The Sun Remembers July 14-20

Art Modell

July 20, 1997: Cal Ripken Jr. is tossed from a game for the third time in his career after arguing a called third strike in the second inning of the Orioles' 10-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Camden Yards. "Obviously, he used objectionable language," plate umpire Al Clark says. "As good as Cal is and as great as he is for our game ... he's not immune to being ejected."

July 20, 1983: Playing his first game after a month of knee woes, outfielder Dan Ford hits three home runs from his leadoff spot to push the visiting Orioles past the Seattle Mariners, 4-2.

July 20, 1966: The Orioles score a 10-7 comeback victory over visiting Detroit, giving them a 101/2-game bulge over the second-place Tigers in the American League. "Any kind of a lead over Baltimore these days is like walking across the Beltway on foot," Detroit announcer Ernie Harwell says.

July 20, 1960: Coach Weeb Ewbank greets 34 Colts veterans to training camp in Westminster and warns the two-time defending NFL champions to beware of "fatheadedness."

July 19, 1953: The Baltimore Bullets sign Ray Felix, the NBA's overall No. 1 draft pick, a 6-foot-11 center from Long Island University. In his first season, Felix averages 17.6 points and 13.3 rebounds, and becomes the second black player ever named to the All-Star Game. The league's Rookie of the Year, he is dealt to the New York Knicks before the next season. The Bullets' franchise folds in 1954.

July 16, 1941: With the war in Europe, Baltimore's pigeon racers offer their birds to the United States Signal Corps to expand their emergency communications system.

July 19, 1895: After the Orioles' 2-1 National League victory over the host Cincinnati Reds, a carriage taking several players to their hotel is "assaulted by a body of street urchins," The Sun reports. "Aged bananas and tomatoes and balls of mud" are hurled at the Birds' Hugh Jennings, John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson. No injuries are reported.

Birthday

July 16, 1936: Eddie Fisher, the knuckleballing reliever who was dealt to the Orioles in June 1966 and helped them win the American League pennant. In 44 appearances, Fisher goes 5-3 with 13 saves and a 2.64 ERA.

mike.klingaman@baltsun.com