Game At Camden

Ticket policy sounds familiarIt is with some amusement that I heard some commentators complain about Fidel Castro's policy of distributing tickets to the Orioles-Cuba exhibition game by invitation only, thus depriving the average Cuban baseball fan of attending the game. Apparently, those who were offended by the policy are laboring under the misapprehension that tickets are distributed in a more democratic manner here in Baltimore.Anyone who has had the good fortune to attend an Opening Day, All-Star or playoff game at Camden Yards will tell you that the assemblage at such events is disproportionately composed of the Washington "Chablis and suspenders" crowd.

The Orioles have been given the go-ahead for their proposed home-and-home exhibition series against a team of Cuban all-stars, though the game at Camden Yards may have to be played several weeks after the club's visit to Havana on March 28.Representatives of the Orioles, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association reached an "agreement in principle" yesterday with Cuban officials and representatives of the U.S. State Department, according...

Opinion: Do not trade Rocky Coppinger. Do not trade Nerio Rodriguez. Do not trade Radhames Dykhoff. Do not give up on Sidney Ponson. Just have patience and let them grow, Orioles. Enough young pitching has gotten away.Fact: Yikes, there's a football game at Camden Yards in 39 days.Opinion: The over-under line on how long the Parcells-Testaverde marriage stays happy? How about nine games?Fact: The Orioles have won 27 of 71 games since April 15.Opinion: It had to happen, but the departure of Terry Mathews robbed the clubhouse of one of the nicest guys.

It's over. World Series dreams have shattered. Time to reflect on a glorious season and a special Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards:It was about a million degrees, I couldn't smoke, I had a wicked hangover and, though I'd been in Baltimore six months, this was my first Orioles game. Utter blasphemy in the eyes of this baseball-obsessed city.I only bought the tickets because an Oriole-worshiping friend was visiting from out of town.We had great seats."These are great seats!""I know; I paid $50 for them."

Given the choice, Bruce Auerbach would rather watch a baseball game that doesn't last up to four hours and includes more runs than a cheap pair of nylons. But try telling that to his 10-year-old daughter.She's the one wearing the Cal Ripken jersey and Orioles cap decorated with assorted pins bearing the numbers of her favorite players. The one who squealed with excitement during Monday's rain delay at Camden Yards because Roberto Alomar waved to her as she stood in the first row behind home plate.

FIFTY-SIX young Ellicott City and Elkridge cheerleaders made their Camden Yards debut last week, when they participated in Opening Day festivities.The girls stood beside the long, red carpet and cheered each Baltimore Oriole as he was introduced."

The streak lives.Not just Cal's.Ernie's.Ernie Tyler, 71, will take his customary position for today's exhibition game at Camden Yards, sitting on his stool next to the backstop.And Monday, the Orioles' longtime umpires and field attendant will extend his streak of regular-season home games to 2,833.The streak began on Opening Day 1960, but Tyler will cherish this opener like none other.Ten weeks ago, he underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his liver.Tyler has had close calls before -- back spasms before the seventh game of the 1971 World Series, the removal of his gall bladder after the '93 season -- but nothing like this.

The rasp told it all.Peter Angelos was ill, so ill that the Orioles' owner was absent yesterday for the team's belated home opener at Camden Yards.While the owner's friends sampled finger food and took in the game from his private suite, Angelos sat in his North Baltimore home, watching the game on television.Angelos said he had the flu. So did his wife, Georgia, who watched the game with him."We felt it was best that we quarantined ourselves," the owner said in a low voice. "As contagious as this might be, it is best for us not to circulate."

Running with the bulls at Pamplona highlighted Brian Knoerlein's European summer. Running the aisles at Camden Yards, selling Cracker Jack or beer, is how he plans to pay for it.That's what brought the Middle River science teacher, and hundreds of other hopefuls to a job fair at Camden Yards yesterday.Aramark Corp. had hoped to hire about 400 people to work concessions, restaurants and other operations at the ballpark.The company is hiring more workers this year to staff concessions formerly operated by church and other nonprofit groups.

ON JUNE 4, I had wanted to treat a friend to an Orioles game at Camden Yards. It was an anniversary: 27 years earlier, I had attended my first game at Memorial Stadium. It did not happen though. We were turned away: sold out.Then a scalper came by, wanting $40 for a ticket. I said no. He replied, "Enjoy the game in a bar buddy!" I said "Enjoy your time in a cage!"We bought tickets for Labor Day weekend -- the only future date that tickets were available. Then we went to my old neighborhood, Highlandtown.