Camden Yards is arguably the most influential ballpark built since Shibe Park and Forbes Field pioneered the modern fireproof baseball stadium in 1909. In the spirit of Shibe and its immediate successors -- the fourteen classic parks of 1909 to 1923 -- it uses a steel structural system, a brick exterior, and an angular geometry. More than any other stadium in nearly seven decades before it, this 48,000 seat park reflects an urban context. To a great degree, it takes the shape of its site, and it keeps its right and center field seats low in order to allow dramatic downtown skyline views and an uninterrupted vista of the restored historic B&O warehouse just across Eutaw Street. That thoroughfare has been turned into a pedestrian plaza, enlivened by shops and eateries on the warehouse's ground floor, and by Boog Powell's outdoor barbecue stand. Team offices, service spaces, and a private club occupy the other warehouse floors. The warehouse is a formidable challenge for lefty sluggers. It has been reached on the fly by Ken Griffey Jr. in batting practice, but not during a game (at least through the 1997 season.)

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Inside, it is the first big-league park since Ebbets Field to have an outfield wall made up entirely of angled straight wall segments. Like Ebbets, it is a good home run park, although not to such an extreme degree. However, it cuts down on other forms of hits, and is thus something of a pitcher's park, disproving Bill James' pre-opening assessment. The stadium's linearity is not confined to the outfield. It also characterizes the foul territory and the three-tiered seating geometry, except for the curve behind home plate.

It is this overall angularity of form and structure that gives Camden Yards its old-fashioned character, and sets it apart so dramatically from its predecessors. Its steel structure is another departure from conventional postwar practice -- this was the first major-league use of steel since the Braves moved to Milwaukee. The use of steel columns, beams and trusses is another reason that Camden Yards feels like a classic park, and the later retro ballparks have continued to use that structural material. Its seating proximity to the field is the best of the post-Skydome parks, and it seats 48,000. The large scoreboard in right-center, designed by an artist, and the ads on the outfield walls also contribute to the park's old-time feel.

The Camden Yards outfield was the site of a saloon operated by Babe Ruth's father, and the Bambino was born and lived just a few blocks away. On the Eutaw Street promenade, a large bronze statue of the left-handed Babe sports a right-handed fielder's glove. But so far the player most strongly associated with Camden Yards is not Ruth, but Cal Ripken, who broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played before a capacity Baltimore crowd on September 6, 1995. (JP)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 6, 1992: A crowd of 44,568 sees the Orioles defeat the Indians, 2–0, as they play the 1st game ever in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Rick Sutcliffe hurls the shutout for Baltimore. » July 26, 1992: Nolan Ryan strikes out his 100th batter, reaching that mark for a record 23rd year in a row. He subdues the Orioles 6–2 and passes Phil Niekro as number 12 on the all-time win list with 319. Juan Gonzalez helps with a 450 foot homer to CF—the longest yet at Camden Yards. » March 21, 1995: The Maryland House of Delegates approves legislation to bar teams playing at Camden Yards from using replacement players. » September 6, 1995: Cal Ripken plays in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig's long-standing record. The record becomes official after the Angels are retired in the top of the 5th and play is stopped for 22 minutes as Ripken takes a lap around Camden Yards. To complete the perfect evening, Ripken hits a home run off Shawn Boskie in the 4th inning, and the Orioles go on to win by a score of 4-2. » April 30, 1996: In the longest 9-inning game ever—4 hours and 21 minutes—the Yankees outslug the Orioles, 13–10 to disappoint 43,117 at Camden Yards. The host O's score nine runs off starter Andy Pettitte and take a 9–4 lead in the 2nd. New York ties it at 9–9 in the 5th, then wins it in the 7th on Tino Martinez's 3-run shot. Jim Leyritz and Paul O'Neill also homer for New York. The previous record for longest game was 4:18, set in a 1962 Dodgers-Giants game. » May 25, 1996: Oakland's Pedro Munoz belts the longest home run in the 5-year history of Camden Yards to lead the A's to a 6–3 win over the Orioles. The 463-foot shot to dead center comes in the 6th inning with two on, and breaks a 2–2 tie. Mark McGwire also homers for Oakland. The O's get two more homers from Brady Anderson, and a dinger from Mike Bordick, but that's all the scoring. » July 27, 1996: The Orioles score 10 runs off Orel Hershiser, including a grand slam by Rafael Palmeiro, to whip the Indians 14–2 at Camden Yards. Hershiser gives up 11 hits and four walks in five 1/3 innings. » September 16, 1997: Jimmy Key, 0–7 in his last nine starts at Camden Yards, beats the Cleveland Indians 7-2 to give the Orioles a split in a day-night doubleheader. Roberto Alomar has three hits and three RBIs and Brady Anderson and Rafael Palmeiro homer in the win. In the opener, Charles Nagy pitches five-hit ball into the seventh inning and Matt Williams drives home two runs to lead the Indians to a 4-2 victory. » June 7, 1998: Hall of Fame 1B Eddie Murray has his uniform retired by the Baltimore Orioles in a ceremony at Camden Yards. » March 28, 1999: The Baltimore Orioles make the 1st visit to Cuba by major leaguers since 1959, and defeat a team of Cuban amateurs by a score of 3–2 in 11 innings. P Jose Contreras hurls eight innings of 2–hit, 10–K ball in relief for the Cubans, while C Charles Johnson hits a 2–run homer and DH Harold Baines drives in the winning run for the Orioles. The two teams will play a rematch at Camden Yards in Baltimore on May 3. » May 6, 2001: At Camden Yards, the Yankees continue to beat up on the Orioles, winning 2–1, behind Mike Mussina. Scott Brosius hits a solo home run in the 8th to break a 1–1 tie. The Yanks tie a major-league record by starting the season 13-0 against below .500 teams, matching a mark set by the 1902 Pirates and the 1966 Indians.