Garrett Olson, who started for the Orioles against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, was born two days after the Orioles won the 1983 World Series.
Randor Bierd, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis won?t remember Cal Ripken?s series-clinching catch against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 on Oct. 16, 1983.
They weren’t alive.
But players certainly will pay attention when the last group of Orioles champions takes the field at Camden Yards before tonight?s game against the Blue Jays to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the club’s third world championship.
“I think anything you can do to restore, continue, reeducate people that have been through history and meant so much to this organization, I think it’s a very nice thing to do. I’d like to get more of those people involved,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “I think it?s great you bring back people from the past.”
Cal Ripken, who was the American League?s Most Valuable Player in 1983, and World Series MVP Rick Dempsey will headline a group of 22 players, which also includes Eddie Murray, Benny Ayala, Mike Boddicker, Al Bumbry, Todd Cruz, Jim Dwyer, Mike Flanagan, Dan Ford, Glenn Gulliver, Tito Landrum, Dennis Martinez, Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor, Dan Morogiello, Jim Palmer, Gary Roenicke, John Shelby, Ken Singleton, John Stefero and Bill Swaggerty. General Manager Hank Peters and coach Jimmy Williams also will attend the celebration.
Upper deck seats will be available for $5.50, the same price they were at Memorial Stadium in 1983.
Fans are invited to watch a press conference on the JumboTron at 6 p.m., a half-hour after gates open. Eutaw Street will open at 5 p.m.
Ballpark music and videopresentations will reflect the 1983 season, and the Orioles will wear throwback jerseys, featuring a commemorative 25th anniversary patch on their sleeves. After the game, the jerseys from the current players, as well as the 1983 team, will be available for auction on www.orioles.com. Proceeds will benefit Shannon’s fund, the OriolesReach initiative named in memory of the club’s former director of community outreach, Shannon Obaker.
