All 81

Game #81 - Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 7:05 P.M.

Before I do the thank you's, goodbyes, farewells, and see you later pals. Pictures included are : Kevin Gregg winning the award for Most Saves by an Orioles, and Vladimir Guerrero got one heck of standing ovation for winning the award for most hits by a Dominican Born player. And finally, Adam Jones winning Most Valuable Oriole, which is deserved. A case could also be made for Matt Wieters and JJ Hardy. There will be more pictures added in the next few days or weeks. The last two photos are copyrighted to MASNsports. :)


I want to thank you all so much. I did shed some tears during the walk-off win. This was one of the greatest finishes to an Orioles game or sporting event I have ever been a part of. Because of the rain delay and the way the game was going, I thought it was going to be a bit of a letdown. Still fun, but maybe not the way I thought this would all come to a grand finale. I'm glad I was proved wrong. Game #80 where the bird spoke to me and said thank you, was maybe one of the greatest moments in my life. I am very serious about this. But tonight was something surreal. It echoed the monumental comeback from 2009 where the Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox and there was a near two-hour rain delay for that one. That comeback was shown during this series. I believe the night before. What an omen. What portending. Beautiful.

I must thank Robert Andino. I caught a foul ball he hit back in game #75 (blog explains the quantum nature of the moments leading up to that) and acknowledged to Mr. Dutes that one of my favorite memories of this season was the first ever inside-the-park home run by an Oriole at Camden Yards this season. That was the first thing that came out of my mouth when he asked me that. And the respective at-bats of Chris Davis, Nolan Reimold, and finally Andino were so fitting. They are three Orioles who were not guaranteed to be in the future plans or starting next season. They have all played well as of late, so who knows where the future, or better to say present, will dictate things. I must restate that walk-offs are the greatest thing ever in sports and in life. Andino was a bit harsh in his celebration and words, if you lip read, but it's the heat of the moment. His post-comments were the same. But again, it's a team wanting to build momentum and hope for next season. I understand the context. His Andino at The Movies has been some of the funnier stuff in between the innings on the jumbotron.

And onto my other point. Most folks understand that this is just a game. Most of the players are friendly to each other in real life and it's business. So when the Oriole fans rip Boston apart, it's a tad disheartening. Boston has all four major sports champions in a 10 year span. They should be applauded for that. Not everyone from Boston is a bad fan or a bad person. They are most likely a small minority. Very small. I have a lot of friends that "hate" other sports teams because of location or what they stand for. I have never been about that and will never allow someone to influence me to do so. No matter how hard they try. And some have. Just let it be. I am happy the Orioles won. It has nothing to do with who they played.

I want to thank everyone who came tonight. Willy Dely was a huge friend tonight. He videotaped certain parts of my final game. In addition, he brokered an interview with me that aired on WBAL, last night at 11 pm with Sheldon Dutes. A big thank you to Sheldon. (Image is above) That was real treat. And I feel that it has all come full-circle now. If/when the video is posted, it will be updated on this blog. A major thank you to Muriel, Jenny and Rick for making three posters for me. I did not win fan of the game. But we got on tv and the jumbotron a lot. Thanks to Bryan Krandle for making that possible. I want to thank Pete, Shaun, Tom G. (who mysteriously ended up in club level for the duration), Bill W., Tracy, Dave, Katie, Scott S., Marc, Faith, Gina (they had a ton of pals with them too) and Kevin who hung out in our section today. A thank you to Kevin O'Malley for the amazing drawing you see above. Nestor from WNST came over to say hello for a little. I would be happy and honored to do an interview or segment with him in the offseason or around the start of next season. If I forgot anyone, I apologize. I will add names and edit this as we go along. Thanks to Mackenzie and her brother for getting in a picture as well Thanks to Charlie in Section 12 who recognized me from this season. Photo included :) Thank you to Kelly, Natty Boh, Robert, Joe, Earl, Brandie, Charlie, and Donnell. Thanks to Bridget, Becky, Jeff, BarRob, Jae, Nicole, Aubrey, Amanda, Lauren, Paul, Shaina, Sabrina, Alleigh, Brenna, Scotty, Rebecca, and of course Jack from Slainte, Koopers, Riptide, Waterfront Hotel, Thames Street Oyster House, and Dogwatch Tavern Respectively. Thanks to the Football Family at Slainte. Big thanks to John and Cindy for first finding us on tv back in April. Thanks to Kyle and Nate for hanging out, especially during the weekend and day games. Thanks to Chris, Vijay, Melanie and Gary Robert who came out for quite a few. And of course Charlie V. I will add more names as times goes on. I am very touched that our Section 8 has become our area to meet up and enjoy ourselves and each other. I rather enjoy this time to remember now then wonder if we can all do this again next year.

One thing I will take from this is the friendships that have been formed, bonded, and strengthened respectively throughout this season. The whole point of this entire thing was to experience joy and to show love for one another. We were all here to support the Orioles, or whomever you supported. But I wanted to show this in a different light. There is no need to belittle or undermine other teams. The way the Orioles won and the Red Sox lost, and The Rays beating the Yankees instantaneously is no accident. There was something cosmic and metaphysic going on last night. I don't believe in accidents or coincidences. There has been a strange aura in my world and a few others have told me the same, for the past few days. It all came to fruition last night. We see Baltimore beat Boston and the jumbotron shows Tampa Bay celebrating their walk-off in, then they go right back and show their walk-off home run, seconds earlier. A surreal moment in time. Our energies all feed off each other. It's just what it is. So I feel that this was the only fitting way to end this 81 game undertaking. I am so happy I finished this. I am proud of myself. And proud of everyone who joined in. And thanks to everyone who wrote to me on facebook, twitter, text messages, and phone calls last night. I am truly touched. And here I thought, all I did was buy a ticket for 81 games and drive from Harford County to sit and watch baseball. :) Thank you.

Finally, the Oriole Bird again spoke to me tonight and said thank you. And I got one of my all-time favorite pictures with him this season.  He said see you opening day, if not before. The night before, he asked me if I would do all 81 again next season... My answer was... ;)

Updated 10/13/11 : Thanks to Muriel for the additional photos! :)