Domenic Vadala: Nick Markakis' return to Camden Yards a "Baltimore moment"

I, along with much of Birdland, had been anticipating July 27 for some time. Like most cities, Baltimore celebrates and appreciates its sports heroes. Over time we've seen many athletes play here only to leave and return in other uniforms, such as Eddie Murray, Bill Ripken, and even Rafael Palmeiro - albeit in a different manner given that he wasn't drafted here and brought into the big leagues with the Orioles.

And we saw the same thing with Nick Markakis the other night when he came in as a member of the Atlanta Braves. If I were to compare the return of Markakis to the return of any of the rest of them, it would probably be with that of Eddie Murray. However even that's not an apples-to-apples comparison given the fact that Murray was traded away following the 1988 season.

Obviously Markakis left on his own accord, getting a better deal with Atlanta than the Orioles were able to offer him. Furthermore in Eddie Murray's case, he didn't return until well after leaving the Orioles. Murray played his first game in Baltimore as a visitor in 1994, as a member of the Cleveland Indians. And for what it's worth it was in a different ballpark, as since his departure the O's had moved from Memorial Stadium to Camden Yards.

However that aside, I was proud of Baltimore on Monday night - and really proud at that. Markakis made some comments in the wake of leaving the Orioles, which may or may not have been somewhat careless and even taken out of context. I would even submit that he probably shouldn't have made them.

However anyone at the game who may have felt any amount of bitterness towards Markakis for those comments put their feelings aside on Monday and welcomed him back. Honestly, I don't think I heard one person booing or even saw one person not standing and applauding as Markakis was being announced on the PA to lead off the game and he sauntered up to home plate.

Speaking for myself, it was a great unsung "Baltimore moment." It goes without saying that moments such as clinching the AL East last year or Delmon Young's bases-clearing double in the ALDS rank much higher than this on whatever scale is being used. However, this was a city recognizing that one of the athletes who identified so much with them was back - albeit the uniform of a visiting ballplayer, but still he was back.

It gave the fans a chance to recognize one of the city's greatest Orioles over a period of bad seasons. And in turn, it gave Nick Markakis a chance to bow before the city and it's fans. He's a guy that doesn't like the limelight in the least; yet, he still doffed his cap and saluted the Orioles' dugout on cue. Let's be clear: This wasn't anywhere close to Brett Favre returning to Lambeau Field as a member of the Minnesota Vikings; however to Baltimore people, it was very special.

And I think that the "Markakis moment" will be remembered as much for the game itself as it was for that part at the beginning. First off, fans were treated to quite a pitcher's duel. However, Markakis himself had a couple of hits - including a double.

For a time it looked like all was lost in the end given the fact that Atlanta took a lead in the ninth inning. But perhaps the Orioles capped off a "Baltimore moment" by reminding Baltimore of what it stands for. This is the city that stood up to the British navy in 1814 - a story which produced our national anthem, and possibly saved our republic. This is the city that lived through riots in 1968 and again in 2015. The city that stands for the stability of Cal Ripken Jr.'s streak, and second chances like that of Ray Lewis.

And when everything was on the line between past (represented by the beloved Nick Markakis), present and future, the O's were still there. Perhaps the only more thrilling thing than tying the game in the ninth inning was Matt Wieters' walk-off home run.

That in and of itself didn't make Nick Markakis suddenly remember why he loved being an Oriole - I think being back in right field at Camden Yards did that. But it does symbolize how players may leave over time, but the Orioles will still continue to thrive. And that folks is a Baltimore story if I've ever seen one.

Domenic Vadala blogs about the Orioles at Birds Watcher, and his opinions appear here as part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative of welcoming guest bloggers to our pages. Follow him on Twitter: @DomenicVadala. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.