Courtney Reed bought four seats together for her family in the front left corner of Section 86 of Camden Yards for Friday night’s Orioles game, well before the guest Mr. Splash was announced. Larry Wiczulis nearly sold his ticket in the front left corner of neighboring Section 84, as close to the Bird Bath Splash Zone as possible without getting wet.
What was considered a standard interleague showdown against the Arizona Diamondbacks became a memorable fan experience for everyone in the left-field seats because Orioles owner David Rubenstein assumed the role of Mr. Splash.
MLB owners tend to stay behind the scenes as faceless billionaires perched in their ivory towers constructing competitive rosters from afar. Rubenstein, still in his Orioles ownership infancy, walked the concourse runway Friday night donning a custom “Rubensplash” No. 86 City Connect jersey and was met with chants of “Rubie! Rubie!”
It was the quintessential show of Orioles comity under this new regime, still squarely in the honeymoon phase of what Rubenstein touts as the “next chapter.”
Wiczulis, an East Baltimore native who owns Ridgley’s Market across the street from the ballpark so he can be as close as possible to the action, had a front-row seat to Rubenstein’s descension down the section stairs. Reed, who traveled from Elkton with her husband and two kids, lucked out with the seat directly beside the new owner. “I’ve been speechless the whole time,” she said. “My kiddos got to say hi and he was just so friendly with the fans.”
“Rubensplash” emerged from the section tunnel at the start of the second inning like a boxer before a prized fight, raising a thumb to the crowd’s flashing cellphones and chants. He then stood at the top steps of the Bird Bath — which debuted in May 2023 to honor the Orioles’ string of water-themed celebrations — and ripped through an Orioles banner like he was ready to take the field.
Even better. He took over the job of Mr. Splash — the fourth guest of honor following the footsteps of Orioles legend Adam Jones, Gov. Wes Moore and MASN broadcaster Ben McDonald last year.
“It’s a direct line for us in front of our dugout,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “You could see the energy up on the jumbotron. I just think it’s awesome. It’s awesome what he’s doing. I think that short [promotional video] that he has with the snorkel outfit, that’s funny every single time I watch it. And then just to be able to show his personality and be out there with the fans, I think it’s fantastic.”
The real Mr. Splash, the floatie- and snorkel-wearing energizer charged with spraying fans after extra-base hits or a run scores, gave his usual pregame spiel before Rubenstein showed up. “Welcome to the Bird Bath,” he yelled, explaining that he would fire off his garden hose for any extra-base hit or “when I feel like it.”
“Does anybody wanna move?” he asked. “No!” they harmonized. “Didn’t think so,” Mr. Splash laughed.
When Rubenstein reached his perch beside the second-year hose sprayer, Mr. Splash handed over the party prop. The billionaire kept it still with his left hand and pulled the handle with his right, spraying a welcome veil of water over patrons in left field.
“This is awesome,” Wiczulis said. “We waited a long time for somebody like this. We waited a long time for somebody who’s actually personable. He’s above and beyond anything you’d expect. Nobody ever thought we would get anybody [who would do this].”
Rubenstein himself is a Baltimore native and graduate of Baltimore City College. He looked like just another fan amidst his two-inning appearance. Eyes intently focused on each at-bat. Clapping along to back-to-back singles from Ryan Mountcastle and Anthony Santander. His head swiveled in unison with those around him when Colton Cowser hit the next pitch sharply to left field before it was caught by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. at the warning track.
Reed said she didn’t say a word to the new owner because she wasn’t sure what to say. But Rubenstein signed baseballs for her two kids, awarded such prime seats for making the elementary school honor roll. He gave out commemorative gift bags to every fan in the section, too, filled with a City Connect hat, signed note and ballpark gift card.
Just about everyone in the section got a Rubenstein autograph. He and Mr. Splash handed out bobbleheads and took a selfie with the crowd. Rubenstein cracked his biggest smile when a sign was passed down from a higher row down to the front. It read: “Now I want a David Rubenstein bobblehead.”
Rubenstein spent his first 30 days endearing himself to fans, greeting them along Eutaw Street on opening day — the day after the sale became official — and has made appearances in multiple social media videos from the team.
The most recent cameo was to announce Friday night’s gig. “Do all owners do this?” he asked. As in, spray fans with a hose in the outfield? Probably not.