Orioles FanFest 2009

"Something magic happens, every time you go. You make the magic happen. The magic of Oriole Baseball. O-R-I-O-L-E-S! Magic, Magic, Magic, Magic ! Orioles Magic, Feel It Happen!"

I took Graeme, Owen, Reilly and Pierce to Orioles FanFest (Go MOM!), a fun event held at Camden Yards celebrating the home team and kicking off the new MLB season. All the boys are huge fans and autograph hounds and this is one of the best opportunities all year to rub elbows with the players. The boys brought official MLB baseballs they were lucky enough to snag during pre-game BP last year and had them signed by six Orioles.


They stood in line the longest to get veteran first baseman slugger, Aubrey Huff. When Graeme said, "Mr. Huff, I have you on my fantasy team." Aubrey responded, "Then you're going to win the whole thing, kid!" Graeme was tickled. Later in the afternoon, Huff hit a three-run homer in an exhibition game against the Nationals.

Connor couldn't go to FanFest because his baseball team was in a tournament, so he charged the brothers with scoring him a pitcher autograph. Starting pitchers are the hardest to get during the regular season because they are out secluded in the bullpen getting focused on starting the game and relievers are pretty much never in the dugout, so FanFest can be big in that department. And the little boys did not disappoint, getting Connor's ball signed by hurlers Jamie Walker, Chris Ray and, thanks to a little help from our friends who we bumped into at the Yard, all star closer George Sherrill.
So thanks Emory (in the red hat above) for letting the boys jump in line with you. The next photo of Graeme and outfielder Luke Scott was made possible by you!
And thanks also to Coach Ray for a fun time with Graeme's teammates, and for pushing Pierce's empty stroller around the entire Club Level of the stadium. Pierce, of course, wanted to see it all up close and personal being carried by Mom and saw no need to sit in that stroller thing once he got inside the stadium!

Go Astros! With some magic, you might make it to the bigs, too. Just remember the little people when you do.