Due to the violence and mayhem in Baltimore currently, the hometown baseball team — the Orioles — was forced to play a home game in front of virtually no fans whatsoever. If you take a peek at these photographs, you’ll concur.
There’s really no one there.
Sure, there are the batboys and girls and the announcers and the field maintenance crew and the coaches and managers, but outside of that? Empty.
Here’s the press release the Orioles put out before Wednesday afternoon’s game that explains the situation and subsequent decision:
Orioles announcement regarding schedule changes pic.twitter.com/nwCDyqjzWs
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 28, 2015
Okay, so it doesn’t really go into the situation or the cause for the “closed to the public” game, but it is rife with dates and times and postponements and plenty of scheduling.
The commissioner elaborated a bit on the subject through Twitter:
MLB:'After conferring with local officials, it was determined Wed's game should be played w/out fan admittance to minimize safety concerns.'
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) April 28, 2015
MLB's Manfred: “We believe that these decisions are in the best interests of fan safety and the deployment of City resources."
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) April 28, 2015
The city is reeling, and all one can hope for is that it rebounds as quickly as possible. Scenes like these from familiar institutions like Camden Yards are not only surreal, but they’re upsetting and speak to the tragedy that set the unrest in motion in the first place.
Get well soon, Baltimore.
Because these photographs below? They need to stop.
(all photos via The Associated Press)