Some Lucky Children Got To Attend Orioles' Christmas Party
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- What a day for one lucky group of kids who got the chance to hang out with some Orioles players at the team's annual Christmas party in Arundel Mills.
Rick Ritter has the details.
It's the 36th year for the party, which dates back to 1978. Each year, the Orioles pick a different school---but students have to earn it. Even though this was a day to relax, there was plenty of talk about the O's off-season.
Hockey, racing and loads of tickets. A day in the classroom or a day at Dave & Busters with the O's? For students at Callaway Elementary School, it was an easy choice....but it came with hard work.
"You had to have perfect attendance, honor roll to come here," said Ammirra Gulliver. "And principal honor roll."
Students had to hit the books to have a little fun at the O's annual Christmas party and hang out with players like Steve Pearce or all-time great Dave Johnson.
For the Orioles, it was a chance to give back and make a difference.
"They're not always as lucky as some of us so just impacting somebody's life," said Buck Showalter.
"Most kids in Baltimore---as many years as the Orioles have been doing this---most won't get a chance to do this," Johnson said.
Even in the midst of the holiday spirit, some Orioles say it's hard not to focus on the off-season and losing some key players.
"We lost a lot of key players but we have that next man up mentality and we had it all last year," said Pearce.
Like outfielder Nick Markakis, a staple in the organization for years and close to fans' hearts in Baltimore.
"Nicky leaned out his locker yesterday. I didn't go in; I couldn't watch that," Showalter said. "I know it breaks our organization's heart; our ownership wanted it."
But if you ask Showalter, he's just fine with his squad---and the O's have big plans once again for 2015.
"If people are kind of selling us a little short and thinking we're out, I kind of like that. I feel good about where we're going to be," he said.
The first full squad workout for Orioles' spring training is just around the corner: Feb. 19. The first spring training game is less than three months away on March 3.
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