One arrives at Ripken Stadium via a dedicated 4 lane roadway right off of I-95 here in Aberdeen. But as you make the sharp turn and ride over the hump in the road leading to the park, it is not the stadium that grabs your eye. It is the hotel.

There, right next to the ballpark and centered in the midst of a complex that has evolved into the “Ripken Baseball Academy”, sits an exact replica of the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards. One does a double take. And that is only one element of this baseball theme park that houses a NY-Penn League franchise.

Ripken Stadum opened in 2002 to great reviews, when their team shifted here from Utica, New York, and today the Ironbirds continue their amazing popularity in this bedroom community north of Baltimore. Since this stadium opened, the complex has evolved into a hub of youth baseball, hosting a Ripken sponsored world series each year, and playing the games on state of the art fields which architecturally mimic some of baseball’s greatest shrines.

And what about Ripken Stadium? How about an opulent club level with a huge carpeted concourse, dramatic views of the field, nice bar and buffet areas, and a Ripken Museum. Party decks on the left and right field corners. A separate picnic table area behind home plate where servers deliver food from an “all you can eat” menu. A massive play area with video games and play equipment in the left field corner.

Food? The right field crab shack offers crabcake sandwiches, steamed shrimp and steamed crabs. A sausage station near home plate sells huge sausages served up from chafing dishes in many delectable flavors. Funnel cakes, kettle corn, chicken caesar salads are added to the ballpark fare. A huge team store called “The Hangar” sells merchandise.

All this is set up in a stunning architectural “retro” ballpark, with its brick accents, old fashioned signage and marquees, kelly green seats with ample concourse space, nice murals and exhibits on the walls, and All Things Ripken everywhere you look.

The outfield electronics are superb, with a giant videoboard on the right field side, and a companion dot matrix board with a huge LED board on the left field side hugging the outfield wall. Unlike most minor league parks, outfield billboard advertising here is virtually nonexistent.

Being Opening Day, the place was absolutely packed, and Cal Ripken himself was on hand to throw out the first pitch. Brother Bill Ripken, who played for the Buffalo Bisons in the mid 90s, is team president and active in day to day management here.

Ironbirds fans are especially passionate about their team, hanging on the balls and strikes, and cat calling the visiting players and manager. It was not a good night for the home team however; an early 2 run lead would go for naught as the visiting Brooklyn Cyclones got a two run homer in the 7th and the game winner in the 8th to upend the Ironbirds 3-2.

Like Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, we can only shake our heads in utter amazement as to what the NY-Penn League has become, for here in Aberdeen baseball is a million miles away from the metal bleachers of Dwyer Stadium in Batavia or the tumbledown grittiness of Oneonta’s Damaschke Field.

A shout out and thanks to Aberdeen media swami Caleb Pardick for arranging for credentials for us via Sports and Leisure Magazine and for all his assistance.

Saturday we plant the official USRT flag at National Park in The District. We will once again be able to claim our attendance at a home game of each of the 122 teams in the 4 sports in their current venues. The Nationals are playing the Texas Rangers in interleague play, and for historical reference… the Rangers franchise are making their first visit to DC since they departed this city in 1972, as the Washington Senators. An afternoon of sightseeing and postgame partying is also on tap!

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