john mcgraw

“It’s been a great run,” Cal Ripken Jr. said at a June 19, 2001, news conference announcing his retirement at season’s end.

Remember when Brady Anderson, Brooks Robinson and Howdy Myers were on the sports pages?

The Orioles’ home opener is April 4, meaning that baseball will soon be back, and all will be well with the world. With all you fine folks in mind, we offer this guide to celebrating beyond Opening Day.

Ever notice how ducks scatter when fired upon? Baseball Hall of Famer Wilbert Robinson did, and suddenly a new game had a name: duckpins.

Mark Teixeira, Lee May and Bill Bilderback were on the sports pages this time of year.

Former Orioles ace Mike Mussina saw his vote total climb again in the balloting for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but missed out on induction, while Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman earned induction as the class of 2018.

Steve Francis, George Kell and Frank Robinson are part of The Sun Remembers for June 25-July 1.

When the Orioles played at Union Park in the National League

Thirty years ago, there were hundreds of duckpin bowling lanes scattered along the East Coast, scores right here in the Baltimore area. The sport was something of a Baltimore obsession. Today, all but a handful of those lanes are gone. But there are signs of life in duckpin land — including renovations to Baltimore's Patterson Bowling Center, and hopes for a new duckpin alley/bar in a Hampden basement.

Characters peppered the 19th century Orioles. Outfielder Joe Kelley, a fancy Dan, hid a vanity mirror inside his cap. Third baseman John McGraw spewed tobacco juice in umpires' faces and ground his spikes into their shoes. Shortstop Hughie Jennings leaned into pitches deliberately to get hit in the head, which he did at a then-record pace. But their antics paled beside those of Walter Scott "Steve" Brodie.

Buck Showalter has never lasted more than four years at any of his previous managerial stops, but his tenure in Baltimore seems to be cresting as he prepares to manage the Orioles in the postseason.

Sports Illustrated's "Baseball's Greatest" book lists Cal Ripken Jr's as the second greatest all-time shortstop, while Brooks Robinson is listed as the fifth-best third basemen in history.

Dan McKee of Baltimore County, who once owned one of the rarest sets of baseball cards in captivity, says his life would have been different without them.

Dan Ford, Ray Felix and Eddie Fisher are part of The Sun Remembers This Week in Sports for July 14 to July 20

Art Schlichter, Tom McMillen and Carol Mann are part of The Sun Remembers This Week in Sports for June 23 to June 29

Juan Dixon, Bubba Smith and Milt Davis are part of The Sun Remembers This Week in Sports for March 10 to March 16

Glenn Davis, Brooks Robinson and John McGraw are part of The Sun Remembers This Week in Sports for January 6 to January 12

Jamal Lewis, Doc Medich and Jack Harshman are part of The Sun remembers This Week in Sports July 15-21