Hitting the Books: "Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic"

For Orioles fans, "Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic" is one beautiful book. Jim Henneman has been more involved with the Orioles team since its arrival in Baltimore more than any other person alive.

Jim's connection with the club from usher to press box attendant to writer covers every year since 1954 - and then some. That whole history is well laid out in Pete Kerzel's piece in February on MASNsports.com.

Jim is a favorite of mine at the park to talk baseball (and eating). He is a journalist at heart who loves the game and that comes through in this book.

Oriole fans will spend plenty of time with the memories here and baseball fans will have a ready source on everything Os.

I spoke with Jim at Camden Yards about the book. Here's the video:

If ever there was a timely read, this recommendation from Enoch Pratt Free Library fiction librarian Joyce Worsley of "So You've Been Publicly Shamed" by Jon Ronson is that book.

"The growth of social media such as Twitter and Instagram has spawned a phenomenon unlike any ever known before - individuals being publicly shamed by millions of people for some act or statement deemed unacceptable," Worsley said. "Who doesn't remember #HasJustineLandedYet? Ronson explores the whole realm of the power of social media and its effects, both good and bad, on the lives of ordinary people. The book may serve as a wake-up call to many who dabble in social media and toss off careless remarks, tweets or posts without stopping to think."

Sadly, how many have felt that hurt. Thanks, Joyce.

"It's even more awkward when we're face to face with people. It used to be exciting to make plans with friends because you could sit and catch up and talk about what's been going on in your lives. Now when you see someone there's nothing left to say. You've already seen the pictures from their trip to Rio on Facebook. You've read their tweets about the latest diet they're on. And they already texted you about the pregnancy scare. So you end up just sitting and staring at each other until you both start texting other people." ― Ellen DeGeneres

Gary Thorne is the play-by-play voice of the Orioles on MASN, and the 2015 season is his ninth with the club and 30th covering Major League Baseball. His blog will appear regularly throughout the season. The Enoch Pratt Free Library will offer "Fun For Seniors: SeniorTec," a series of five classes on computer skills for those 55 and older. Classes begin Friday, June 5 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave. Learn basic word processing skills, maneuver a mouse and set up an email account.

* Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne. © Copyright 2015 Gary F. Thorne. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Gary F. Thorne and MASNsports.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.