BALTIMORE, MD- May 16 was a night filled with excitement for Barbara Phelps Anderson, a devoted Baltimore Orioles fan from Shady Side. The thrill continues statewide as the Maryland Lottery prepares to distribute over $1 million in cash vouchers to players as part of its grand 50th-anniversary celebration on May 24.
Anderson had the honor of being chosen as the Home Run Riches Contestant of the Game during the Baltimore Orioles game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 16. As luck would have it, the Orioles hit two home runs during the game, including their 50th of the season, resulting in a fantastic win of $51,500 for Anderson.
The popular annual promotion awards $500 to each Contestant of the Game and an additional $500 for each home run hit by the Orioles. However, this special year, with the Maryland Lottery marking its 50th anniversary, the promotion also includes two $50,000 prizes. Anderson was the lucky winner of the first $50,000 prize.
The Orioles began the week with 45 home runs but gave an impressive performance, smashing three home runs against the star pitcher Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. The home run count climbed to 49 on Tuesday when Ryan O’Hearn hit a second-inning homer, and finally, in the sixth inning, Ryan Mountcastle’s swing secured home run number 50, bringing Anderson a well-deserved $50,000 prize.
“It felt like a dream. I was thinking, ‘Is this real?’ I’d like to thank Ryan Mountcastle,” expressed Anderson, a longtime Orioles fan who had the privilege of attending Game 1 of the 1983 World Series at Memorial Stadium, where the Orioles faced the Philadelphia Phillies. Her love for the Orioles is a family affair. Anderson frequently connects with her grandson, an Air Force veteran who now works as a civilian contractor in Kuwait, to discuss the games while watching them on TV.
The Contestant of the Game Promotion will continue with monthly drawings throughout the baseball season, culminating in its final drawing on August 29, where the second $50,000 prize will be awarded, adding to the excitement for Orioles fans and Maryland Lottery players alike.