But all of this was just a prelude to a trip to Baltimore where we knew we had arrived when we hit Cal Ripken Way ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090935 and so we parked the car ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090936 and noticed this ugly green car behind us ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090937 from which emerged Gregory and Connor ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090938 and then Larry ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090939 and so we made our way along the path past the Ravens helmeted garbage cans ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090940 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090941 and then after Larry bought some water ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090942 we saw these memories of Memorial stadium which was built before many wars ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090943 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090944 but still has dirt from their grave yards. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090945 Up ahead we made our way under the gate ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090946 and to the entrance ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090947 so that we could go to the place where the garbage cans were official ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090948 and Connor and Larry ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090949 could marvel at what appeared to be two entrances to the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090950 and after my visit, I observed Ben and Gregory wondering where I had been. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090951

Before studying our food options ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090952 we we went to the kiddie area where there were bobbleheads that Connor posed with ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090953 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090954 and a bouncing area ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090955 after which Connor had to put his shoes on ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090956 and a history of Orioles uniforms ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090957 as the slide ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090958 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090959 and climbing areas attracted Connor ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090960 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090961 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090962 until he rode the swing. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090963 We signed Connor up for Home Run Derby ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090964 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090965 as Gregory recorded the event ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090966 and all watched the next participant ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090967 and then it was air tee ball ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090968 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090969 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090970 after which we made our way into the ballpark quite early so the seats were empty (but, of course, this was true for the game too.) ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090971 and the scoreboard welcomed us and saluted Cal Ripken ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090972 as did the press box. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090973 There were the usual pictures of the Dobkin trio at various ranges for what will be a massive collection one day ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090974 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090975 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090976 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090977 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090978 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090979 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090980 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090981 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090982 and the warning about proper behavior ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090983 as Cal Ripken amused us ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090984 and the Stadium clock impressed us (especially when we learned that H and E in THE SUN light up to signal hit or error). ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090985 Larry ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090986 posed with Ben ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090987 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090988 as we honored those whose numbers had been retired ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090989 which didn't seem to excite Connor or Gregory ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090990 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090991 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090992 though it did convince me that I should see the history of the team's good years ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090993 and then bring back some food ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090994 as did Ben. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090995 Connor watched ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090996 to see how Ben would bite into his hot dog (that being the traditional food). ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090997 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090998 The players appeared ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1090999 the game started and so Larry got food ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100001 which amused Connor ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100002 as the food moved about ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100003 and the grounds crew came out to do their thing ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100004 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100005 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100006 even as the mascot came and posed with Connor ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100007 even as first base was being put in place. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100008

It being a hot day, it was challenging for this guy selling drinks who wondered if he should have stayed in college ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100009 and then the Orioles took the field and the National anthems of Canada and the US were sung ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100010 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100011 so that the umpires could appear. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100012 It didn't start well for the Orioles ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100013 and so the manager came to the mound ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100014 but in the transition ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100015 another run scored ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100016 and the game went on ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100017 with an occasional person blocking my view ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100018 but the batter hit ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100019 and a helicopter flew overhead ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100020 before the Orioles scored their first run (indeed only 1 person did anything particularly offensive and this was his first of 2 home runs) ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100021 but this was not enough to save the starting pitcher who departed ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100022 as the brain trust ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100023 tried to figure out what to tell the reliever ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100024 who they welcomed to the mound ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100025 and though his warm up pitches looked good, ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100026 he couldn't rescue the team. He could only bring out the mascot for the 7th inning stretch singing. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100027 By and by, the game went on ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100028 the second Oriole home run (with no one on base) was hit ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100029 and the game ended with the orioles 5 runs behind ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100030 and the Jays celebrating. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100031

After the game, we went to the hotel where they were staying ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100032 and then drove on to the Brewer's Art for a unique dinner. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100033 After dinner, Connor and Gregory ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100034 ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100035 and Ben and Larry posed ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100036 and we bade them farewell as they got into their green car ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100037 and we drove back through Delaware on our way home. ../../../Sabbat/2011/07.23-08.07.11CamdenYards//P1100038