2016 O’s Home Run Derby Hat (looking back fondly/sadly)

I used to have this dope 2016 Home Run Derby Orioles hat from when the All Star Game was in San Diego — they did all the teams in the classic Padres colors and font. As a MD born lifelong O’s fan who moved to San Diego and adopted the Padres as my second team, this hat was perfection. But alas, I left it at my parents’ house once when I visited and they took it to Goodwill (my fault for leaving it behind). I’ve tried for years to find one again but with no luck. 😫 (Size 7 3/8 in case any of you ever come across one!)

Mark Trumbo was in the HR derby that year, and when he won his first round matchup, the fan in front of me gave me a crisp high five and a celebratory beer. 30 Trumbombs later he lost to eventual champ Giancarlo Stanton in the semis, but he was the first guy to ever hit a ball off the scoreboard at Petco Park. We sent several guys to the All Star Game that year (Trumbo, Britton, Machado, Brach, Wieters), and even Chance Sisco hit a dinger while representing us in the Futures game. Back in 2016 the future looked bright indeed.

Went to the series in SF a month later where we staged a 7-run comeback capped off with a Schoop 3-run HR to take the series in game three. The “O!” during the national anthem was deafening, despite being on the road. High fived a random little kid and his dad who’d made the trip out to catch our beloved O’s, while we were surrounded by disappointed Giants fans. (You really hate to see it… 😉) Great stadium but it still slots in a distant 3rd — at best! — after Camden and Petco. Jon Miller was by then of course their (the Giants’) play-by-play announcer…sure miss that guy.

Adam Jones was still in his prime, the Manny-Schoop combo was the best in the league, the O’Day/Brach/Britton trifecta was dominant, and Crush Davis hadn’t fallen off a cliff yet. Chris Tillman (remember him?) was our ace and Opening Day starter. My dad and I decided after that season we would start meeting up in different cities for Orioles away series each year (he still lived in MD while I had moved to CA). We had no idea the lousy run we were in for after that 2016 season but it was a blast at the time.

All this to say, it’s awesome to have such an exciting team again and we should enjoy every second of it. Watching the Padres dump absurd amounts of money into an underachieving team makes me appreciate this O’s squad even more. But hey, at least I get to keep watching Manny dominate at 3rd base in person even if I can only enjoy my O’s from afar.

Love y’all. Go O’s! 🧡🖤