Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Address:333 West Camden Street
Baltimore, Maryland

It led a revolution in stadium design, yet still holds up as one of the best ballparks in baseball, more than 15 years after its opening. Oriole Park at Camden Yards was the first of the so-called "retro" ballparks that have sprouted up all over the country, taking baseball away from the cookie-cutter, multiuse stadiums of the 1970s to a series of baseball-only gems.

Opening in 1992 with an asymmetrical field, and built into the surrounding abandoned rail yards and warehouse, the home of the Baltimore Orioles has consistently garnered rave reviews. It is primarily these features, combined with the steel and brick body and the baseball-only stadium, that gave the park its old-time feel. Camden Yards hosted the 1993 All-Star Game, and playoff series' in 1996 and '97. In September 1995, Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games-played record with his 2,132nd straight. Ripken's accomplishment, capped off on a beautiful night at sold-out Camden Yards, was attended by President Bill Clinton and televised nationally. It was credited with being one of the things which saved baseball from the 1994 strike that cancelled the World Series. Another memorable moment at Oriole Park was Pope John Paul II's 1995 visit to the stadium, where he celebrated mass.

The park's most obvious architectural feature is the large brick warehouse beyond the right field fence. Formerly occupied by the B&O Railroad, the Orioles now have offices in the warehouse. Between the warehouse and the stadium wall is Eutaw Street, which has an outdoor barbecue stand, standing room areas for fans, and is basically a street fair during Orioles games. On the street are plaques marking every long home run that has reached Eutaw. The street is open to the public (but not vehicles) during non-game days. There are also a sports and an entertainment museum at the ballpark.

Since Camden Yards opened, a number of baseball teams have built new downtown stadiums citing Oriole Park as an influence, a number spanning more than half of the Major Leagues. Its proximity to Washington has led to several movies featuring presidential "first pitches" being filmed here, including "Head of State" and a season finale of "The West Wing."

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is located in the Inner Harbor area of downtown Baltimore, and is adjacent to M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens. It is served by a light rail and commuter rail station, taking fans to Washington or BWI airport, in addition to the more immediately surrounding areas. Tours of the park are available to the general public starting in March and lasting until the end of the baseball season in October, while private group tours are available to be scheduled year-round.