It’s April 9, 1996, and for the second day in a row, there’s no Orioles game. Just like on Opening Day, rain has washed out a game at Camden Yards. 

Not a lot of other news going on with the O’s, perhaps they were busy celebrating the 131st anniversary of the Confederates surrendering. Unlikely.

The Birds are still waiting to determine whether reliever Armando Benitez’s sore elbow will require a stint on the injured list. With the rainout, they can postpone that decision for at least another day.

Elsewhere around the league, the Texas Rangers have been red hot, opening the season at 7-0 for the first time ever. The O’s will play them later this month in Texas. The Yankees were literally cold, winning their home opener in the snow against Kansas City. Per the Sun, Andy Pettitte, at 23, was the youngest pitcher to start a Yankees home opener since 22-year-old Hippo Vaughn did in 1910. (Baltimore Sun, p. 4D, April 10, 1996) The more you know.

Cleveland (2-3) at Baltimore (5-1), 7:35 p.m. ET

Starting Pitchers
CLE – Jack McDowell, 0-1, 2.84 ERA
BAL – David Wells, 1-0, 1.29 ERA 

Troubling news for all you equestrian fans out there. Several horses that are entrants for this summer’s Olympics in Atlanta have come down with a malaria-like disease called equine piroplasmosis.

“This is a parasitic disease getting into a horse population with no natural resistance,” said Malcolm Commer, an equine specialist at the University of Maryland.

The disease is transmitted by ticks and has basically been eradicated in the U.S. Animals with it are barred from entering the country, but the International Olympic Committee officials convinced Georgia and U.S. Agriculture agencies to grant waivers for the animals to enter the country for the Summer Games. Hmmm… I think I’d file that one under Not Worth It.

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

The Pride of Baltimore II is on a 9-month goodwill tour through Europe and the Caribbean. The Sun periodically publishes these Captain’s Log educational notes.