O's fan Sam Dingman campaigning for spot in MLB Fan Cave

Podcaster, administrative assistant at Google and saxophone player. You could label 30-year-old Sam Dingman a Renaissance man. And this offseason, the 30-year-old is looking to add another title to his resume: MLB Fan Cave Dweller. Since 2010, the MLB Fan Cave has given a few baseball die-hards the opportunity to spend a season in its event space in New York City, with their ultimate goal being to watch every single major league game of the season. Participants create blog posts, videos and more based on their experiences, which, in the past, have included appearances from players and celebrities and concerts by bands and artists such as One Republic, Nas and Jason Aldean. The lone Orioles fan representative in the Fan Cave's Top 52 finalists, Dingman is campaigning, using Twitter (@SamDingman), podcasts, news releases, emails and more, to be a Cave Dweller for the 2013 season. "I have been tweeting my face off," Dingman said, laughing. A fan since he was a little boy growing up in Alexandria, Va., Dingman has seen his share of lows surrounding Baltimore baseball. "I really do feel like supporting a team like (the Orioles) through all the difficulties that come with doing so, it teaches you something about why loyalty's important and why not giving up is important," Dingman said. "Because when things do go right, it makes it that much sweeter, and I think that's a really important value to have reflected in the Fan Cave." As a musician, part of the reason that Dingman hopes to become a Cave Dweller is for the live music. However, he's most looking forward to getting to know players and see their interests beyond what one can see from watching them on the field. "I'd really love to capitalize on every opportunity I can to get players to reveal their sort of personal, weird obsessions for the fans' (benefit) because I think it really makes people feel close to the players," Dingman said. While he has always been an O's fan, one of Dingman's best memories came last season, when he made the trip to Baltimore from his current home in Brooklyn, N.Y., to watch the Birds beat the Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. "It felt like something in that moment about the loyalty that we've all maintained over this difficult period in Orioles history was being validated," he said. "It just felt like such an illustration to me of why it can be so sweet to stick to the one you came to the dance with." And Dingman has stuck with the Orioles for as long as he can remember. "One of the things that I take pride in is that I've been an Orioles fan since 1990. ... I remember parts of Orioles history that existed way before this current, hopefully, resurgence that we're going through right now," he said. "I've been there through the thick and thin for every one of the 14 consecutive losing seasons. My confidence and my faith never waned." On Feb. 13, the 50 contestants will be narrowed down to 30, and the finalists will travel to spring training to compete in various challenges to determine who will become Cave Dwellers for the 2013 season. To watch Dingman's audition video and to cast your vote for him, you can click here and share the link http://masn.me/SAMFanCaveOs.