As a young Orioles fan it took many years for me to understand the Davey Johnson trade to the Braves following the 1972 season. Dealing a three-time All-Star and winner of three Gold Gloves at second base. An integral part of four World Series teams. The disappointment of a third-place finish in '72 after three straight American League pennants still ran deep. Now this? The Orioles were clearing a path for Bobby Grich, who won four Gold Gloves and made three All-Star teams before signing with...

As a high school senior growing up in California, Doug DeCinces had dreams of playing Major League Baseball. Then he had a chat with an Orioles scout. "The scout (Al Kubski) told me that I can't run and that I throw like a girl," DeCinces says. "I was shocked, said, 'OK.' I was disappointed. He was a gruff old scout. But I think he wanted to see if I had what it takes to improve. There was no coddling back then." In 1970, when the Orioles drafted and signed DeCinces, he joked with...

Today marks a significant anniversary in Birdland. Thirty-four years ago, on June 22, 1979, Orioles Magic was born. That's the night that third baseman Doug DeCinces crushed a game-winning two-run homer - back in the day, we didn't call them walk-offs - in the ninth inning off the Tigers' Dave Tobik for a thrilling 6-5 victory before 35,456 at Memorial Stadium. Here is Bill O'Donnell's call of the decisive blast, with additional commentary by Chuck Thompson and Charley Eckman. Years...