Thankful for Sports: April 10, 1996 – My First Orioles Game
The Orioles defeated the then-Indians, 3-2 in 10 innings
One cold day in Baltimore, my family was just 5 years into the home that we had just moved into. My dad received a phone call from his father and said that he had tickets for the Orioles-Indians game on April 10th (during my spring break at the time). At the time, my brother and sister had already been to a few games, so my dad announced that he would take me because he said to them: “You two have already been to a few games already, Josh hasn’t been to any. So I’m taking him.” I remember a slight groan from my then 11-year old brother.
Now at the time, the O’s were off to a very fast start at 5-1 and the weather was supposed to be rather cold and dreary for that game. I was hopeful we’d be able to get in the game. Well, they did because the rain cleared up in time and I sat there watching the game.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards was a certainly and still is Major League Baseball’s crown jewel of stadiums. I was very excited about being there. My dad bought me a thing of nachos and my grandparents gave me a seat cover so my bottom wouldn’t get wet.
David Wells was on the mound that evening and my dad wasn’t his biggest fan because he always seemingly flopped at the worst possible times. Eddie Murray was on the Indians at that time as well and I didn’t that he was a former Oriole. My dad asked me if I wanted a program. I said no.
The Indians had a very good line-up at the time with the likes of Lofton, Vizquel, Baerga, Belle, Ramirez… just to name a few.
The Orioles had some big names too like Alomar, Palmeiro, Bonilla, and Ripken.
In the Top of the 3rd, Kenny Lofton singled and then stole 2nd base. He was one of the premiere stolen base leaders of the time (as he had 75 stolen bases in 1996) and scored when Carlos Baerga got a double off of Wells and gave the Indians a 1-0 advantage. Baerga was another big Orioles killer as he hit .341 career against them all-time.
It was 1-0 in the bottom of the 4th as the Orioles had a threat in the 3rd but could not capitalize on the Anderson stolen base. But now with 2 outs thanks to a ground out and strike out. Chris Hoiles came up to the plate on and on a 0-1 count, I remember my dad doing his famous: “HO!” yell and Hoiles managed to get a homerun to deep left field. He really hammered it too as it probably hit 400+ feet (statcast wasn’t around at the time.)
The Orioles and Indians remained tied at 1 apiece until the Top of the 6th when Albert Belle came up and absolutely launched a tank to give the Indians a 2-1 lead. There was a groan from the stadium because Belle had done this to the Orioles in the past as he was a very consummate hitter all-time vs. team.
It was the bottom of the 7th and after the stretch, Chris Hoiles struck out on what should’ve been ball 1 to give the Orioles one out. Tony Tarasco came up to the plate and walked. While Jeffrey Hammonds was up, he turned on the afterburners and stole second relatively easily. Hammonds would strike out to bring up Brady Anderson. Anderson on a 2-2 pitch hit a golf shot to center field with Tarasco on the move and he would score to tie the game.
At the time, I didn’t think the game continued after the 9th inning, Dad looked at me and said: “The game isn’t over yet, they just go to extra innings.” So yeah, we were heading to a 10th inning of play.
Then Rafael Palmeiro smacked a base hit off of Paul Assenmacher to win the game for the Orioles, 3-2.
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What I am most thankful for: My paranormal friends (Pam, Jim, Christina, Michelle, Joe, Saralee, Steve, Stacey… to say the very least… I got others), staying healthy at the gym (even though my weight doesn’t show it), my very best friend Dawn and her continuing emerging salon business, my gym friends (Mel, Megan, and others), my home city of Baltimore, and all those special moments that sports brings us together. I didn’t pick the obvious ones because that’s what everyone picks.
I’m thankful for a great job after going through 100 days of uncertainty. 2023 has been an annus horribilis for me and it seems like bad things happen on odd numbered years.
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So I leave you with the most important quote when Abraham Lincoln said that made Thanksgiving, a national holiday:
“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”
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I personally dedicate this blog to my very best friend Dawn because we’ve been friends for over 20 years and having her as part of my inner circle makes it all the more important.
Thank you Dawn.
