In case none of them see this, people you can contact who live there are omiewise, LeeJay, and - I think - YouCanCallMeAl (or maybe she moved? anyway, still an expert). Mygothlaundry and gaspode also have Baltimorean connections, if I'm not mistaken. Just off the top of my head.

I'm from there originially... as in, 35 years ago. Phillips has good crab cakes, but I'm not sure how close to the ballpark it is.

Phillips is very close (10 minutes or fewer) walk to the ballpark.

What is decent? Do you want a sit down meal, or just a place to have good burgers?

I got dozens of suggestions, depending on how far from the ballpark you want to eat (I consider 40 minutes a reasonable walk, but not everyone does) and the type of food you want to eat. I used to live in a rowhouse shouting distance from Camden Yards (could open up my back door to hear the cheers from a home run).

My best friend's wife is from Baltimore and they still live in the Wash-Metro area. I've asked her for suggestions, but haven't heard back yet.

The Helmand is the best Afghan food on the Eastern Seaboard, but it depends what you mean by "near the ballpark."

If that's not out of your way, then neither is Faidley's, in Lexington Market. You won't have a better crabcake anywhere in the world, though they're pricey nowadays.

Little Italy isn't too close to the ballpark either, but I don't care; I won't be the one walking with a bellyfull of salad and pasta (order one salad for about four people) from Chiapparelli's. I went there a lot as a kid. Jimmy Carter was a big fan back in the day.

There's a good cafe, Evelyn's, hard by the stadium. But it's not exactly "dinner" dinner.

Look, if you want the best possible fare before a ball game in a nice joint with all the capital "C" Charm Baltimore has to offer, and you don't mind a little walk, EAT BERTHA'S MUSSELS. And drink Bertha's Best Bitter.

Go to Little Havana. It's an easy walk around the harbor and it's rowdy, laid back and really good. Or it was the last time I went there, which was, uh, like five years ago. Or, hell, walk to the inner harbor, hop on the water taxi, and go to Fells Point and eat at Berthas.

Yep, I was going to suggest the Helmand and Bertha's. Little Havana is really good too. (it's a good brunch place as well). And they have a pool table. Get mojitos.

A few blocks north of the monument on Charles St is Brewers Art. They have a good menu and excellent beer.

Oh, and there's always Cross Street Market in Federal Hill for the raw bar.

Speaking of Cross Street Market (they have a great flower shop, I used to get flowers for my mom there; long story), across the street is Matsuri, a very good and affordable Japanese restaurant.

Also, there's Attman's if you want a really good corned beef sandwich and an egg cream or vanilla soda. Attman's is no Jack's of Lombard Street, but Jack's moved out to the county some time ago.

Oh yeah, if you're all fancy-schmancy, feeling a little hoity-toity for some reason before going to the ballpark, there's Tio Pepe, which I haven't been to in about twenty years.

Oh and if you're still hungry at Oriole Park, get a BBQ platter from Boogs.

In Federal Hill (walking distance to the stadium) my friends suggest the following options:

Ropewalk - on Charles Street just south of Cross Street Market- this is a Cigar Bar/pub kind of place

Corks- on Charles Street, just north of the cross Street Market- this is fine dining.

In Harbor Place, they suggest:

Rusty Scupper is pretty good- general menu and drinks before a game kind of place

La Tasca is actually in Harbor Place and is a tapas restaurant that is pretty good.

These suggestions are great! Thanks, everyone!