Nationals' statement on passing of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew

Nationals' statement on passing of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew
Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Theodore N. Lerner issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Harmon Killebrew at the age of 74: "For baseball fans and Washingtonians there was a distinct sadness felt today with the passing of Harmon Killebrew. Our family and the Nationals organization were honored to host Harmon for a game last season at Nationals Park. We shall long treasure that evening and the gentlemanly impression left by Harmon. "A Hall of Fame...
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Premature end of promising career broke heart of "Dr. Longball"

Premature end of promising career broke heart of "Dr. Longball"
The only regret Ken Dixon has about his baseball life is the way it ended: with a mysterious shoulder ailment that short-circuited what was shaping up to be a promising major league career. Dixon went 26-28 from 1984-87 with the Orioles before being traded to Seattle in the December 1987 deal that brought pitcher Mike Morgan to Baltimore. The right-hander was primarily used as a starter, though he also pitched in relief, recording five saves in his final season as an Oriole. What brought his...
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Meet MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Hightopps on Monday, May 16

Meet MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Hightopps on Monday, May 16
Meet MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium on Monday, May 16 from 7-8 p.m. He'll be at HIghtopps, 2306 York Road (just north of the Timonium Fairgrounds) to meet and greet O's fans, watch some of the 7 p.m. Orioles-Red Sox game airing on MASN/MASN HD and give away some prizes. HIghtopps boasts some of the frostiest cold beverages and tastiest food this side of Camden Yards, and the atmosphere is decidedly family friendly, so feel free to join in the...
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Postponed April 22 Yankees-Orioles game to be made up Aug. 27 at 1:05 p.m.

Postponed April 22 Yankees-Orioles game to be made up Aug. 27 at 1:05 p.m.
The Orioles have announced that the Yankees-Orioles game that was postponed by rain April 22 has been rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 at 1:05 p.m. The makeup will be the daytime portion of a day/night doubleheader at Camden Yards that will require separate admissions. The nightcap will be the regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. game. Tickets dated April 22 will be accepted only at the Aug. 27 1:05 game; fans should simply bring their tickets from the April 22 game to the ballpark gates that day...
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April 22 postponed Yankees-O's game rescheduled for Aug. 27, 1:05 p.m.

April 22 postponed Yankees-O's game rescheduled for Aug. 27, 1:05 p.m.
The Orioles announced today that their April 22 postponed game against the New York Yankees will be made up at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, August 27 as part of a day-night doubleheader at Camden Yards. The originally scheduled game for August 27 will still be played at 7:05 p.m. that evening. Tickets dated April 22 will be accepted only at the 1:05 game on August 27; fans should simply bring their tickets from the April 22 game to the ballpark gates that day for admission. No exchange is...
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O's activate Hardy from DL; Rupe designated for assignment

O's activate Hardy from DL; Rupe designated for assignment
The Orioles today announced that they have activated shortstop J.J. Hardy from the 15-day disabled list. Hardy was placed on the DL on April 13, retroactive to April 10, with a strained left oblique. Hardy has batted .200 (3-15) with three doubles and two RBI in six games for the Orioles. To make room for Hardy on the roster, the Orioles have designated right-handed pitcher Josh Rupe for assignment. Rupe posted a 5.65 ERA (14.1IP, 16H, 9ER) in nine appearances for Baltimore. With...
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Ankiel placed on 15-day disabled list by Nationals

Ankiel placed on 15-day disabled list by Nationals
Following tonight's game, the Washington Nationals placed center fielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 3, with a right wrist sprain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ankiel has a .302 on-base percentage with four doubles, one home run, seven RBI and 12 walks in 28 games with the Nationals. The 31-year-old has played flawless defense in center field with a team-best two outfield...
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Monday Memory: Tom Hanks channels Wild Bill Hagy at Camden Yards

Monday Memory: Tom Hanks channels Wild Bill Hagy at Camden Yards
Newcomers to Birdland might be surprised to learn that Camden Yards was once a mecca for all sorts of stars and personalities. Almost as soon as the downtown ballpark opened in April 1992, a steady stream of celebrities, entertainers, athletes and heads of state have made a beeline for Oriole Park to watch the Birds, chow down on Boog's and take in the Baltimore skyline. Rocker Joan Jett was a familiar presence in the years immediately after Camden Yards opened. Before he was a "Celebrity...
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Today's Rays-Orioles game airing on FOX

Today's Rays-Orioles game airing on FOX
Here at MASNsports.com, we want to make sure you watch every Orioles game possible on MASN. The
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Time to cast your All-Star votes

Time to cast your All-Star votes
Beginning tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays, fans at Camden Yards will be able to cast their in-stadium ballots to send players to the July 12 All-Star Game in Phoenix. Each Major League Baseball club will get 23 days of in-stadium voting before the June 24 deadline for punching out the chad next to the names of favorite players. As always, the Orioles are well represented on the ballot. O's fans can vote for first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Brian Roberts, shortstop J.J. Hardy, third...
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O's activate, option right-hander Jakubauskas

O's activate, option right-hander Jakubauskas
The Orioles today announced that they have activated right-hander Chris Jakubauskas from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Jakubauskas was placed on the DL on April 18, retroactive to April 17, with a strained right groin. He appeared in three games for the Orioles, pitching to a 7.36 ERA (7.1IP, 6ER) and twice going at least 3.0 innings.
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Happy anniversary: Recalling the end of the 21-game losing streak in 1988

Happy anniversary: Recalling the end of the 21-game losing streak in 1988
Where were you 23 years ago tonight? On April 29, 1988, shortly after 11 p.m. on the East Coast, the long nightmare that had become a season-opening 21-game losing streak by the Orioles ended (though it remains a record). Future Oriole and native Marylander Harold Baines rolled over on an offering from reliever Dave Schmidt, weakly grounding a ball to second base, where Pete Stanicek gobbled it up and tossed to Eddie Murray at first base. That completed a 9-0 Orioles victory over the White...
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Monday Memory: Camden Yards enduring reminder of Schaefer's dedication to beloved Baltimore

Monday Memory: Camden Yards enduring reminder of Schaefer's dedication to beloved Baltimore
Whatever you called him - Mr. Mayor, Governor, Hizzoner, Willie Don, Don or Mr. Schaefer - William Donald Schaefer, who passed away at 89 last week, wasn't some egomaniacal politician who craved the spotlight at the expense of the people who voted him into office. Truth be told, Schaefer was never really comfortable in the spotlight and eschewed being the center of attention, though he often drew it. That well-publicized dip in the seal pool at the National Aquarium? Look carefully and you...
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Will Yoder: After 15 games, three predictions for the Nats

Will Yoder: After 15 games, three predictions for the Nats
The Nationals just finished up an exciting homestand that saw them go 4-2 against two teams that were picked by many to win their respective divisions. The club's only losses came to two pitchers who can easily claim the title as the best right- or left-handed starters in baseball, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and by winning both games of the doubleheader Sunday, the Nationals are now 8-7 on the season. With 15 games under their belt, they are just about 10 percent of the way through the year,...
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Jones "truly blessed" to don Jackie Robinson's No. 42

Jones "truly blessed" to don Jackie Robinson's No. 42
Think Orioles center fielder Adam Jones doesn't take the responsibility of donning Jackie Robinson's legendary No. 42 once each season? Think again. Tonight is Major League Baseball's annual celebration of the brave and talented player who broke the game's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Tonight, everyone in baseball will be wearing No. 42 (even Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who's allowed to continue wearing that jersey number because he was doing so before Commissioner...
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Monday Memory: Welcome home, Natty Boh!

Monday Memory: Welcome home, Natty Boh!
Judging solely by the number of people clamoring to have their photo taken with Mr. Boh on opening day, I'd say the return of National Bohemian - Natty Boh for short - to Camden Yards for the first time since 1992 is a toast-worthy occasion. So hoist your frosty, cold mug o' brew (and, for a moment, conveniently ignore that the beer once brewed on the shores of the Chesapeake, well, isn't any longer) and enjoy this 1960s television ad for what was once the official frothy libation of the...
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Head to Hightopps for baseball chat, O's-Yankees on April 14

Head to Hightopps for baseball chat, O's-Yankees on April 14
Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium will host another in MASNsports.com's series of Orioles baseball chats Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m. in conjunction with that evening's O's-Yankees game in the Bronx. Join Steve Melewski and myself for an hour of dugout chatter before the game, then stick around for O's-Yankees action on the many televisions at Hightopps. Some special unannounced guests may join us, and there will be plenty of time for fans' questions and some trivia...
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Catchy O's tune from Warning Track Power

Catchy O's tune from Warning Track Power
If you don't know Warning Track Power already, I suspect you soon will. Or at least you'll be humming their new, upbeat orange-and-black anthem. The Baltimore-based band, which released an Orioles-inspired song, "How Bout Dem O's," in 2009 is back with an equally catchy tune to kick off the 2011 baseball season. Here's "Oh Oh Orioles." There's a lot to like about this song, from the backyard-and-basement locales (complete with Bawlmer-style rowhomes) and the historically accurate...
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Dad's decision: Opener a valid reason for early dismissal

Dad's decision: Opener a valid reason for early dismissal
This morning, plenty of parents faced a dilemma as they sent their kids off to school: How to word the letter to administrators requesting an early dismissal. Officially, there are a plethora of reasons why a kid in or around Baltimore would need to leave school a little early today. Doctor's appointments usually don't arouse much suspicion. Ditto for a dental exam. Maybe a funeral. Whatever the reason, sometime around noon or a little after, little Johnny or Jane will be packing up books...
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From St. Pete, Jones tweets get well wishes to Brooks

From St. Pete, Jones tweets get well wishes to Brooks
Adam Jones has a lot on his mind today down in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the Orioles are getting ready to open their 2011 season against the Tampa Bay Rays. But the Orioles center fielder has enough of a sense of Baltimore baseball history to have tweeted get well wishes to hospitalized Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, who is recovering from a high fever and infection at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. "Stay strong my man. ... the O's family is with you and your family," Jones wrote on...
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