It’s April 7, 1996, and Orioles ace Mike Mussina took a 3-hitter into the 7th inning, helping the O’s top the Twins 4-2 and move to 5-1 on the young season.

Mussina was in midseason form, pumping a good fastball and having masterful control of all his pitches. The Baltimore Sun’s Buster Olney noted that Mussina threw 107 pitches, and 79 were strikes. He didn’t even get to a 3-ball count until the seventh inning. “Unbelievable,” said O’s manager Davey Johnson. (Baltimore Sun, p. 1C, April 8, 1996)

The Orioles are 5-1 thanks to quality pitching. But the bats are still fairly quiet. They’ve only hit 5 homers so far — including a solo shot by Bobby Bonilla tonight. “We’re winning, and we’re not even swinging the bats very well right now,” said first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who had a hitless streak of 14 at bats snapped today with an RBI double. 

After 8 solid innings from Mussina, closer Randy Myers pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances. “Myers has been coming in and overmatching people,” said Palmeiro. “As long as we have the lead, you can give it to the bullpen and they’ll close the door.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 6C, April 8, 1996)

Unfortunately, the bullpen is also where we have our first injury scare of the year. “I’m a little worried about Armando,” said Johnson. (Baltimore Sun, p. 6C, April 8, 1996) Armando Benitez will have his sore elbow looked at by the team doctor. He’s only pitched one inning so far this year, but he looked awesome, striking out all three batters he faced. But his upper forearm has been barking, typically a huge sign of concern for a pitcher.

In the latest chapter of the Bobby Bo at DH saga, Bonilla and Johnson are still communicating. “I said to him, ‘If I can handle it, you can handle it.’ … Misery loves company,” said Johnson. (Baltimore Sun, p. 6C, April 8, 1996)

The Sun’s Buster Olney broke a mysterious story about a low-intensity wrestling scrum that broke out in the clubhouse after the game involving about 10 players. “It’s the Posse vs. the anti-Posse,” said catcher Gregg Zaun. When asked to elaborate, Zaun refused. “I’d have to kill you. It has nothing to do with something in a refrigerator. It is something to do with personnel. We know what it’s all about.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 6C, April 8, 1996)

We’ll have to keep an eye on this Posse.

Here is the box score with the lovely totals.

Bobby Bonilla has made it to the wall.

Off day!

In a feature under the headline, “P&G swims, workers sink,” the Sun looks at Procter & Gamble’s insatiable greed and the thousands of people who lost their jobs while the company made record profits.

In 1993, P&G posted a record $2 billion in operating profit, but CEO Edwin L. Artzt (rhymes with fartst) decided to cut 13,000 jobs and close 30 factories, including one in Baltimore’s Locust Point that had been producing soap since 1930.

“We must slim down to stay competitive,” Artzt said when he came up for breath in his swimming pool filled with gold coins. There’s a photo of him on the front page with the caption “Edwin L. Artzt, a k a the ‘Prince of Darkness,’ ordered the layoffs.”

Rick Briscoe worked at the Locust Point plant for 20 years. “Some people are extremely bitter,” he said. “And other people are just extremely uncomfortable. It’s a simple case of the corporation going for larger profits and ignoring the people that put them where they are.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 10A, April 7, 1996)

Anyway, take it away Sun:

Welcome to the ’90s, and the rest of our lives.

Welcome to a recurring segment where I find fun things in today’s (in 1996) Baltimore Sun!

Ever wonder what fantasy baseball was like 30 years ago?