Baseball has always been one of the cornerstones of my life. And I have been an O’s fan for as long as I can remember. My father was invited to Spring Training by the O’s and the White Sox when he came out of High School in 1961. Unfortunately, the week before he was extended these invites he joined the Marines. He proudly served his country as a Marine for 8 ½ years, which included tours in Vietnam. He obviously missed his window of opportunity to play in the Major Leagues.
I was born in 1977, the year Brooks Robinson retired, promptly being named after him (Jeffrey Brooks). My parents have had season tickets since 1973 and the first game I attended was Father’s day 1978 (8 months old). We are very passionate about baseball and especially the Orioles.
Teams of the past have always been marked by outstanding defense, tremendous pitching, clutch hitting and an incomparable work ethic (known as the Oriole Way). These last 6 seasons have been tough ones to swallow and grind out. Being a faithful fan though, I have continued to go to 20 – 30 games a year.
This season looks like it is shaping up for the O’s to be contenders again. Like the Terps (ACC Men’s Basketball), they will be playing in the best division in the sport. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. To play the best in the league and to compete at that level is what every professional athlete wants to do.
I am really looking forward to seeing the baby birds like Jerry Hairiston, Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons & Larry Bigbie continue to develop into All-Star caliber players. While our newly acquired All-Stars flourish in Orange and Black, and our young pitching staff develops into the next Oakland A’s staff.
There is always excitement for me when it comes to baseball and I always think they will contend and compete, but there is definitely more a buzz this year. As Nasty Nestor said at Fan Fest this year, “Boston’s chemistry is shot, New York doesn’t have any pitching anymore – except the guy that we should still have, Toronto improved – but the guys we got are better than the ones they got, and Tampa Bay is that unfortunate team playing in the best division that always have to finish last.”
Orioles Magic, Feel it happen? I sure do!