At 6 p.m. yesterday a line of people sporting purple and black could be seen wrapping around the sidewalk of the Padonia Village Shopping Center.

Hundreds waited in line for a chance to meet the breakout star of the Baltimore Raven's offense, Ray Rice.

Great Moments, a sports memorabilia store in Timonium, hosted Rice and a throng of collectors who came holding helmets, posters and jerseys.

"I'm a big Ravens fan. I have season tickets and I go to every home game," Celeste Adams, a Sykesville resident, said.

Adams was among the first in line to add to her impressive collection of Ravens collectibles. She proudly displayed her newest acquisiton, a freshly autographed Ray Rice Jersey.

"I took my daughter to a football game five years ago and I wasn't a football fan. From that first game, I became a football fan, and she has been a diehard fan ever since," Adams said. 

Some of the other gems in Adams's collection include a Joe Flacco jersey, Ray Rice helmet, NFL football and photos of Ray Lewis and John Harbaugh—all signed.

Deena Friedel, an Essex resident, said her love for the Ravens started when her infant son took an interested in the team.

"My son loves the Ravens and I'm doing up his room in Ravens [décor]. He's 2," she said, pointing to a young boy climbing the back of a chair outside Great Moments. "We just have a really good team and [my son] gets excited when he watches them. Even at 9 months he was hollering at the TV when they did something he liked."

Great Moments is a locally owned and operated store with locations in Westminster, White Marsh and Timonium. 

Editor's Note: Patch feels compelled to mention that former Baltimore Oriole Al Bumbry—a World Series winner—was also in the area last night. Bumbry spoke at the Lutherville Community Assocation meeting at Lutherville Laboratory magnet school. Lutherville-Timonium is for the birds.