SPORTS & REC

IRONBIRDS BASEBALL

Shortly after Orioles all-time great Cal Ripken Jr. retired in 2001, he bought the Class-A minor league Utica Blue Sox, moved them to the stadium he built in Aberdeen, MD, and renamed them the IronBirds. They're one of seven Orioles farm teams, and though their roster doesn't glow with quite the star power the Orioles have, there's still a certain low-key charm to watching them play. And who knows -- you might even see the next Cal Ripken Jr. on his way up through the minors and into the big leagues.

873 Long Drive
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Tel: (410) 297-9292
Website: http://www.ironbirdsbaseball.com