Orioles Wear Braille Jerseys

Orioles Wear Braille Jerseys

Josh Calloni, Reporter

 

While the Orioles were having a historically bad season, finishing out at a major league worse 47-115, they made history in another way. They were the first major league sports team to wear braille jerseys on September 18.

Braille is the way blind people read, formed of dots bumped out, that the blind can feel and read with. The jerseys were worn to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind moving their headquarters to Baltimore.

“The Orioles wearing braille jerseys in a very good idea. Its honoring a portion of the community that aren’t always honored. Though they can not see the jerseys, I think it is cool that they are doing it. I’m sure the blind fans know what they are wearing and why, and I’m sure it makes them very happy,” junior Isaac Gilkison said.

Prior to the game that night, the Orioles brought on a few blind fans to the field and let them meet the players and experience the pre game festivities in a special way, one even being a 92 year old woman. On top of this, the first 15,000 fans that entered the stadium got a braille alphabet cards, and a blind musician, Carlos Ibay, performed the national anthem. The game used jerseys were auctioned off after the game and all proceeds went back to the National Federation of the Blind

“I feel like the jerseys are kind of pointless. It’s not like the blind fans can see them. Very nice gesture either way,” sophomore Aiden Alderson said.

One blind “Beep baseball” player was very touched by the teams movements to do this. 18 year old Erik Rodriguez’ sport is much like baseball, but uses beeps to alert the hitter when the ball is coming. On top of this, the pitcher is working with the hitter, wanting him to get a hit. The player, as he stated in an interview with ABC, thinks that the jerseys were a great move for all sports.

There is no word on whether the Orioles will continue to wear these jerseys every season, or if this is a one off type of deal.