xml:space="preserve">
Advertisement

Fans quickly find their places for Game 1 after gates open at Camden Yards

Sari Alperstein, of Reisterstown, smiles while looking toward the field as she walks with son, Evan, 8 behind the rest of the family. (Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun)

It didn't take long for Camden Yards to turn orange Thursday as fans began streaming into the ballpark two hours before the 5:37 p.m. first pitch of the Orioles' American League Division Series matchup against the Detroit Tigers.

Within minutes, the rooftop bar in center field and the standing room area in right field were packed body to body with fans eager to secure their perches for the game.

Advertisement

Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke about what he expected from the fans during his pregame news conference.

"There's closeness, a relationship, an identification that really fits our city," Showalter said. "There's a great closeness with our city."

Advertisement

Showalter has spoken in recent weeks of how players new to the team will experience the hypercharged atmosphere that overtook Camden Yards during the team's 2012 playoff games.

The scene inside Camden Yards was a little different as well, with Hall of Famers such as Dennis Eckersley and Al Kaline (of Baltimore birth and Tigers fame) roaming about the ballpark.

childs.walker@baltsun.com

twitter.com/ChildsWalker

Advertisement
YOU'VE REACHED YOUR FREE ARTICLE LIMIT

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

Unlimited Digital Access

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

No commitment, cancel anytime

See what's included

Access includes: