sammy sosa

Free agent reliever Darren O'Day has plenty of suitors, and that shouldn't be a surprise.

As part of the Major League Baseball Players' Association Players' Choice awards, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones was named the 2015 Marvin Miller Man of the Year, which annually recognizes one player for his combination of on-field performance and community dedication.

Next year¿s Baseball Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday and includes five former Orioles.

For the first time since 1955, the Baseball Writers' Association of America has voted in four players into the National Baseball Hall of Fame -- three of which were first-time eligible and made their marks on the mound.

The 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot was announced Monday, and five of the 34 candidates are former Orioles who were holdovers from last year.

Former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro will not be inducted into the Hall of Fame by the vote of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, but three other candidates were selected for enshrinement, the most in one year since 1999.

The 2014 Hall of Fame ballot was released on Tuesday and it includes former Orioles pitchers Mike Mussina, Armando Benitez and Mike Timlin among its 19 first-time candidates.

Stan Ber's Bits and Pieces column for the week of Sept. 19

Remembering when Roger Maris brought his pursuit of sports history to Baltimore in 1961

As Orioles slugger Chris Davis sits here in early July with 33 homers and 85 runs batted in, precisely as many as he had in each of those categories in all of last season, it seems like a foregone conclusion that if he stays healthy he will break Brady Anderson's franchise record of 50 home runs in a single season, set back in 1996.

Leading off the second inning, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis sent Yankees starter Hideki Kuroda's 2-1 pitch into the left field seats for his major league-leading 31st home run this season.

The Orioles are trying to repeat their memorable 2012 season. But the previous 14 teams to have a 22-win improvement in the wild-card era regressed the next season.

Sammy Sosa, Tony Siragusa and Al Kaline are part of The Sun Remembers This Week in Sports for January 27 to February 2

No career accolades for baseball players who used performance-enhancing drugs

The Steroid Era was part of baseball. And I don¿t think you can ignore all of those who played in it. My solution is to devalue some of the power stats.

The electorate of the Baseball Writers Association of America sent a clear message to tainted superstars on Wednesday: If you were suspected of taking performance enhancing drugs, you don¿t belong in the Hall of Fame. At least not in 2013.

Hall of Fame former Oriole Jim Palmer weighs in on Wednesday's announcement that no players were elected to the Hall this year.

Some of sports biggest stars who were involved in steroid controversy appear on ballot for first time

Lance Armstrong exits the cycling world with his reputation in tatters

The O's are playing like a team on fire

Our view: Resurgent Orioles are in an exciting pennant chase, so where are the fans?

Orioles designated hitter Jim Thome hasn't decided how much longer he wants to play, but he has a legitimate chance to catch Ken Griffey Jr. on one of the most noteworthy lists in baseball history.

The Orioles pounded the Cleveland Indians, 10-2, Friday night for their second most lopsided victory of the season.

Jim Thome¿s 418-foot shot in Friday's fourth inning was the 610th of his career. That put him in sole possession of seventh all-time on the home run list, breaking a tie with former Oriole Sammy Sosa.

Newly-acquired designated hitter Jim Thome has accepted the twilight of his big-league career with grace. He's been an Oriole for just 11 games, and the club hopes Thome, who turns 42 in six weeks, can help the it stay in the playoff hunt.

According to an industry source, the Orioles are in serious discussions to acquire Thome from the Philadelphia Phillies for a couple of prospects. Nothing official has been announced.

Sammy Sosa, Chris Hoiles and Jeff Manto are part of The Sun remembers This Week in Sports June 10-16

Having never been on the disabled list in his career, Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is finding it's almost as painful being away from the team as it is dealing with hamate bone surgery.

Dan Duquette tells Orioles fans that reaching .500 is just the starting point. At his first FanFest, the Orioles' executive vice president continues to set the bar high, but not necessarily at signing Prince Fielder.

Leave it up to the qualifying members of the Baseball Writers Association of America to make their own decision, says former Orioles great Rafael Palmeiro. The Hall of Fame doesn't need to offer any advice beyond what it already suggests about character and integrity, he believes.

Running back Ricky Williams agreed to a two-year deal with the Ravens on Monday. ... Sergio Kindle will finally make his Ravens debut against the Eagles, but tight end Ed Dickson is likely out for Thursday's preseason opener with a hamstring injury. ... Free-agent receiver Jerricho Cotchery will visit the Ravens on Tuesday. ... J.J. Hardy hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning Monday night, but the Orioles blew the lead and lost to the White Sox. ... Jo-Jo Reyes will make his first start for the Orioles on Tuesday night.

Several top power hitters have struggled after doing well in the home run derby

Orioles fans, you can probably relate to this. I was sent a link to an excellent video summing up what it has been like to be an Orioles fan over the past 13 years, and it comes in an acoustic parody of "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.