"Orioles Classics" rewind: Home runs and history abound

Admit it, you love home runs. I mean, who doesn't?

Whether it's a solo blast flying through the warm, summer air to stake the Orioles to a lead or a timely clout in the bottom of the ninth to guarantee a victory, few things beat a roundtripper to bring a baseball crowd to its feet.

Even when you're seated comfortably in your recliner, you'll probably fist pump, high-five a family member or shout "Goodbye, home run!" with Gary Thorne when a no-doubter flies off an Oriole's bat.

Well, if you dig the longball, this week's smattering of "Orioles Classics" on MASN are going to make you very, very happy. Home runs - along with some unforgettable history - abound on this week's offerings.

Monday, Nov. 14, 1 p.m. - Down 2-1 in the home half of the eighth, the power-packed Orioles turned to a familiar script to subdue the Yankees. Jonathan Schoop homered to tie the game and Adam Jones followed with a three-run tater four batters later in an eventual 5-3 victory on Aug. 13, 2014.

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. - Who remembers what happened on Sept. 5, 1995? Yes, that's the day that Cal Ripken Jr. tied former Yankees ironman Lou Gehrig's streak - once considered unbreakable - by playing in his 2,130th consecutive game. Always a player with a flair for the dramatic, Ripken hit one of the O's five home runs in an 8-0 shellacking of the Angels. Chris Hoiles, Jeff Manto, Mark Smith and Brady Anderson had the others.

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. - The Birds found the perfect recipe to snap a three-game losing streak in a 9-1 victory over the Rays on Aug. 25, 2014. Five homers did the trick, with Nick Markakis, Steve Pearce, Delmon Young, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis going deep.

Thursday, Nov. 17, 1:30 p.m. - It didn't take then-rookie Manny Machado long to endear himself to Baltimore fans. In his second major league game, Machado hit his first two career home runs in a 7-1 thrashing of the Royals. Omar Quintanilla also went yard for the Birds on Aug. 10, 2012.