As a "thank you" to fans for their support throughout the 2011 season, the Orioles will hold their annual Fan Appreciation Celebration during their last series of the season when they host the Boston Red Sox for three games, tonight through Wednesday, September 28 at Oriole Park.
The three day celebration includes opportunities for fans to be randomly chosen to win prizes, including on-field visits, Fan of the Game contests, the popular "Shirts Off Our Backs" promotion, the chance to take the field with Orioles players for the National anthem and even the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. On Tuesday and Wednesday, fans should keep an eye out for Orioles players who will be making appearances throughout the ballpark and interacting with fans in various ways.
The winners of the online Orioles Fan Appreciation Celebration Sweepstakes will also be announced. Winners will receive a trip for two to Spring Training in Sarasota, Florida; a spot in the Orioles Dream Week in Sarasota; VIP experiences at the ballpark in 2012; or autographed Orioles memorabilia.
Fans are encouraged to wear Orioles clothing and arrive at the ballpark early each day.
Tonight, Monday, September 26, prior to the their game vs. the Boston Red Sox, the Orioles will recognize their Minor League award winners for 2011, including INF JONATHAN SCHOOP as the club's top minor league player and RHP TIM BASCOM as the club's top minor league pitcher. The Orioles will also recognize the Carolina League Champion Frederick Keys. The complete list of winners is as follows:
Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year: Jonathan Schoop (Delmarva/Frederick) Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Tim Bascom (Frederick/Bowie) Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award: Cameron Roth (Delmarva) Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award: Orlando Gomez (Frederick) Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award: Dean Albany
Tonight, prior to their game vs. the Boston Red Sox, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Ulman is a graduate of University of Maryland, College Park. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
On Tuesday, September 27, prior to the Orioles game vs. the Boston Red Sox, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will present a check in the amount of $75,000 to support the Living Classrooms Foundation. CareFirst donated $50.00 for each Orioles walk this season. To complement the over $16,000 in Healthy Walks already earned this year, CareFirst increased their contribution to $75,000 to support the Healthy Lifestyles Anti-Violence program at Living Classrooms. Accepting the check from Deborah Rivkin with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will be James Piper Bond, Executive Director of Living Classrooms. MARK REYNOLDS, the team's walks leader (72), will also be on hand for the presentation.
In a pre-game ceremony on Wednesday, September 28, the Orioles will hold a special pre-game ceremony to honor the 2011 Most Valuable Oriole as selected by local media. Manager BUCK SHOWALTER will participate in the ceremony.
On Wednesday, September 28, KTBS Payroll & Kelly and Associates Insurance Group will present a check for $32,000 to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. KTBS Payroll & Kelly and Associates Insurance Group donated $1,000 for every Orioles save this year. Senator Frank Kelly, Janet Kelly and Frank Kelly III will present the check to Karen Doyle, Vice President for Nursing Operations from the University of Maryland Medical Center. Orioles saves leader, KEVIN GREGG will also be on hand to help present the check.
In a pre-game ceremony on Wednesday, September 28, the Orioles will present a check to the Oriole Advocates in support of the Challenger Baseball Program. The Orioles donated $5 from every Orioles Dugout Club membership that the Oriole Advocates sold this season. This year, the Oriole Advocates held over 10 different events that hosted over 800 disabled children and adults who play, sponsor and assist in the Challenger Baseball Programs.
The third annual Orioles Pet Calendar is on sale now at www.orioles.com. OriolesREACH and the Orioles Wives have once again teamed up to create the Orioles Pet Calendar presented by Southwest Airlines. This year they have partnered with the Baltimore Animal and Rescue Care Shelter (BARCS), and all proceeds from the calendar will go to benefit the shelter.
Nearly all members of the Orioles participated in the calendar, including manager BUCK SHOWALTER with his four Bassett Hounds; MATT WIETERS with his rescue German Shepherd, Millie and two rescue cats; and NICK MARKAKIS with his Blue Weimaraner, Riley and his rescue Yorkie-poo, Tabby.
The 15-month, full-color calendars are on sale now at www.orioles.com for $15 plus shipping and handling and are available in the ballpark each day of the homestand at Gate E and on Wednesday at Kids Corner. Fans are encouraged to purchase them quickly, as they have sold out the past two years. Many of the animals featured in the calendar are available for adoption from BARCS.
The Orioles featured the Steal Second Base contest for every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. For the Fan Appreciation Celebration one special fan will be randomly chosen during each game of the series to Steal Second Base.
During each home game, the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans. The following groups will be at the community booth, located near Gate D, during this homestand:
This season, OriolesREACH will again host thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive game tickets, concessions vouchers, an Orioles t-shirt, a cap and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are provided courtesy of Orioles players, including KEVIN GREGG, VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JEREMY GUTHRIE, J.J. HARDY, ADAM JONES, NICK MARKAKIS and BRIAN MATUSZ. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players:
On Thursday, September 29 at 9:30 a.m., ADAM JONES will make an appearance at City Hall in Baltimore to help launch the "Show Your Soft Side" campaign, a campaign developed to combat the alarming incidence of animal abuse in Baltimore. Jones will join Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other distinguished guests to launch the start of the campaign. Media interested in covering the event should contact Marianne Ortiz at (410) 243-3790 or Marianne@profilespr.com.
Source:
