BALTIMORE -- The Orioles were playing on the road on Wednesday, but about a mile west of Camden Yards, the sounds of baseball were in the air.
More than 300 local children were hitting, pitching, running and fielding at Baltimore's Carroll Park as part of the city's Play Ball Month event. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake were in attendance, and the participants received instruction from the likes of Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and fellow former Orioles Chris Hoiles and Tippy Martinez.
Back in June, MLB and USA Baseball launched the Play Ball initiative to encourage boys and girls of all ages to participate in baseball and softball, whether in organized leagues or in pickup games and other activities with friends.