Members of the History Club at AACC along with other faculty and students drove to Baltimore Saturday morning and toured Oriole Park at Camden Yards.               

OPAYC was built in 1992 and is considered the first modern old-style Ball Park according to the tour guide and Oriole’s team historian.

“Camden Yards is modern because it is only 25 years old and old-style because it is modeled after the old-school stadiums and attempts to touch upon that old school feel, which it does quite successfully.” The Richard Hardesty, faculty advisor of the History Club said.

Baseball is considered America’s past time, and that’s why the History Club chose to highlight baseball as their topic this semester.

The History Club changes their topic each semester. Last semester they highlighted Shakespeare, and next semester they will focus on Rock & Roll.

“History is an extremely important part of life,” Hardesty said. “What we do in the present is shaped by the past, and the present shapes the future.  The History club attempts to make history more fun.”

History Club president, Lucas Baker has been a member of the club for three semesters now.

“The club gives students an extra opportunity outside of class to advance their historical knowledge,” Baker said. “That, and the club adds a fun group aspect that classes don’t quite touch on.”

Baker said the club started planning the trip to Baltimore last semester. 

The tour guide took the club down onto the field, and into the Oriole’s dugout, as well as the press box, scoreboard control room and the suites on the club level of the stadium.

“The tour was very informative,” Baker said. “I feel like I learned a lot about a beautiful ball park.”