Jim Palmer, 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #70

We're only two weeks away from Orioles FanFest, and now I've got my autograph voucher. I was able to grab a ticket for the 2:00 PM session with Caleb Joseph, Brian Matusz, and Jim Palmer. I couldn't turn down a chance to add a Hall of Famer to my modest assortment of O's autographs, as tempting as it was to lock down one of the sessions with Larry Bigbie. Maybe next year.

Mike Cuellar, 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #42

Today would have been Mike Cuellar's 75th birthday. So in honor of the fourth-most-winningest pitcher in Orioles history, I went searching for a box score of interest. I found a doozy: Saturday afternoon, July 11, 1970. The Birds were riding high at 52-32, a full 5 games ahead of the second-place Tigers in the American League East. Cuellar was matching up with Joe Niekro, but neither had his best stuff. The O's broke out on top in the second inning with an Elrod Hendricks two-run homer, but Paul Blair hit a shallow fly ball to strand the bases loaded. Three Detroit hits tied the score at 2-2 in the home half.

It was still tied two innings later when Mark Belanger hit a two-out single and Cuellar followed with a two-run home run of his own! It was part of a career-high three-hit day for the Cuban screwballer, and one of eight career longballs (including his grand slam in the 1970 ALCS). He wasn't exactly Don Newcombe with the bat, as his career slash line of .115/.128/.171, good for a -15 OPS+, illustrates. Anyway, Mike gave back a run in the bottom of the fourth, as Bill Freehan tripled and scored on a Don Wert sac fly. 4-3, O's.

Freehan struck again with a solo homer in the sixth to knot it back up at 4-4. But the Orioles picked their pitcher back up in the eighth with (what else?) a two-run shot. This time it was Terry Crowley going deep off of Daryl Patterson, who had replaced Niekro after the Detroit starter walked Brooks Robinson to lead off the inning. The Tigers fought back again in their half of the eighth, though. Cuellar got the hook after a leadoff single by Willie Horton, and reliever Eddie Watt allowed Horton to score via a single, sac bunt, and a Wert groundout. Earl Weaver then called on Pete Richert to save the day. He walked Jim Price, but struck out Ike Brown looking to strand the tying and go-ahead runs. He then earned his tenth save by retiring the top of the Tigers order 1-2-3 in the ninth. Cuellar earned his 11th win despite permitting five runs in seven innings. It was the rare day when Mike had a better day at the plate than he did at the mound.

Earl Weaver, 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #64

It's All-Star night, and here's a reminder that once upon a time, you could manage the Orioles AND the American League All-Stars. In fact, Earl got to hold the reins of the A.L. squad four times in his illustrious career. One such occasion was the 1971 Midsummer Classic in Detroit, which was notable for the presence of 22 future Hall of Famers. Six of these legends hit home runs: Johnny Bench, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson (whose blast may have left Tiger Stadium if it hadn't struck a light tower on the roof), Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, and Roberto Clemente. For the only time in a 20-year span, the American League bested the National League by a 6-4 score. Aside from Frank Robby's homer, other Orioles contributing to the effort included Brooks Robinson, who singled once in three at-bats and caught a Johnny Bench pop-up for the final out; Jim Palmer, who turned in two scoreless innings; and Mike Cuellar, who earned a hold with two shutout innings of his own. For more details on the 1971 All-Star Game, check out the Fleer Sticker Project, where there are several great full-color screencaps from the original TV broadcast.