It’s August 5, 1996, and Bobby Bonilla and Chris Hoiles each homered as the O’s raced out to a 13-3 lead, ultimately holding on for a 13-10 win to split a four-game series in Cleveland.

“What a night,” said O’s manager Davey Johnson said to the Sun’s Buster Olney. (Baltimore Sun, p. 1D, August 6, 1996)

The O’s pounded out 21 hits as they chased Cleveland starter Charles Nagy from the game in the sixth inning and then feasted on the bullpen, scoring 10 times in the ensuing two innings. Bonilla had three hits and homered in his third straight game. Jeffrey Hammonds and Roberto Alomar added four hits each, and Brady Anderson and Cal Ripken had three apiece. It was a great day at the plate.

And for a while, it looked like a good day on the mound, too. David Wells scattered 12 hits over six innings, giving up just three runs. But reliever Arthur Rhodes had to leave in the ninth inning with what would later be deemed a season-ending shoulder injury. Cleveland scored six times in the final frame before closer Randy Myers eventually recorded the final out.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with it,” Rhodes, who finishes the year 9-1, said of his ailing left shoulder. “The doctor doesn’t know what’s wrong with it. I’ll sit out the rest of the season and get it better.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 6D, August 6, 1996)

Losing Rhodes cast a pall over an otherwise great win for the Birds. But for now, they will take any wins they can get as they remain five back of the White Sox in the wild card race.

“I’m pleased with the way we played,” said Alomar. “We hit the ball good, we caught the ball good. <long pause> We pitched good, when we had to.”

Here’s the box score with the lovely totals. 

In other news, GM Pat Gillick is denying a rift with owner Peter Angelos after the big man stepped in to prevent him from trading star players at the deadline. 

“He doesn’t agree with me all the time,” Gillick told Olney. “And I don’t agree with him all the time. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this discussion, conversation, or debate, or whatever you want to call it. I’m not inhibited discussing any topic with him at any time.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 6D, August 6, 1996)

Nothing to see here… 

Bobby Bo homered for the third straight game! Hoiles also added his 17th brick.

Orioles (56-54) at Brewers (55-57) 8:05 p.m.

Starting Pitchers
BAL – RHP Mike Mussina (12-8, 5.06 ERA)
MIL – RHP Ben McDonald (10-5, 3.81 ERA)

Legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. 

The Sun’s Jason LaCanfora has all the details on the front page, including how Earl was so nervous he was pacing back and forth before he had to give his speech, which he had rehearsed “at least 100 times.”

But as soon as he got to the podium, the Orioles fans who had made the trip to celebrate him took over. Showering him with cheers of “O-R-I-O-L-E-S” and “We love you, Earl.”

The diminutive manager was touched by the support, and responded in kind. “I have a tremendous feeling of humility, and this comes from the fact that I am standing in front of the greatest baseball players and baseball people who ever lived,” Weaver said.

Weaver only had one losing season in Baltimore and his .583 winning percentage is ninth best at the time of his induction. Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, and Jim Palmer all sat behind their former manager on the stage. (Earl’s number of Hall of Fame players managed would go up in the years to follow when Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken got the call.)

“I’m proud of my record,” the Earl of Baltimore said. “I’m proud of the fact that I was even considered to be in the Hall of Fame, let alone voted in. And I’m proud of the fact that I spent my whole major-league career in one city. I would like to thank the wonderful fans of Baltimore for letting me stay.”

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

When a gold medal, get on the Wheaties box. Simple as.