Empty Baltimore Orioles stadium make for one weird, quiet #GhostGame
Tweets from Baltimore give the world a glimpse of the action at closed-off Camden Yards
When the Baltimore Orioles announced that Wednesday's home game against the Chicago White Sox would be held behind closed doors, few questioned why the decision was made in light of unrest in the city.
But given what is believed to be the first game in MLB history with no fans present, nobody knew exactly how it would play out — which made it all the more interesting to people on Twitter.
Would the national anthem be played? What about walk-up music? Who would be featured on the kiss cam? And most importantly, where would all the unsold hot dogs go?
In the hours leading up to the game, both #Orioles and Camden Yards were trending on Twitter in the U.S. The #GhostGame hashtag also picked up steam as reporters and fans started arriving to the area and sharing photos of what they saw.
Plenty of photos showed fans finding ways to catch the game live from beyond the stadium's gates.
Orioles fans gather at an outfield fence to catch a glimpse of game <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbc?src=hash">#cbc</a> <a href="http://t.co/XcyKRfXcak">pic.twitter.com/XcyKRfXcak</a>
—@cbcsteveGroup of fans shouting O during National Anthem <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Orioles?src=hash">#Orioles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/1057TheFan">@1057TheFan</a> <a href="http://t.co/G5aOcTI926">pic.twitter.com/G5aOcTI926</a>
—@cdwill77Orioles fans are finding their own way to watch the game today <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbc?src=hash">#cbc</a> <a href="http://t.co/DjGPFhp94Q">pic.twitter.com/DjGPFhp94Q</a>
—@cbcsteveBaltimore Orioles fan set to watch today's game without fans. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbc?src=hash">#cbc</a> <a href="http://t.co/ee0J3j3drb">pic.twitter.com/ee0J3j3drb</a>
—@paulhuntercbcThere are about half dozen <a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles">@Orioles</a> fans watching BP from the street through the CF fence. One yelled out, let us in! <a href="http://t.co/qOKQ80WElu">pic.twitter.com/qOKQ80WElu</a>
—@APgelstonSome fans created their own classic ball-game experience by bringing along food and signs and by dancing or singing in the streets.
Dancers rolling through. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baltimore?src=hash">#Baltimore</a> <a href="https://t.co/EGxpPhqqNE">https://t.co/EGxpPhqqNE</a>
—@ColinDailedaBaltimore fan Michael Fish brought his own peanuts to Camden Yards. He says city shouldn't have caved to thugs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbc?src=hash">#cbc</a> <a href="http://t.co/CcKsF4Ane5">pic.twitter.com/CcKsF4Ane5</a>
—@cbcsteveOutside the gate about 50 fans gathered to cheer on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/orioles?src=hash">#orioles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wusa9">@wusa9</a> <a href="http://t.co/AKLq9X6pRV">pic.twitter.com/AKLq9X6pRV</a>
—@DaveOwenssportsHere's your anthem "OHHH," Birdland! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IBackTheBirds?src=hash">#IBackTheBirds</a> <a href="http://t.co/CVTr9KpXvZ">pic.twitter.com/CVTr9KpXvZ</a>
—@masnOriolesFans watching outside the Camden St gate thrilled to support their Orioles. Passionate. <a href="http://t.co/OMZDqyWhOk">pic.twitter.com/OMZDqyWhOk</a>
—@WBALPeteThe few reporters inside the game and some of those listening from outside of the stadium provided colourful live details on what was taking place.
Chants of "Let's Go O's" picking up again outside the stadium as Geovany Soto comes to bat with one out in the third.
—@BencjacobsNational Anthem playing to silence at Camden Yards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Orioles?src=hash">#Orioles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baltimore?src=hash">#Baltimore</a> <a href="http://t.co/vxNx4pYcgt">pic.twitter.com/vxNx4pYcgt</a>
—@kavithadavidsonFirst ghost run scores for Os and we could hear the slide.
—@NoahbiermanCamden Yards attendance today already noted on the press box dry erase board ... <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSports">@FOXSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews">@foxnews</a> <a href="http://t.co/pDyrNHB6aw">pic.twitter.com/pDyrNHB6aw</a>
—@jonmorosiNow fans spelling out O-R-I-O-L-E-S from outside the ballpark. The press box is at least 500 feet away and can hear clearly.
—@BencjacobsAnother home run. Machado hears it from the crowd -- a smattering of fans behind the center field gates.
—@NoahbiermanThey also shared shots of the relatively empty stadium, which looked almost eerie with only a handful of the 45,971 seats at Camden Yards filled by scouts and reporters.
This is the 5th inning of a Major League Baseball game <a href="http://t.co/NzOx1639dl">pic.twitter.com/NzOx1639dl</a>
—@BencjacobsWell now THAT is certainly a FIRST ~ ~ ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostGame?src=hash">#GhostGame</a> Baltimore <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gabnet?src=hash">#Gabnet</a> <a href="http://t.co/GGEizEVAXl">pic.twitter.com/GGEizEVAXl</a>
—@madzubCrickets at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OriolesVSWhiteSox?src=hash">#OriolesVSWhiteSox</a> game <a href="http://t.co/YEOqDQB048">pic.twitter.com/YEOqDQB048</a>
—@JimmyThePhotogYa know, baseball seems a lot less lively without the crowd. Shocking, I know. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baltimore?src=hash">#Baltimore</a> <a href="http://t.co/ZH2bcqswsQ">pic.twitter.com/ZH2bcqswsQ</a>
—@ColinDailedaBeautiful day at OPACY. Heavy media presence. And yes, we really will outnumber the crowd. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/orioles?src=hash">#orioles</a> <a href="http://t.co/Z0rCcbeJub">pic.twitter.com/Z0rCcbeJub</a>
—@masnRoch
Naturally, the soundtrack of the game was well-documented too.
With a certain healthy dose of irony, Jackson Browne's Running On Empty now playing between innings at Camden Yards.
—@BencjacobsThanks to the fans out past centerfield, "Seven Nation Army" graced this game despite a paid attendance of 0.
—@jonbernhardtTake Me Out to the Ballgame was, in fact, played at Camden Yards today. And now John Denver, as is customary here. Fans outside like it.
—@jonmorosiAnd it appears as though the lack of distractions from the audience worked out in Baltimore's favour — the Orioles ended up beating the White Sox 8-2.