Explore Baltimore
Baltimore Sports History: Oriole Park 1-3
Thursday, April 4th, 2024 by The Professor
by Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle
Today we all know and love Oriole Park at Camden Yards, its revolutionary design, the inclusion of the warehouse and much more make this Oriole Park feel like the great ballpark that it is. This isn’t the first Oriole Park however… It’s the sixth. The name Oriole Park has a great history and legacy that is often overshadowed.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been home to the Baltimore Orioles since its creation in 1992. When naming the stadium, Oriole Park and Camden Yards were the favorites. Owner at the time Eli Jacobs wanted Oriole Park to be the name when Governor William Schaefer wanted the name to be Camden Yards. The compromise is what we still see today: Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It is a classy name, but I also can’t help but think that the name is an ode to the previous Oriole Parks.
Previous Oriole Parks? 5 of them to be exact. The Oriole name has been used in Baltimore for teams and their playing fields since the 1880s. There were 5 different ‘Oriole Parks’ from 1883 to 1944. Today we’ll look at the original Oriole Park and its short-lived successor, Oriole Park II. (more…)
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Baltimore Sports History: Frank Robinson
Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 by The Professor
In 1950, Baltimore was left without any baseball team when the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues folded. Baltimore went through a short 4-year stint without having a baseball team until The St. Louis Browns were sold to a group of Baltimore Businessmen. The team moved to Baltimore and went on to be renamed The Orioles.
The Baltimore Orioles have a rich history of talented players, including 17 MLB Hall of Famers. Among them was Baseball legend Frank Robinson who played for the Orioles for 6 seasons. Although he only played in Baltimore for a short time, his accomplishments will never be forgotten among Oriole fans. Robinson’s statue stands tall in Orioles Legends Park, in left center field at Camden Yards. (more…)
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Baltimore Sports History: Leon Day
Thursday, February 29th, 2024 by The Professor
by Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle
In celebration of Black History Month this year, I’d like to look back at the history of Negro League Baseball in Baltimore and some of the stars that helped break the color barrier to the MLB alongside of Jackie Robinson.
It is sad to see the records of Negro League Baseball players who barely missed out on the chance to play in the Major Leagues. There were so many talented players who had the skill to play that were a year or two away from the MLB color barrier being broken.
Leon Day played in the Negro Leagues for 10 years and like many others, never got his chance to show the rest of the country his skill. Day was a pitcher that some say was as good as, if not better than, Satchel Paige in his prime. I covered Paige in last week’s column in case you missed it! Paige got all the attention while he was playing, partly because he wanted it. Day was a more soft-spoken player and not one to seek the limelight. His focus was on his play, at which he excelled. (more…)
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Goodbye Honfest :(
Monday, February 26th, 2024 by The Professor
The folks that created and ran Honfest have called it a day after nearly 30 years of events. WLOY was proud to have been a part of the event from 2010 onward and to have built up an amazing stage at the Chestnut St. end of the festival from 2014-2023. We are grateful to Denise and Lisa for all their work and support of us in bringing tons of great bands up on the stage. Check out our full list here. We will miss the fun this June, but we hope to see a new festival spring up over the summer. Until then, there is Hampdenfest every fall!
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Baltimore Sports History: Satchel Paige
Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 by The Professor
by Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle
In celebration of Black History Month this year, I’d like to look back at the history of Negro League Baseball in Baltimore and some of the stars that helped break the color barrier to the MLB alongside of Jackie Robinson.
In celebration of Black History Month this year, I’d like to look back at the history of Negro League Baseball in Baltimore and some of the stars that helped break the color barrier to the MLB alongside of Jackie Robinson.
Whenever Negro League Baseball comes into conversation, not far behind is the name Leroy “Satchel” Paige. After all, the right-handed pitcher might be the greatest player to ever play in the Negro Leagues. Satchel Paige played in the Negro Leagues for 20 years before he got a chance to play in the Major Leagues. His stats will vary depending on the source, but his story goes much deeper than just the numbers. (more…)
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Baltimore Sports History: Roy Campanella
Thursday, February 15th, 2024 by The Professor
by Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle
In celebration of Black History Month this year, I’d like to look back at the history of Negro League Baseball in Baltimore and some of the stars that helped break the color barrier to the MLB alongside of Jackie Robinson.
Many people may have heard the name Roy Campanella, after all he is a 3-time league MVP and Hall of Famer. But Campanella, much like many African American players, had to fight to even be in Major League Baseball.
The story of Roy Campanella starts 10 years before baseball’s color barrier was broken. Campanella was 15 when he got his first shot to play professional baseball. He played weekend games with the Washington Elite Giants while he was still in high school. Though, as soon as he turned 16, he dropped out of high school to chase his dream of playing professional baseball. (more…)
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Baltimore Sports History: Negro League Baseball
Thursday, February 8th, 2024 by The Professor
In our new series Baltimore Sports History, WLOY Sports Director Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle will explore some of the great lost history in our Charm City. People know about the O’s and the Ravens but maybe not so much the Elite Giants or famous players that passed through our teams. In celebration of Black History Month, we are covering some of the too little known history of Black sports in Baltimore. Check in every week for more.
Baseball has a rich history in Baltimore, dating all the way back to the 1870s. Today we see the Orioles as the big team in town, but this wasn’t always the case. Before the birds landed in 1954, the only professional baseball Baltimore had was Negro League Baseball. Between 1900 and 1950, no white professional baseball team had seen more than 2 full seasons of baseball (and that’s being generous.) (more…)
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Open Mic Night at Motor House
Thursday, November 17th, 2022 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
What: Open Mic Night
When: November 24, 2022, from 7-10 PM
Where: Motor House Art Hub
Interested in poetry and live entertainment? Join Motor House for their monthly Open Mic Night on November 24 from 7-10 PM. The Motor House is a Baltimore-based art hub, gallery, and performance space for creative visionaries to share their voices and proclamations while providing a mellow environment to showcase your abilities or to just come chill. The event will also be hosted by award-winning poet, Meccamorphosis! Mecca Verdell, or Meccamorphosis, is a Baltimore-based creative performer known for her accomplishments in poetry and writing. She has been recognized on local and national levels for her work and has been beautifully dedicated to providing youth with safe and welcoming spaces to express their talents and visions. Looking for a late-night event with good energy? Come visit Motor House on November 24th from 7-10 PM for their monthly Open Mic Night for a guaranteed good time!
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Explore Baltimore! Sodam Bistro
Friday, April 22nd, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck
What: Korean Restaurant
Where: 200 W Cold Spring Ln, Baltimore, MD 21210
When: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm
Reviewed By: Ronnie Gruseck
Opened last December 2021, Sodam Bistro shares authentic Korean cuisine along with various gelato and espresso and non-espresso drink options. Adjacent to the pharmacy, Newman Towers, and Royal Farms, this restaurant is perfect for those sunny days when you want to take a stroll around the trail next to Newman and around Roland. There are various vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options for all dishes. And with outdoor seating and generous portion sizes, Sodam is a great way to choose from a selection of delicious cuisine and spend quality time with others. It’s a growing spot for Loyola students to hang out and relax.
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Explore Baltimore! The Book Thing
Saturday, March 12th, 2022 by Ronnie Gruseck
What: Free books
Where: 3001 Vineyard Lane, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218
When: 9 am- 5pm, Saturday and Sunday
Reviewed By: Amelia Dunat
The Book Thing warehouse is a book lover’s dream. All of the books in this vibrant volunteer-run used book “store” are free! Yes, you heard correctly; almost any type of book you could possibly want is available here for free. Although open just once a month, this place is wonderful and an asset to the Baltimore community. If you have the time to spare to sift through hundreds of books (paperbacks and hardcovers), you are certain to come across many hidden treasures. There are even textbooks and magazines! Although not necessary, it’s encouraged for visitors to bring some of their own books to donate; even if it’s just one or two.
My favorite about this place is that you will never know what you will find. New selections are added each week. The titles are organized by genre, and most of the books are in good condition. You can also contact them via their website if you’re interested in being a volunteer. Be sure to check out Book Thing as you surely won’t be leaving empty-handed, and keep in mind that parking can be a challenge as it tends to be filled quickly, so try to time your visit well!
WLOY has been a supporter of The Book Thing for a long time. After their terrible fire in 2016, we helped organize and run a fundraising concert, donations and raffles ultimately bringing in over $10,000 to support their rebuilding.
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