Throughout this past season, the Orioles celebrated the 25th anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The team wore throwback uniforms, honored Orioles legends and highlighted some of the greatest games played at The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball.
During last offseason leading up to opening day 2017, MASN aired a countdown of the 10 greatest games played at OPACY. And we're bringing you some of those "Oriole Park Classics Games" throughout this offseason to relive!
We'll start with No. 10 from the Camden Yards countdown as part of this week's Throwback Thursday post.
Opening day on March 31, 2003 was a memorable one for Orioles fans for a couple of reasons. First of all, it snowed. In Baltimore. In late March. During a baseball game. Often thought of as a weather phenomenon that baseball fans would most likely see in Colorado, the first game of the season for the Orioles and Indians endured a snow delay before getting underway with flurries still falling at Camden Yards.
Aside from the weather, the game itself was memorable, as the Birds rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the sixth to force extra innings (and more snow!). Nine of 10 Orioles who stepped to the plate in that game collected hits, with six different Birds recording multi-hit games.
Gary Matthews sent fans to their warm homes with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning for a 6-5 opening day win. And you can watch that walk-off hit and this "Oriole Park Classics Game" in its entirety on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. on MASN.
As you wait to watch that classic game, you can watch these other "Orioles Classics" on MASN throughout the week:
Thursday, Dec. 7, 12:30 p.m. - Down 2-0 to the Athletics in the ninth inning, the Orioles were able to rally and win 5-2 on a Wilson Betemit walk-off home run on April 29, 2012.
Monday, Dec. 11, 9 a.m. - Behind Nelson Cruz's two home runs and seven RBIs, the Orioles completed a comeback to defeat the Rays 7-5 in 11 innings on Sept. 7, 2014.
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. - On July 23 of this past season, Zach Britton made baseball history when he set the American League consecutive saves record, with his 55th straight save converted, as the Orioles beat the Astros 9-7 at Camden Yards.