It’s March 21, 1996, and the O’s dropped an exhibition game to the Dodgers, 3-2. In his second appearance since his heart rate health scare, lefty David Wells threw six strong innings. Wells will be the top lefty in the Baltimore rotation this summer. Behind Wells, another lefty, acquired this offseason from Atlanta, is a reliever-turned-starter who is expected to round out the bottom of the rotation.

Kent Mercker was born in February of 1968 in Brownsburg, Ind., moved around some as a young kid, and eventually settled in Dublin, Ohio, outside of Columbus. A standout lefthander on the mound, Mercker was drafted by Atlanta 5th overall — one pick ahead of Gary Sheffield — in the 1986 MLB Draft.

He debuted in the majors three years later, and by 1990 was a regular presence in the bullpen. He pitched in 50 games in 1991 — by far his best season in the majors to this point — as Atlanta went from worst to first, ultimately losing the World Series to the Minnesota Twins.

After four seasons of mostly relief work, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox decided to make Mercker a full-time starter in 1994. It paid off immediately. In his first start of the season, he did this:

The no-hitter was validating for Mercker, who had long wanted to be in the rotation, and it kicked off what would be a solid season, with 9 wins and a 3.45 ERA before the strike shut everything down in August.

He came back and was a solid backend rotation guy — behind superstars Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz — for Atlanta’s world championship team in 1995. But after the season, the team decided to move on, and they traded him to Baltimore. For the first time after nearly a decade in pro ball, Mercker would be wearing a different uniform.

“The first day here was weird,” Mercker said. “Everything I had was blue and red. You don’t realize how much you amass over 10 years that says Braves. I spent a bunch of money buying new clothes. Orange is my favorite color now.” (Ledger-Enquirer [Ga.], p. C3, March 9, 1996)

Mercker has been battling a flu-like ailment this spring and has lost seven pounds. He went to the doctor and after ruling out bronchitis, pneumonia and mononucleosis, Mercker said he was told he had “The Crud — because that’s how you feel.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 9C, March 18, 1996)

Because of the illness, Mercker has gotten very limited work this spring. But he did look pretty sharp earlier this week when he held the Mets hitless for five innings. He won’t be flashy, but he knows what it takes to win a championship, and he and the O’s hope that experience will be valuable at the tail end of the rotation this summer.

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

A super high tide means the best way to get around Fells Point is via boat.