioles aren’t the only baseball team in Maryland.
Have you ever heard of the Aberdeen Ironbirds or the Bowie Baysox? What about the Frederick Keys or the Delmarva Shorebirds? These are four of the Orioles’ minor league teams all located in Maryland.
Food and ticket prices at the minor league games are much cheaper. The price of an individual ticket for an Orioles’ game depends on where the seat is located and who the O’s are playing. The costs of tickets range from $15-$80. For the Bowie Baysox, general admission tickets cost $9 and the front row lower reserve tickets go for $14 and you have the opportunity to get much closer to the action because the stadiums are much smaller.
The Aberdeen Ironbirds are owned by Cal Ripken and their stadium is a mini replica of Camden Yards, so if you want the feeling of an O’s game for a cheaper price, the Aberdeen Ironbirds are the way to go. You might also get to see Cal who stops by to watch his team every once in a while.
Not only are prices cheaper, but the minor league baseball teams also win games. Last season, the Bowie Baysox finished first, and the Delmarva Shorebirds came in second in their respective divisions. The Orioles have lost a lot of their fans due to the fact that they have been one of the worst teams in baseball for the past ten seasons.
Another positive about the minor league teams is that you don’t have to worry about the visiting team’s fans being louder then the home team fans. Every time the Yankees or the Red Sox are in town, the Orioles’ fans are always completely out-numbered. But at the minor league games, the home team fans always show up to cheer their team. Every single home game for the Aberdeen Ironbirds has been sold out. When you go to the minor league games, you don’t have to worry about being drowned out by the visiting teams’ fans.
In addition, the minor league teams also have some great promotions. For the Frederick Keys, they have “Sunday Fundays.” Every Sunday fans can come early and play catch in the outfield and one Sunday a month there is a brunch before the game. Some interesting promotion nights for the Bowie Baysox are “Sundae Sunday” on May 17 as well as “Christmas in July” on July 25. These are just some of the Baysox many promotions.
Also, the minor league players are the future of the Orioles. Many of today’s major leaguers spent a couple years in the minor league system. For example, Chris Ray and Nick Markakis used to play for the Aberdeen Ironbirds. Even Dave Trembly, the Orioles’ current manager, used to manage the Bowie Baysox.
The minor league players are also more connected to the fans. The players don’t get paid millions of dollars and they don’t have the big-headed superstar attitude that is seen a lot today with professional ballplayers. The minor leaguers are much more open to fans and love signing autographs or taking pictures. They have a much better attitude towards the fans and are easier to find before and after games.
Junior Julia Tucker really enjoys the minor league games. She sings the national anthem at them and likes them as much as she likes the major league games.
“I love it. The players are nice and easier to talk to,” commented Tucker.
So next time you feel like spending an evening in the ballpark, consider spending it at a minor league park. You might realize that the minor league teams in Maryland are just as entertaining as the Orioles.