There’s a lot of things to love about a baseball game. It signals the arrival of warm weather, and the crack of the bat and the smell of hot dogs, peanuts and beer is as American as it gets. In Baltimore, baseball fans are particularly excited because their team is winning again. With winning ways comes increased attendance. And with increased attendance? Better promotions. With that in mind, here are the top three giveaways at Orioles games in the first half of the season that you need to know about.
Colton Cowser Star Wars Bobblehead; May 2 at 7:05 p.m. versus the Kansas City Royals
Listen up: this is not going to be an easy one to get. There are 20,000 bobbleheads available for a stadium that fits more than twice as many fans, and Star Wars is one of the few things as universally beloved as baseball. And when they combine, it makes for one hectic line to enter the stadium. That being said, this giveaway is one of the coolest in the Majors this season. Featuring Cowser donning a Orioles hat and Jedi robe, complete with a lightsaber, this bobblehead will make any young Star Wars and baseball fan happy beyond belief. If you miss this one, try again two days later, as the Orioles are releasing a near-identical model featuring Gunnar Henderson. Be warned though, Henderson is even more popular than Cowser, so it will probably be just as, if not more, difficult!
Bowling Shirt; May 30 at 7:05 p.m. versus the Chicago White Sox
The Orioles are no stranger to some outlandish fashion statements. The team has given away Maryland flag bucket hats and all-over Hawaiian print shirts, among other things, and now they are branching out into bowling attire. At this game at the end of May, some throwback-style orange and black short-sleeve button downs will be distributed to the first 15,000 fans. The shirts feature the smiling Oriole Bird, some smart stripes and even a 50’s-inspired wordmark on the back. Whether or not you choose to take your free shirt to the lanes for some competitive tenpin is up to you, but you’ll have the option after attending this one.
City Connect Soccer Jersey; June 27 at 7:05 p.m. versus the Tampa Bay Rays
If you’re confused why people would be excited for a rainbow soccer jersey at an Orioles game, here is the rundown: the Major Leagues began a new uniform program in 2021 that would see each franchise get a unique “City Connect” jersey that, as the name says, relates to the city outside of the normal branding requirements of the team. This means new colors, logos, fonts and more. The Orioles unique jersey was unveiled two seasons ago, and has been embraced for its simplicity and reference to Baltimore’s diversity. The design features a black outer and colorful inner that is meant to symbolize the city’s rich culture, which is often glossed over by the rest of the country. The giveaway at the end of June is a spin on that jersey: this time, the Orioles are flipping it into what Europeans call a soccer “kit.” Only 15,000 fans will get this one, so come early!
