Photo Essay - ALCS Game 1

Fans entering Oriole Park at Camden Yards for Orioles' American League Championship Series Game 1 against the Kansas City Royals on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 found Orioles-themed banners hung from light posts.  Designs on the pictured banners featured the likes of the cartoon Oriole bird and Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy.

Linda Yelnack (left) and Denise Kremer were two of the workers operating a merchandise stand outside of Gate E at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.  They said that the rush of consumers before Game 1 of the ALCS series on Friday was the busiest the stand has been all season. 

Swarms of fans moved throughout Eutaw Street at Oriole Park at Camden Yards before Friday's ALCS Game 1 between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals.  Fans arrived hours before the game was set to start to allow time to stop at the shops and stands along the famous walkway.

Four volunteers stood in front of Gate H to greet every fan with a complementary rally towel as they entered Oriole Park at Camden Yards for Friday's ALCS Game 1. The towel contained the team's newly-adopted mantra, "We Won't Stop."

Casey Stern (left), Gary Sheffield (center) and Pedro Martinez hosted "MLB Postseason Pre-Game on TBS" live from Oriole Park at Camden Yards before Friday's ALCS Game 1 between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals.  The trio also hosted "The Postgame Show" live on TBS following the game's conclusion.

David O'Malley, a lifelong Orioles fan, took in the crowd before Friday's ALCS Game 1 between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals. "We might have to stop because of the rain," he said, noting the contrast between his sign and the looming precipitation in the weather forecast.

The jumbotron advertised the Orioles' American League East Division Championship to the cheers of fans before pregame introductions at Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Prior to winning the crown in 2014, the Orioles had not won the A.L. East since 1997.

Members of the United States Armed Forces marched into Oriole Park at Camden Yards prior to the playing of the National Anthem at Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday. The sold-out stadium rose to their feet in applause as the men carried their flags along the warning track in right field.

Orioles players and coaches joined the fans at Oriole Park in Camden Yards in standing for the National Anthem following pregame introductions.  Richard Troxell of Thurmont, Md. performed his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" moments before the first pitch of Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday night.

Centerfielder Adam Jones (left) and rightfielder Nick Markakis jogged out to their positions to begin the top of the first inning of Friday's ALCS Game 1.  For Markakis and Jones, the two longest-tenured, current Orioles players, Friday's game marked the first ALCS appearance for both outfielders.