There are some places that you just have to see.
For the longest time, I had heard from a lot of people that Oriole Park at Camden Yards topped that list for baseball fans. As stubborn as I am, I never thought I would be captivated or mesmerized by a ballpark - let alone one in Baltimore.
Fortunately, I was dead wrong.
I left for Baltimore on Thursday night and was on my way to see the Indians face the Orioles in the first of a three-game weekend series. There aren't many things I would rather do than watch the Tribe, but this was doubly better: I got to watch them play at Camden Yards.
Though the normally eight-hour drive took nearly 10 because of fog and numerous bathroom breaks, it turned out to be worth the wait. I spent the day in the Inner Harbor of downtown Baltimore and feasted on the best fresh seafood around.
I visited my first ESPN Zone and it was just as ridiculous as I had envisioned it. Dozens of television screens showing ESPN programming and regional baseball games out of every corner of vision ... heaven.
Around 6 p.m., it was time to head down to the park. As we turned onto Eutaw Street, I figured out just what I had been missing.
There are baseball-sized plaques scattered around the street, identifying all of the players who had hit home runs over the flag court in right field and onto Eutaw.
Not only is it a pretty hefty hit, but there are a surprising number of members in the club.
Just before the first pitch, a thunderstorm struck. That just meant more time to explore, and that I did. I got a five-dollar souvenir soda and made my way around the concourse.
The place is flat-out sick. In a good way, of course.
I had the pleasure of getting a close-up look at one of American baseball's meccas. The legacy of Cal Ripken Jr. is cemented throughout the grounds and I saw enough Nick Markakis jerseys to realize that the Orioles do have fan favorites.
The only taste of displeasure through the day was that I sat through the Indians' only loss in the three-game set. The Tribe got it going early on a RBI single from Jhonny Peralta in the first inning, but the Orioles scored the game's next eight runs.
In fact, the Indians managed two hits off Jeremy Guthrie. You would have thought it was Roy Halladay on the mound, not Guthrie.
There were better times ahead, though. Cleveland took the next two games of the series, including an eight-run rally in the ninth of game two. And I was enjoying a Yuengling Lager in the process. You just can't do some things in Ohio.
As I prepare to head back to Athens, I return with a perspective on the East Coast. It's not as bad as people make it out to be, and I can clearly see why those who live here have so much pride.
I can also see why they look forward to football season, too.
2 Sports
Rob Mixer
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Baltimore Orioles first baseman Garrett Atkins, left, applies the tag as Cleveland Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera (13) unsuccessfully attempts to make it to first base during Saturday's game in Baltimore. (Ann Heisenfelt | ASSOCIATED PRESS)
