Dates to look forward to in 2022 for Oriole fans

Major League Baseball’s lockout threatens to delay the Orioles’ scheduled opener on March 31^st. Even so, there are many other dates to look forward to once the season gets started.

April 11^th vs. Milwaukee

The Orioles haven’t played the Milwaukee Brewers since 2017, and the Brewers, who once played in the American League, haven’t played in Baltimore since June 13^th-15^th, 2003.

The Orioles were scheduled to play the National League Central teams in 2020, but the schedule was adjusted because of the pandemic and they played the National League East instead to avoid excess travel during the 60-game season.

May 10^th-12^th at St. Louis

The Orioles have never played in the current Busch Stadium, which the Cardinals have called home since 2006. They’ve played in St. Louis just once, June 6^th-8^th 2003.

The Orioles were scheduled to play in St. Louis early in the 2020 season, and it would be a shame if they had to put off that visit yet again.

Of course, the Orioles were once the St. Louis Browns, but when the teams shared a city and a stadium, interleague play was decades off.

May 19^th vs. New York

Many fans say they wish there were more weekday afternoon games. Other than the March 31^st opener, which will begin at 3:05 p.m., the May 19^th and July 28^th game against Tampa Bay, which both begin at 12:35 p.m., there are few opportunities for fans to take a day off to go to the ballpark.

July 4^th vs. Texas

The Orioles are usually home on Memorial Day and away for July 4^th. This year, they’re at Boston on May 30^th and home on the Fourth. It’s the first time since 2008, they’ll be at home.

The Orioles are also home on Labor Day, September 5^th against Toronto. Both the July 4^th and Labor Day games begin at 1:05 p.m.

July 7^th-9^th vs. Los Angeles

The Orioles’ final series at home before the All-Star break promises to be heavily attended. Not only are they playing the Angels and Shohei Ohtani, but it’s Floppy Hat Night on the 8^th and Hawaiian Shirt Day on the 9^th, the two most popular giveaways on the schedule.

July 12^th-13^th at Chicago Cubs

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde gets to visit Wrigley Field for the first time since 2018. It’s the Orioles’ first visit since 2014, and if you’ve never been to Wrigley, it’s certainly worth the trip. Unfortunately, both games are at night, and Wrigley is best during the day. The Cubs also play two games in Baltimore on June 7^th-8^th.

The Orioles make their annual trip to play the White Sox from June 23^rd-26^th, but Guaranteed Rate Park is one of the least attractive ones in the game and, unlike Wrigley, there’s nothing to do in the surrounding neighborhood.

July 29^th-31^st at Cincinnati, August 1^st at Texas

Sometime during those four days will be the trade deadline. It’s generally on July 31^st, but when it falls on a weekend, it’s often moved to the first day of August.

The Orioles might have decisions to make on first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini and outfielder Anthony Santander, among others, and the final home game before the deadline is on July 28^th.

August 6^th vs. Pittsburgh

This is the 30^th anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and the Orioles will mark it on August 6^th.

The Orioles present these anniversary events well, and it’ll be fun to recall some of the historic moments of the first 30 years of the ballpark.

August 21^st vs. Boston

This season, there are only 80 Orioles home games scheduled in Baltimore. On August 21^st, the Orioles will be the home team in the annual Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania during the Little League World Series.

The game, which will be televised by ESPN, will be played at Bowman Field, about three hours from Baltimore.

The Orioles and Red Sox will play in Baltimore on August 19^th and 20^th.

September 27^th-29^th at Boston, September 30^th-October 2^nd at New York

If you’d like to see the Orioles on the road, a trip to Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium to close the 2022 season is a great way. The September 29^th game will be a 1:10 p.m. start at Fenway and the October 1^st game will begin at 1:05 p.m. All major league games on the final day of the regular season begin at 3:05.

Taking a train between Boston and New York is an inexpensive and efficient way of getting between the two cities.

Question time: I’ll be answering Orioles’ questions later this week. Please email your questions to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. You also can leave them in the BaltimoreBaseball.com Facebook page comments section.