Lifelong O's Fan Ready For 60th Opening Day
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- We're just one day away from Opening Day at Camden Yards, and thousands of diehard fans will be there rain or shine.
Jessica Kartalija talks to an O's fan with a very impressive home opener record.
As the baseball season gets underway, some Orioles fans say they wouldn't miss the home opener for anything. Well, 84-year-old Justin Vitrano hasn't missed an Opening Day--ever.
"1954 when the Orioles had just got to the Major Leagues and they brought the team here from St. Louis," Vitrano said.
Vitrano remembers his first O's game like it was yesterday. He was 26, had just finished working and rushed to the game. His ticket to Memorial Stadium was just $3.
"It was just a beautiful day and we were so happy to be there," he said.
Now, Vitrano is preparing to see another Opening Day in Baltimore. It will be his 60th.
"It was just like clockwork. Like you go to church on Sunday, well, going to Opening Day. If I could go, I was going to go. It was great," Vitrano said.
A ballplayer himself, Vitrano played step ball in Little Italy, then at Towson High and college ball for Johns Hopkins.
"It was for the 55th reunion. It was the same day as Opening Day and my wife said 'What are you going to do?' I said, 'I'm going to Opening Day,'" he said.
That's six decades of baseball, this one just as exciting as the first.
"It's really a wonderful experience for me to be able to be here for every one," said Vitrano.
The Orioles home opener is Friday against Minnesota.
Our coverage begins at 2 p.m. and you can see the game live on WJZ-TV.
