Well my first sports road trip, to see the Orioles play at least, was one that I'll always remember. It was a real spur of the moment type of deal. And those are the best, aren't they? Something about the free-spirited, go-anywhere type of mindset really appeals to me — And I think I'm not alone in that...
When we got to the New-Carrollton metro stop, we decided it would be the best place to park. From level 3 of the garage, we made our way into the station and bought our metro passes, and awaited the next train. There were quite a few Nationals fans there, and it was obvious it was going to be an exciting night. 
The ride to RFK took only fifteen minutes (the Stadium-Armory exit is on the Orange line as well), and before we knew it — The stadium was in sight! Walking towards that stadium gave me a great feeling. For once, I truly felt like a die-hard fan. Now, I'm not suggesting that I wasn't a huge fan before that... But there was something just a little more daring about walking into the lion's den sporting my hometown colors. It was some type of an epiphany — I felt as if I had broken out of my shell.
RFK Stadium sure was a throwback. In fact, I loved it! It felt like a time warp... The drab marble-clad insides really reminded me of the dull-colored tiled insides of Baltimore's old Memorial Stadium. Not only that, but the more I walked around RFK, the more I felt like I was back in Memorial. There were many striking similarities:- They had similar names! (RFK is actually short for Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium)
- They were both from the 1950s/60s era (one which was a fairly quiet time in the history of stadium building)
- The concourses were tight
- There were numerous ramps (which were quite narrow in size)
- They were both multi-purpose stadiums (RFK was originally built for the Senators and the Redskins)
- They both had wooden seats (watch out for splinters!)
The feeling I got just being there was one that I loved. Camden Yards is nice and all... I consider it to be the most beautiful ballpark in the big leagues. But just give me a summer night in Memorial — I wouldn't trade that for anything. But this visit to RFK... This was as close as anyone could ever get to having that feeling again. And I loved every second of it, believe me.
As for the game itself, it was never really in doubt. I think the first clue came when during the Star-Spangled Banner, the entire stadium yelled "Oh!" — Including most Nationals fans! It really was something... To think that you could go to a visiting ballpark, and feel like you were at a home game! That must be what those countless droves of New York/Boston fans feel like when they swarm down Eutaw St. every single season... With the overwhelming amount of Orioles fans there, tourists would have had a hard time figuring out that they were actually in Washington, D.C. One of the only clues probably would have been a scoreboard gimmick that they ran, involving animated former U.S. Presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt) racing each other around the bases — If memory serves me correctly, I believe Thomas Jefferson won.
The starting lineup for the Orioles was delightfully suspect, as was the case for most lineups pre-Andy McPhail. However, this didn't deter the visitors from eventually wearing out their welcome... It took awhile, but the Orioles finally cracked Mike O'Connor's code. Kris Benson on the other hand, was in total control for the entire night. Not only did he come with the complete stuff — And I mean complete (game) stuff, but he even managed to throw an RBI in the mix. Corey Patterson made the play of the game however, ripping an RBI triple in top of the sixth inning. This opened the scoring for the night, allowing for Benson to drive home his previously mentioned run.
During the middle innings, I walked around the upper deck promenade to try and get a feel for the place. Camera in hand, I made it a point to document my day's travels. I wanted proof — Proof that I had seen my own team play on someone else's turf. Much to my surprise, I took quite a bit of ribbing during my walk. The funniest part was, the majority of the people who were giving me the hardest time were mostly guys in their mid 20s/early 30s. These were guys who had rooted for the Orioles (MY TEAM) their entire lives! They weren't even alive when the Senators left for Texas back in 1971!! AND THEY WERE GIVING ME GRIEF?!
I just laughed every time someone said something... Here I am, being told to "go back to Baltimore," by a bunch of people who used to make the 35 mile trip north every baseball season to see and root for MY Baltimore Orioles. Give me a break people. I might have been a pretty young kid... But even I was aware enough to realize how hypocritical they were being. It was ridiculous — And you know what? That just made the win all that much sweeter! They never even got close to staging a comeback... Alfonso Soriano, it appeared, was the only one who took exception to the Orioles dominance. But not even his towering home run could stop the bleeding. The Nationals were done.
Looking back on it, I was quite glad we had decided to make the trip. It was pretty neat seeing my favorite team play in another city. Also — It was cool seeing RFK before they did the complete overhaul... Just a little over a month later, under new ownership in Ted Lerner, the Nationals staged a "Grand Re-Opening" of RFK Stadium. Part of the changes included the now famous presidential race (involving people dressed up as presidential mascots), and a new terrace food court (where an empty marquee once silently sat).
All in all, it was a good experience.
Atmosphere: A (Despite all the ribbing, I thought the atmosphere was great. Hometown fans are supposed to rag on opposing fans. That's part of what being a fan is all about...)
Stadium: A+ (Many people consider RFK to be a dump, but I love throwbacks... Especially this one. However, this grade is based more so on principle. Considering the Yankees aren't even playing in the real Yankee Stadium anymore, pretty soon there won't be a stadium in Major League Baseball that was even standing before the 1990s. This time warp type effect is one that many kids being born now will never know. No matter what venue you're talking about, there's something to be said for going to a game in a stadium that's stood the test of time. You can buy amenities, you can buy luxury boxes — But you can't buy history. Unfortunately, there are many people who just don't understand that.)
Food: B (I don't remember anything sticking out too much. As I said, I visited before the overhaul, so better food was still 1-month away.)
Transportation: A- (The D.C. Metro has had a pretty clean record up until their recent blunder.)
Overall Grade: 92.5/100
Orioles Away Record: 1-0
Some shots of the group:
Uncle Chuck, Mom
We are family.
