Brush with O’s Fan Greatness

So, yesterday when I blew out of working from home (HA!), I went to the
afternoon baseball game with a couple of friends.  We enjoyed some
beers at Sliders (down from Pickle’s), and then entered the game to
take our bleacher seats. 

We decided that we would move over to the right-field box seats in the
third inning, with a brief stop at the standing-room only seats in the
Flag Court.  We spent most of our time in the standing-room only
seats, enjoying the view of the game from right-field.  It was
there that I met one of the recent Orioles Baseball icons, “Wild” Bill
Hagy.  (For a reminder of who “Wild” Bill is, check this out.)

Most of you who read this blog will not remember this man, and I barely
remember him from when I was a kid.  Essentially, he led the group
of rowdy and crazy fans in Section 34 of Memorial Stadium.  He
would spell out “O-R-I-O-L-E-S” with his body during the game, leading
the section and what seemed like the stadium with his cheers. 

The O’s won,
coming from behind and actually playing well against one of the better
AL pitchers, 2004 Cy Young Winner Johan Santana.  They won 7-4,
with three runs to break the tie in the 8th inning.  The best part
of the 8th inning was seeing “Wild” Bill get up on the platform that is
located in the flag court, and spelling out “O-R-I-O-L-E-S” with his
body.  It was awesome.  I even got to shake his hand. 
Friggin’ awesome.