HER ROYAL Highness Queen Elizabeth II will attend the May 15 game between the Orioles and the Oakland A's at Memorial Stadium. To assist the queen, Accent, your full-service features department, will publish on the day of the game The Royals' Illustrated Guide to Observing Baseball. But to do so, we need your help in briefly explaining some of the subtleties of the game to the queen.

For instance:

Why do players scratch themselves in public.

Why do players chew tobacco and spit on their spikes?

Why isn't everyone on this team named Ripken?

What exactly does it mean when third base coach Cal Ripken Sr. touches his cap, runs his hand across his chest and tugs at his earlobe?

With your help, by the time the queen returns to England, she'll be slapping servants on the back saying "How 'bout them O's, hon!"

Send your contributions, postmarked no later than May 3, to: Coach the Queen, c/o Accent Department, The Evening Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, 21278.