It has been nearly five years since he set foot in Camden Yards. But if the Orioles advance to host American League Division Series games this weekend, Jay Gibbons will be there, clad in orange and black, whooping it up in the cheap seats with a mob of playoff-starved fans.
"Are you kidding me? That is something I just can't miss," said Gibbons, an Orioles outfielder from 2001 through 2007, during the team's darker days. "Things were so tough for so long, and I always wanted to make the playoffs.
"I'll get my Orioles cap out of the garage, fly in from California, wear my Brian Roberts jersey and sit in the right-field bleachers."
* * *
The Orioles have few bigger fans than Gibbons, 35, the onetime slugger who retired from baseball this year.
"It's so much fun to finally see them winning, even all the way from California," he said. "I shot [trainer] Richie Bancells a text message awhile back and asked him, 'Is this all for real?' He shot back, 'We're praying.'
"I've been on the phone constantly, checking their scores. My wife says, 'Give it up, you don't play for them any more.' But I can't help it."
The Orioles' success helps to shelve thoughts of the lost years, said Gibbons, who'd rather return here anonymously.
"Those were tough times, like in 2002, when we lost 32 of our last 36 games. So I don't need to reminisce when I come back to Baltimore," he said. "Just a 'Hi, Howya doin?' from a fan or two would be fine. I don't want to get eggs thrown at me, or anything."
All Gibbons wants is to sit in the stands and soak up the fervor. Better late than never.
"The atmosphere at the ballpark will be crazy," he said. "I remember going to Ravens games and thinking, 'Man, it would be nice if we had that at our park.'
"Now, we will. And I have to be part of that."
