Orioles grant a special wish for Fallston youngster

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

September 01, 2017, 1:47pm

Comments

The Orioles signed 17-year-old Jimmy Martino from Fallston, Md., today. It was a ceremonial one-day signing and I don't expect him to get into tonight's game. But for Jimmy, his parents, family and friends, it was a signing as meaningful as any by the Orioles this year.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Major League Baseball and the Orioles are dedicating today to pediatric cancer awareness. Jimmy is a Make-A-Wish Foundation member. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January. Today he officially joined his favorite team and even took part in his own press conference with Orioles vice president Dan Duquette formally signing him. He put on a jersey as photographers snapped pictures. It was a pretty special moment.

Every year, an estimated 250,000 new cases of cancer affect children under 20 worldwide. Today, uniformed Orioles personnel and grounds crew members will wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands to raise awareness and show their support for pediatric cancer patients.

Jimmy will have his own locker set up with his nameplate and a jersey, glove and hat waiting inside. He will get the chance to exchange the team's lineup card with the umpires, as well as to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to tonight's game.

Duquette fought back tears when he said, "Playing for the Orioles is Jimmy's dream." Then Duquette said, "Any questions for our boy here? He's in the big leagues today."

Martino was asked who he looked forward to meeting most on the team.

"That is a hard question," he said. "As good, ol' Buck Showalter says, 'I like our guys.' "

The young man aced his first press conference.

"If I had to pick one, it would probably be Adam Jones," Jimmy said. "We had lunch today at Abbey Burger and we sat at the same table where he sat and I got his own burger. That would be a really cool guy to meet."

A few moments later, Martino and Jones were talking behind the Orioles batting cage.

"It is hard to explain how happy I am right now," Martino said. "Ever since I was little, and even now, I dream the dream of playing for the Orioles. Always loved the Orioles. Want to wear my No. 15 jersey and play first base at Camden Yards, in the ballpark that forever changed baseball."

The kid's a good interview and clearly enjoying his special day at the ballpark.

Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia. For more information, visit www.midatlantic.wish.org.

Jimmy signed a contract from Dan Duquette to become an honorary member of the #Orioles for the day & will throw the ceremonial first pitch. pic.twitter.com/7hp2zL7eh6
-- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 1, 2017