Running with the bulls at Pamplona highlighted Brian Knoerlein's European summer. Running the aisles at Camden Yards, selling Cracker Jack or beer, is how he plans to pay for it.
That's what brought the Middle River science teacher, and hundreds of other hopefuls to a job fair at Camden Yards yesterday.
Aramark Corp. had hoped to hire about 400 people to work concessions, restaurants and other operations at the ballpark.
The company is hiring more workers this year to staff concessions formerly operated by church and other nonprofit groups. About 82 percent of the concessions were run by nonprofits last year, said Erika Rucker, personnel manager for Aramark. Some groups are cutting back because their fund raising was hurt by the baseball strike; this season nonprofit groups will staff 56 percent of the stands, she said.
But only 300 people showed up to apply for jobs yesterday. The turnout was about one-third what Aramark expected, Mrs. Rucker said. "It's a horrible waiting game, but strike or not, we have to plan as if we are going to open with the first preseason game on April 1."
The first person in line echoed that hope.
"As a baseball fan, I hope they don't field scabs, but as an employee, I need the job bad," said Keith Fletcher, 40, of East Baltimore.
A union official blamed yesterday's disappointing turnout on uncertainty bred by the baseball strike.
"We just wish it would end," said Paul Richards, executive secretary of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local No. 7, which represents about 500 ballpark workers.
He said he hopes the union will not have to take a position on crossing a players' picket line. But several applicants have already decided.
"Of course I'd cross a picket line; we need to go back to work," said Clarence Williamson, 70, a retired auto mechanic from Middle River. "My unemployment's running out, I've got to get a job. You can't live off Social Security."
Jackie Briggs of the Camden Club remained optimistic in the face of a dearth of applicants.
"If I get 10 good people, I'll be ecstatic," she said.
She could not be much happier than Mr. Fletcher, who was hired on the spot.
"I feel just great," he said.
The fair continues today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pastimes Cafe on Eutaw Street at Camden Yards.