Flash back to late 1997 and a Jon Miller book signing at the Babe Ruth Museum. The Orioles season ended with a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Cleveland Indians and manager Davey Johnson was rewarded with walking papers. Mr. Miller had — for all intents and purposes — just been fired. I told him that firing proved to me the team and its owner were willing to settle for mediocrity. Boy was I wrong. Mediocrity was too kind a word. Welcome to the new Oriole Way!

John Hammond, Baltimore