Orioles opening day festivities to include Cal Ripken Jr., Key Bridge tribute

The Orioles announced a full slate of pregame festivities for Thursday’s 3:05 p.m. opening day game against the Los Angeles Angels, including a pregame ceremony hosted by broadcaster Kevin Brown and franchise icon Cal Ripken Jr. catching the ceremonial first pitch from the daughter of a Baltimore City postal worker.

The club also plans to hold a moment of silence to honor the victims of Tuesday’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and recognize the first responders who reported to the scene. The Orioles will also lower an American flag from the batter’s eye in center field during the national anthem, which will be performed by the Morgan State University Choir. The flag is a replica of the one flown over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key first wrote the Star-Spangled Banner.

Brown, the play-by-play announcer for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s Orioles broadcasts, will begin the ceremonies at 2:30 p.m., about 30 minutes before the game is scheduled to begin. Harlem Park Elementary School fourth-grader Aubree Singletary will throw out the first pitch in a nod to new owner David Rubenstein, whose father worked for the post office. Ripken’s place behind the plate will serve as a recognition of the Hall of Famer rejoining the organization as a minority owner.

The sale to Rubenstein, which was approved in a unanimous vote by MLB’s 30 owners Wednesday, will be recognized with a news conference at 11 a.m. in the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards. Rubenstein will be joined by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, on stage before “ushering in a new chapter of Orioles baseball” by yelling, “Play ball” before the game.

The Orioles will also use the pregame ceremonies as an opportunity to recognize the Mo Gaba Fan of the Year, a third-grader at Timonium Elementary School named Carter who met Rubenstein in a chance encounter at the Orioles’ team store March 4. They will also honor Sara Artes, volunteer Executive Director of Corner Team, as a Birdland Community Hero for her work helping local children and their families through fitness and leadership development. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a $5,000 donation to her organization.

As for the fans, all those in attendance will receive an Orioles rally towel. Parking lots will open at 11 a.m. and gates to the ballpark will follow at noon. The full opening day ceremony will be broadcast by MASN with fans not attending the game encouraged to tune in starting at 2:20 p.m.

The forecast for Thursday projects rainfall throughout the morning and early afternoon with temperatures sitting in the mid-50s. Should the game be postponed, the Orioles have a scheduled day off Friday for it to be made up.

Opening day

Angels at Orioles

Thursday, 3:05 p.m.

TV: MASN

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM