An empty stadium — not the final score — the story as Orioles play White Sox in troubled Baltimore

“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.

• • •

By Bobby Ross Jr.

Sometimes, images tell the story better than words ever could.

That was the case this week as the Orioles and White Sox played a Major League Baseball game before a paid attendance of “zero.” 

View this post on Instagram

The National Anthem at today's game.

A post shared by Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) on Apr 29, 2015 at 11:11am PDT

• • •

View this post on Instagram

And the crowd goes wild. (Kenneth K. Lam/ Baltimore Sun) A MLB first between the Orioles and the White Sox, the lowest attendance game in history: O.

A post shared by Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) on Apr 30, 2015 at 5:15am PDT

• • •

View this post on Instagram

A strange sight in Baltimore today, as the Orioles and White Sox played in an empty Camden Yards. The game set the record for lowest attendance in MLB history.

A post shared by ESPN (@espn) on Apr 29, 2015 at 1:31pm PDT

• • •

View this post on Instagram

#Orioles defeat White Sox 8-2 behind @ubaldojimenez22's strong outing. #Birdland #Orioles

A post shared by Baltimore Orioles (@orioles) on Apr 29, 2015 at 3:12pm PDT

• • •

View this post on Instagram

Adam Jones’ message to Baltimore. @SimplyAJ10 #Birdland #Baltimore #Orioles

A post shared by Baltimore Orioles (@orioles) on Apr 29, 2015 at 10:15am PDT

• • •

Some interesting perspectives on the decision to play the game without fans in attendance:

If a baseball game is played but no fans are there to witness it, does it count? http://t.co/6EYsTWaVEy

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) April 29, 2015

Sharp-Eyed, Thoughtful, Must-Read Piece by @hbryant42 MT #Orioles‘ gesture showed respect for totality of #Baltimore http://t.co/Bw5onu9I96

— Peter Wolf (@aquamanatee) May 1, 2015

Today’s Herald column: #Orioles vs #Nationals in empty Camden Yards? It could happen anywhere, including Boston. https://t.co/kMZImtDQ8y

— Steve Buckley (@BuckinBoston) April 29, 2015

• • •

Your turn: What did you think of the decision to play the game in an empty ballpark? Tweet me @bobbyross.

• • •

In case you missed them, check out these recent posts:

Time for a quiz: Which #MLB teams draw the most–and least–fans?: http://t.co/CL1J88XAe2 #J7700 pic.twitter.com/EiHrt2qppD

— Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) April 25, 2015

• • •

See a map of all the major-league stadiums at BallparkChasers.com.