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The Baltimore Orioles have announced the schedule plans for their Grapefruit League opener at Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) at 1:05 p.m. against the Minnesota Twins.
Saturday and throughout the season, ballpark gates will open two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch. All fans attending tomorrow’s opener will receive a 2013 spring training magnet schedule presented by the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the first 1,000 female fans in attendance will receive a Bird of Paradise flower courtesy of Beneva Flowers.
The Orioles will honor longtime manager Earl Weaver, who died in January, prior to tomorrow’s game in a pre-game moment of silence and video tribute. In addition, Earl’s uniform number 4 will be stenciled onto the grass outside of the Orioles dugout in foul territory. An orange patch depicting the number 4 and the words “Earl Weaver” and “Hall of Fame” in black will also be worn on the home, road and two alternate in-game jerseys beginning tomorrow and throughout the entire 2013 season. An image of this patch is attached to this release.
The National Anthem will be performed by tenor Heath Huberg who is currently singing the role of Nadir in Sarasota Opera’s 2013 production of “The Pearl Fishers”.
Ben Millice, representing Southwest Airlines, the Official Airline of the Orioles, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
The Orioles have provided its guidelines on outside food and beverages that may be brought into Ed Smith Stadium:
Soft-sided and paper bags are permitted at Ed Smith Stadium, as long as they fit into a 16” x 16” x 8” container. Hard-sided coolers, thermoses, glass bottles, cans or alcoholic beverages are not permitted into the ballpark.
Non-alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles are permitted into the park. All items will be checked at the gates and any beverage which has been opened or partially consumed prior to entry is subject to confiscation if it is thought to contain alcohol. In addition, no plastic or paper cups of beverages are permitted into the park at the entry gates.
All items permitted into the ballpark will be inspected. No bags or items exceeding the maximum size of 16" x 16" x 8" are allowed into the ballpark.
No containers or unauthorized items can be left at any park entrance.
No re-entry will be permitted once a fan has entered the ballpark gates.
Vehicles dropping off or picking up guests with special needs or disabilities are permitted to utilize the East Lot for this purpose. No vehicles are permitted to park curbside, nor are people able to stand and wait with vehicles.
Opening Day schedule:
(Gates open at 11:05 a.m.)
10:00-10:10 Orioles Infield
10:15-11:15 Orioles Batting Practice
11:20-12:10 Twins Batting Practice
12:15-12:25 Twins Infield
1:05 Play Ball!
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