It’s May 25, 1996, and Mark McGwire hit one of three homers by the A’s as Oakland rolled to a 6-3 win over the O’s.

Bobby Bonilla had a frustrating day at the plate, leaving eight runners on base and ending hopes of a Birds comeback.

“It felt like 35 guys,” an exasperated Bonilla told the Sun’s Buster Olney. “I’m feeling pretty good up there. But I’ve got to get the two-out hits. You’ve got to get those in order to win. I haven’t had the golden hit.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 1E, May 26, 1996)

McGwire broke open a scoreless game with a 2-run homer in the fourth off David Wells. Pedro Munoz blasted a 3-run homer two innings later to give Oakland what would be an insurmountable lead.

Two solo home runs by Brady Anderson and one by Cal Ripken, Jr., would be all the O’s offense could muster against crafty A’s lefty Doug Johns, who got the outs when he needed to. And most of the time, the big out was Bonilla, who was 0-for-5.

“We had our chances, but we didn’t get to their guy,” said O’s manager Davey Johnson. “The big guy in our lineup now is Bobby Bo. We’ve got to have him. I think he’s pressing.”

Unfortunately, some loser O’s fans decided to start booing Bonilla.

“In New York and everything, I learned about [booing],” said Bonilla, who grew up in the Bronx and previously played for the Mets. “I almost kind of prefer it. It makes me feel at home.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 8E, May 26, 1996)

Anderson’s two home runs are a welcome sign and show he may be fully back from a sore quad that derailed his torrid start to the season. He now has 18 homers on the season, only one behind Cleveland’s Albert Belle for the league lead.

“My leg is getting better,” Brady said. “For me, it’s a good sign to be playing in a day game after a night game.” (Baltimore Sun, p. 8E, May 26, 1996)

Here’s the box score with the not-so-lovely totals.

A brick for Cal and two for Brady.

Brady, we’ve missed you! Twice is nice.

Athletics (22-25) vs. Orioles (26-20), 1:35 p.m.

Starting Pitchers
OAK – RHP Bobby Chouinard (MLB debut)
BAL – LHP Kent Mercker (2-3, 7.43 ERA)

In sad news, Parks Sausage Co., Baltimore’s largest Black-owned manufacturing business — and the first Black-owned business ever to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange — ceased operations. Most of the 219 employees were sent home “indefinitely.”

“It’s a gut-wrenching thing,” said Chairman Raymond V. Haysbert, who has worked at Parks for 44 years. “Not only for me but for the other people who will say, ‘Wow, have you heard?’”

There has been a deal in place for the company to be bought by a group led by former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Franco Harris. It is uncertain what will happen there.

“Unfortunately, they weren’t able to hold on,” said Harris, whose Super Bakery Inc. in Pittsburgh was going to take over. “We have basically come to an agreement. Now it’s up to the lawyers to draft.”

The company was founded in 1951. For years, it was located in Camden Yards, but it built its present facility to make room for Oriole Park. But, according to the Sun, the new plant was too big for Parks’ volume. They lost major customers Pizza Hut and Domino’s between 1993 and 1995. They have simply been unable to compete with corporate giants like Smithfield.

“My primary consideration now is the 219 jobs,” Haysbert said. With an average salary of about $25,000, Parks paid much higher than anything else in the surrounding neighborhood near Druid Hill Park.

Haysbert said companies were willing to pay up to $10 million for the brand name, but he wasn’t interested in only selling the label.

Here’s a WBAL segment on Martha Wagner, former manager at Parks Sausages, who had a hand in the company’s legendary jingle: “More Parks sausages, please!”

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

What could it mean?