"Orioles Classics" rewind: Holiday treats of beating division rivals and honoring Ripken

It's the holiday season and we have some gifts for you.

Here's hoping you're not completely worn out of baseball at this time of year, what with the Winter Meetings a couple of weeks ago and the Orioles officially signing catcher Welington Castillo this past week. You're not? OK good, didn't think so.

While it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, I'm still here dreaming of a white holiday (yes, I like the snow). But MASN's "Orioles Classics" schedule this week will leave me (and hopefully you, too) dreaming of opening day, with a couple of wins over the rival Yankees and Rays, plus Cal Ripken's historic 2,131st consecutive game on tap.

So substitute those sugar plums dancing in your heads with baseballs and take a look at this week's "Orioles Classics" schedule:

Thursday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. - On Aug. 13, 2014, the Orioles found themselves down 2-1 in the eighth inning against the Evil Empire. But like the Rebel Alliance in the recently released "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," the Orioles never gave up, exploding for a four-run bottom frame led by a solo shot by Jonathan Schoop and three-run blast by Adam Jones en route to a 5-3 win.

Friday, Dec. 23, 4 p.m. - The Orioles are known to demonstrate the ultimate power in baseball: the longball. And on Aug. 25, 2014, they demonstrated that power five times in a 9-1 rout of the Rays. Nick Markakis and Steve Pearce hit back-to-back home runs in the third, while Delmon Young, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis launched three consecutive homers in the fifth to bury Tampa Bay. Add a spectacular defensive play by Jones as the icing on an extra sweet holiday treat for O's fans.

Sunday, Dec. 25, 1 p.m. - Aside from perhaps a World Series victory, the sweetest treat for all of Birdland has to be celebrating what is simply known as 2,131. In between opening gifts in the morning and waiting for the evening feast, take some time to rewatch Ripken make his memorable lap around the track at Camden Yards from Sept. 6, 1995.

Sunday, Dec. 25, 6 p.m. - Cal Ripken Jr. must be the gift that keeps on giving to Baltimore. Why else would we give you a double scoop of baseball's Iron Man? While you watch the Orioles use six home runs to power past the Yankees and into first place of the American League East on Sept. 6. 2012, be sure to tune in to see Ripken join MASN's Gary Thorne and Mike Bordick in the booth on the day the Orioles unveiled No. 8's statue at Camden Yards.

(Bonus points if you caught all the Star Wars references.)