When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened on April 6, 1992, a new era of Major League Baseball began. It replaced Memorial Stadium that opened in 1954 when the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and took the name of previous franchises that played in Baltimore.

The park was brand new, but still old-fashioned. State-of-the-art, yet quaint. At less than a day old, it was already a classic.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards inspired a generation of ballpark construction. No longer would communities across America build multipurpose stadiums devoid of character, surrounded by vast parking lots.

Ballparks would now be created to nestle neatly into existing and historic neighborhoods and play key roles in the revitalization of urban America.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards captured the nation's attention from day one and in the 20 seasons that followed, has served as the standard by which all new ballparks are measured.

Citizens of Baltimore and all of Maryland, as well as Orioles fans throughout Birdland, should take great pride in the fact that our team makes its home in the ballpark that forever changed baseball.

Ebbets Field (Brooklyn), Shibe Park (Philadelphia), Fenway Park (Boston), Crosley Field (Cincinnati), Forbes Field (Pittsburgh), Wrigley Field (Chicago), and The Polo Grounds (New York) were among the ballparks that served as powerful influences in the design of Oriole Park.

The stadium planners incorporated the B&O warehouse into the architecture of the ballpark experience rather than demolish or truncate it. The floors of the warehouse contain offices, service spaces, and a private club.

The warehouse has never been hit by a legal home run during regulation play. However, several players have reportedly struck the wall during batting practice] and it was hit by Ken Griffey, Jr. during the Home Run Derby associated with the 1993 MLB All-Star Game.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

That famous warehouse at Camden Yards, June 18, 2009. Camden Yards was built on land that once served as the rail yard for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Camden Station. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Closeup of the Baltimore Sun sponsored clock, June 17, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

View from left field of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Orioles painted on the gates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Orioles in Baltimore Md. on Sept. 14, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Beautifully decorated gates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Orioles in Baltimore Md. on Sept. 14, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Fans walk down Eutaw Street before the baseball game between the Tampa Rays and Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 14, 2009 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore Md. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Orioles logo in the main entrance, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

An umpire rings up a pitch for a strike during the baseball game between the Tampa Rays and Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 14, 2009 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore Md. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

A vendor searches for a thirsty customer during the baseball game between the Tampa Rays and Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 14, 2009 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore Md. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Decorative side of the seats at Oriole Park, June 18, 2009. Each aisle seat in the park features an 1890s Orioles logo. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Orioles dugout looking towards home plate, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Oriole Park press box and broadcast booths, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The flag poles in the concourse in right field, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

WATCH OUT! A warning for fans, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

A view of the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards from behind netting at home plate. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

A view of the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Babe Ruth's father operated Ruth's Cafe at 406 Conway Street, the site of which is now located in center field. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Decorative side of the seats at Oriole Park, June 18, 2009. Each aisle seat in the park features an 1890s Orioles logo. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

View from upper level in right field, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Eultaw Street between the warehouse and Oriole Park, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Met fans check out the kids area at Oriole Park, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Ground crew wait for the Mets to finish batting practice, June 18, 2009. Batting practice has not helped the Mets this season. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

View from right field of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Warehouse at Camden Yards where Oriole team offices are, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids, period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The scoreboard in right field, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Sign says it all, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Banners hung outside the front of Oriole Park, June 18, 2009. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Fans in the loge support Orioles 3B Melvin Mora at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, June 17, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Babe Ruth's birthplace, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The passage way under the warehouse at Camden Yards, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Orioles Hall of Fame on Eutaw Street at Camden Yards, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The green seats at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, June 17, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

The Oriole mascot entertains fans before the game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, June 17, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Oriole Park from walkway near home plate, June 18, 2009. (Gordon Donovan)

 

Fans & Atmosphere: A – The model for all Major League Stadiums. Beautiful park and best tour of any ballpark. Just a shame this team is awful. Fans showed up for Adam Jones bobblehead night and left because of damp weather.

Food: A – Boog's Barbecue, which sells barbecue sandwiches, pit beef, and ribs on Eutaw Street at Oriole Park. You will need a nap afterwords.

Mascot: B – The Oriole Bird hatched out of a giant egg at Memorial Stadium and became the official mascot of the Baltimore Orioles on On April 6, 1979. Does a great job entertaining fans and abusing opposition.

Staff: B – Tour guides were the best. Made it fun for kids an adults asking trivia. A few ushers had a thing for New Yorkers.

Team Tradition: B – Honors the team history from St. Louis and original Orioles. Babe Ruth is honored with a statue outside and a path that leads to the Babe Ruth Museum. Wall of Fame on Eutaw Street.

Location: B – One wrong turn and you will end up in an episode of The Wire. The Inner Harbor is an amazing place, nice job by the city of Baltimore. Babe Ruth’s birthplace is a short walk, just follow the markers.

Photos taken June 17-18 and Sept. 14, 2009, using a Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens.