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Well, will you look at that - another morning the Orioles are in sole possession of first place in the American League East. I could get used to this.
It’s the anniversary of the first Orioles game in Baltimore of the current iteration, played in 1954 at Memorial Stadium. I may be old, but even I wasn’t around for that one.
It’s also Jackie Robinson Day across MLB, so every player will wear a #42 jersey without name to honor the legacy of the man who broke the color barrier in MLB after World War II. Here’s ESPN’s 45-minute bio on Jackie Robinson from their SportsCentury series.
Orioles left-hander Wade Miley gives commanding performance in win over Blue Jays - The Sun
That might be a tad hyperbolic, but Wade Miley looked like a pitcher who could be a useful part of a division-winning rotation last night.
Umpire Dale Scott sustains concussion on Trumbo foul tip - Times Colonist
Dale Scott was released from the hospital earlier today. It’s his second concussion in two seasons. MLB rules state he’ll miss at least a week of games.
Embracing sinker led to Alec Asher's success last year. Will that carry over with Orioles? - The Sun
As Buck Showalter said yesterday after the game, we’ll all find out together.
From an opposing team scout: “If you really like him and everything works, he’s maybe a fifth starter. His stuff is average. He does not have an above average pitch, so he’s gonna have to command the ball, which he has never done consistently,” the scout said. “He’s bit of an oddity in that he’s a kid that got busted for steroids, yet his velocity never went up. He doesn’t have a great body, so it makes you wonder how hard he works at his job. That’s one of the questions in my mind. But on a big league staff, if he works at it, he’s a swing guy, fifth starter.”
Well, now I’m just on pins and needles in eager anticipation for his start!
O’s add pitcher Paul Fry; Tillman on track for Monday at Bowie - MASN Sports
Parker Bridwell got DFA’d and Chris Tillman is on track.
Adam Jones on Jackie Robinson Day - MASN Sports
“As a black American, you want to see more black Americans. But all I can do with my group of friends and other ambassadors around baseball, all we can do is to continue to influence the kids in our communities.”
Birthdays and History
Happy Birthday to Chris Tillman and former Oriole Michael Aubrey. They share this day with famous people including artist Leonardo da Vinci 1452; blues singer Bessie Smith 1894; Soviet leader and shoe banger Nikita Khrushchev 1894; musician extraodinaire Roy Clark 1933; actress Elizabeth Montgomery 1933; actress Emma Thompson 1959 - Actress British Page 3 girl and "singer" Samantha Fox 1966; actor and Public Enemy #1 in North Korea Seth Rogan 1982; and actress Emma Watson 1990 (who is now 27 years old. Don't forget your Geritol, folks).
Today in Baltimore baseball history...
1954 - After a 51-year absence, big league ball returns to Baltimore as a crowd of 46,354 watch the Orioles beat the White Sox, 3 - 1, in the first game played at Memorial Stadium. Clint Courtney of the Orioles hits the first major league home run in the ballpark. A Baltimore ownership group, which includes Clarence Mills, Jim Keelty, Jerry Hoffberger and Zanvyl Krieger, bought the former St. Louis Browns and brought the franchise to the Charm City.
2000 - In the 2,800th game of his career, Baltimore Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, Jr. lines a base hit off Minnesota Twins pitcher Hector Carrasco to become the 24th major leaguer to reach the 3,000 career hit milestone. The single also makes Ripken only the seventh player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in major league history.
On this date in world history...
1784 - The first balloon was flown in Ireland.
1817 - The first American school for the deaf was opened in Hartford, CT.
1850 - The city of San Francisco was incorporated.
1865 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln died from injuries inflicted by John Wilkes Booth.
1892 - The General Electric Company was organized.
1912 - The ocean liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg the evening before. 1,517 people died and more than 700 people survived.
1960 - The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was organized at Shaw University.
1989 - Students in Beijing launched a series of pro democracy protests upon the death of former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. The protests led to the Tienanmen Square massacre.
Consider this your discussion space for NCAA Women’s Lacrosse - Maryland vs Ohio State.