I have been fortunate to spend most of my life in Maryland; from being born in Aberdeen to spending my professional life in Baltimore playing for the team I grew up rooting for — the Orioles.

When I broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record in 1995, the Player’s Association gave me a gift of $75,000 to build a field of dreams in my hometown of Aberdeen. That money started me down the path to produce what I think is the finest youth complex in the nation, complete with youth-sized replicas of Camden Yards (including the warehouse with a double Marriott Hotel), Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and, of course, Memorial Stadium, where I first played in the big leagues. Right off of I-95 in little old Aberdeen is our version of baseball heaven, a reality that still blows my mind!

Baseball and Maryland are two of the biggest parts of my identity, and in combining the game I love with the place I have called home my whole life, I hope and believe that I can impact future generations to play the greatest game and, most importantly, come visit our great state!