Mayor Renames Mt. Royal Avenue 'Orioles Way'
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had the city fired up Friday afternoon. If you live in Baltimore, you've certainly heard of Mt. Royal Avenue before. Well, the mayor decided to get rid of the street name for the Orioles' ALCS match-up against the Royals.
Rick Ritter has the story.
Just hours away from the first pitch of the ALCS and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has a last minute tweak in the city's lineup.
"You know how we do in Baltimore," the mayor said.
It's out with the competition and in with the birds. Mt. Royal Avenue at the intersection of Charles Street has a new name.
"We are proclaiming Mt. Royal during the series will be called Orioles Way," Mayor Rawlings-Blake said.
With Baltimore's first ALCS showdown since 1997, the city doesn't want anything "royal" around town.
"Let's just say the Orioles are in the championship so they deserve it," said William Johnson, Department of Transportation.
The move comes after Kansas City's mayor renamed their Baltimore Avenue to Royals Way. The two cities are already trading punches.
"We were not going to be outdone by Mayor James in Kansas City by any means," said Mayor Rawlings-Blake.
So how long will the street sign last?
"It's going to remain here until the Orioles are done winning the World Series," Johnson said.
Needless to say, the entire city of Baltimore is all in.
"A lot of O's fans have waited a long time to be here and we're soaking up every inch of it," the mayor said.
The mayor says she has a wager on the series. If the Orioles win, Kansas City's mayor has agreed to dress in full Orioles gear and light their city hall in orange.
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