The Baltimore Orioles will celebrate their first-ever Jewish Heritage Night at Camden Yards in a game against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 25.
The game is part of the Orioles’ “Themed Nights” series. The team has held special themed nights for several Baltimore affinity groups in the past. Last year was the first year they included Christian Faith Night, and a Pride Night has been held since 2018. This year, they decided to add a Jewish Heritage night.
“We really wanted to make sure that we’re inclusive of the entire community, and we looked at that in the offseason, places where we already have an existing fan base and places where we can grow our fan base,” Mark Fine, the Orioles’ chief marketing officer, told Baltimore Jewish Times.
With the purchase of a ticket package and seating in sections 84-86 (left field), fans will have the opportunity to get a promotional blue and white Jewish Heritage Night Orioles hat, with the Star of David stitched onto the side.
The Orioles spent several months working with The Associated to put together the activities and giveaways planned for the game, and they collaborated on some potential options for future events, too.
“Everybody loves the Orioles. Whether they’re having a good season or not, Baltimore is an orange and purple town,” said Michelle Gordon, chief of staff at The Associated. “It’s a great reason to go to the park to support the team, have a fun night of baseball and celebrate summer.”
For Jewish Heritage Night, it’s important to get to the park early, as a good portion of the celebration will take place before the game.
Fine said that the ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Jewish World War II veteran Gideon Kantor. Kantor was drafted in 1943 at the age of 18 to serve during the war, and was sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland.
Camp Ritchie featured a large number of German-speaking immigrants, who were often Jewish, and trained in counterintelligence. Soldiers who trained at the camp became known as the “Ritchie Boys.”
The Orioles also invited the Baltimore chapter of HaZamir, a local Jewish teen choir, to sing the national anthem.
“We’re big, big O’s fans,” said Erika Schon, the conductor of HaZamir Baltimore. “In fact, our HaZamir T-shirts have a graphic design that was created by one of our parents, and [the font] just happens to be in an Orioles style.”
Schon said that the choir will bring 23 singers to perform the anthem, a group consisting of current members and alumni.
Schon added that some family members and friends of the performers have already bought their tickets to watch the group sing and enjoy “this special Jewish heritage night.”
“What a wonderful honor and what a thrill to sing in this large venue for our favorite baseball team. What could be better? I’m so delighted, and I hope that our community enjoys this,” Schon said.
In addition to activities, Fine said they will be expanding their kosher food options for the game, including in the Birdland Market.
Gordon said that The Associated would be in the ballpark with a table, handing out information about The Associated Network and the services they offer in the community.
Fine said that, during the game, fans will be treated to the team’s traditional inter-inning promotions and games, but the team would take some of those segments and “kosher them up.”
“As a member of the Jewish community here in Baltimore myself, I feel really proud that we’re doing this,” Fine said.
The event comes at a time of rising antisemitism. Organizers said they hope this celebration will serve as a night to come together as a Jewish community and send a message of inclusivity, rejecting antisemitism and all other forms of hate in the ballpark.
With news of several recent antisemitic incidents, security is a notable concern for Jewish community members, and Fine emphasized that the Orioles are taking fan safety very seriously.
Fine said that the team has been coordinating with The Associated and Major League Baseball to provide enhanced security for the game.
For Fine, the ballpark isn’t just about baseball. It’s also a place of community and connections. The unity around the team is part of the reason why he loves working in professional sports.
He added that Jewish Heritage Night is not just a recognition and celebration of the Jewish community but also a celebration of everyone in the ballpark that night.
“Oriole Park is our synagogue. It’s our cathedral,” said Fine. “It’s a place where people gather from all different types of faiths and races and genders, and we all come together to cheer for the Orioles. That’s what’s so special about sports. It has this community gathering piece that few other places in our life have.”
