While Washington burns political capital overseas, one 109-year-old American quietly reminds the country what real service and community loyalty look like.
Story Snapshot
- Arthur Green, a 109-year-old Baltimore resident and veteran of World War II and the Korean War, was named the Baltimore Orioles’ 2026 Mo Gaba Fan of the Year.
- The Orioles delivered the news during a family celebration at AMF Woodlawn Lanes in Woodlawn, Maryland, one day before Green’s 109th birthday.
- Orioles owner David Rubenstein notified Green with a letter, and Orioles Hall of Famer Al Bumbry appeared in person for the announcement.
- The honor includes a ceremonial role as the “10th man” at the Orioles’ Home Opener, tying fan tradition to civic gratitude.
A Hometown Honor for a Veteran Who Spans Two Wars
Arthur Green’s selection as the Baltimore Orioles’ 2026 Mo Gaba Fan of the Year lands as a straightforward, old-fashioned piece of good news: a community institution recognized a man whose life reflects duty, endurance, and gratitude. Green, a Baltimore resident, served in both World War II and the Korean War. The Orioles revealed the honor at a family gathering in Woodlawn, Maryland, staged at AMF Woodlawn Lanes the day before his 109th birthday.
The announcement was not a generic press release moment. Orioles owner David Rubenstein delivered the formal recognition through a letter presented during the celebration, and the organization added a personal touch by sending Orioles Hall of Famer Al Bumbry to share the moment in person. That combination—official acknowledgment plus a face-to-face visit—signals the club understood the award is about more than baseball trivia; it is a public “thank you” backed by action.
What the Mo Gaba Award Represents—and Why It Matters
The Mo Gaba Fan of the Year award is named after Orioles superfan Mo Gaba and is used to spotlight extraordinary devotion to the team. The distinction is not merely symbolic: the honoree is invited to serve as the “10th man” at the Orioles’ Home Opener, a ceremonial role that places an everyday fan at the center of opening-day tradition. In practical terms, it’s a way for a major-league organization to elevate community ties over corporate distance.
Green’s connection to that tradition has a recent, vivid milestone. On August 25, 2023, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at age 106, giving the Orioles and their fans a moment that linked generations in a single snapshot. According to his daughter, Myra, that day remained “the happiest day of his life,” a detail that clarifies why this kind of recognition carries weight. It is not a political trophy; it is a family memory reinforced by public appreciation.
How the Orioles Used Credible Messengers to Deliver the News
Two names surrounding this award matter for credibility: David Rubenstein and Al Bumbry. Rubenstein’s letter gave the honor a clear, documented stamp from ownership, and Bumbry’s presence made it unmistakably an Orioles moment rather than an outsourced publicity gesture. The Orioles’ approach also underscores a basic leadership lesson: when an institution honors service, it should show up personally. Fans can argue about modern sports culture, but this is a case where the organization leaned into gratitude.
Why This Story Cuts Through a Distrustful National Mood
WMAR2’s reporting frames Green’s recognition as a blend of longevity, patriotism, and sports fandom—an angle that resonates because it is grounded in tangible service rather than slogans. At a time when many Americans feel institutions are distant, politicized, or preoccupied with the latest social trend, a veteran-centered community honor stands out for being simple and legible. The available reporting does not include expert commentary from historians or veteran-affairs specialists, so broader claims about national impact should be kept modest.
Still, the immediate implications are clear from the facts provided: Green’s award elevates him within Baltimore sports culture, brings public attention to a veteran who served across two major conflicts, and gives his family a high-profile moment of pride. The longer-term impact is harder to measure with only one source, but the mechanism is obvious—sports can be a nonpartisan civic space when it chooses recognition over division, and this award provides a template other organizations could imitate.
Green’s next visible role will come at the Orioles’ Home Opener, where he is scheduled to serve as the “10th man.” That public spotlight is small compared to a lifetime of military duty, but it reflects something many Americans want right now: institutions that honor real sacrifice, invest in local community identity, and keep traditions rooted in gratitude rather than ideology. With only limited sourcing available, the safest conclusion is also the most grounded—this is a deserved recognition delivered with uncommon personal care.
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109-year-old WWII, Korean War vet named 2026 Mo Gaba Fan of the Year
109-year-old veteran and Orioles fan throws ceremonial …
109-year-old veteran throws ceremonial first pitch at …
