Play Ball puts kids on field to meet Orioles

BALTIMORE — Orioles manager Buck Showalter still has vivid memories of his childhood days playing baseball. In fact, some are even visible beneath his right eye, where a faded scar sits.

Before Sunday’s series finale with the Tigers, Showalter recalled a story from when he was just 8 years old living in Florida. He joined a pickup game at a local sandlot with some 12-year-olds and went to retrieve a foul ball underneath a neighbor’s porch. Two German shepherd puppies were waiting for him.

“I started petting the puppies, grabbed the ball and ran out,” he said chuckling, “and momma showed up.”

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Showalter’s other memories — he had plenty — he described as “special,” something that could characterize the experiences of the 10,000 pre-registered youth baseball and softball players circling the warning track at Camden Yards prior to Sunday’s game, part of MLB’s Play Ball Weekend.

In honor of @MLB’s #PlayBall Weekend, #Orioles players exchanged autographed caps with youth …

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