The 1989 Orioles and the city of Baltimore are a perfect match. The gritty, working-class city not yet totally gentrified by the expansion of the Inner Harbor and the invasion of Fresh Fields, Canton, and Federal Hill, is taking the Baby Birds under their collective wing. This is a perfect match between city and team.

It has to be SOMETHING. As September 1 dawns, the O's are 12th out of the 14 AL teams in hitting, eighth in pitching, but they are in first place. As they arrive in Chicago, the first game's cleanup hitter has six home runs. The starting rotation is three rookies and two guys who posted a combined 10-20 record the previous season.

But, there are storm clouds looming. Not only have the Jays tied for the lead, the Birds aren't hitting at all. They've gone 44 innings hitting .178, with NO extra base hits. This continues in ChiTown, as the Sox take two of three, Harnisch taking the middle game only by allowing only one run as the O's win, 2-1.

For the first time in 98 days, the Orioles are in second.

Now that rosters have expanded, the O's call up three more pitchers: Curt Schilling, J.J. Bautista, and Mickey Weston. Steve Finley has returned after a rehab assignment with Hagerstown. Brady Anderson has also been recalled from Rochester, as has Butch Davis, Francisco Melendez, and Juan Bell.

On Labor Day, 33,000 welcome the Orioles home. As Rex Barney asks for a moment of silence for departed Commissioner Bart Giamatti, the electricity is again palpable. When the "O" surges from the National Anthem, a lot of hearts skip a beat. Maybe these kids aren't dead quite yet.

Cleveland is the opponent, and Dave Johnson is squaring off against Greg Swindell. The Tribe strikes quickly, posting three safeties in the first inning. But the O's come right back with two in the first on a Mike Devereaux double, breaking the "no extra base hit" streak as well. In the third, Cal delivers a two run shot, his 19th. But in the eighth, Johnson runs out of gas, and Cleveland ties the game 4-4 on a Mike Young single.

In the bottom of the ninth, the O's have now strung together 15 straight outs as Tim Hulett steps up. Hulett, 29, had been back in the minors for two years after a two-year stint with the White Sox. But he had stuck it out, and here he was. After fouling off five pitches, he drills one to deep left center, and the O's win, 5-4. Bedlam ensues. It's just another day for the "Why Nots."

Tuesday night, Cal hits a blast that is captured  by Brad Komminsk as he falls backwards over the fence. Cal is awarded a home run, and cameras reveal Komminsk actually did drop the ball after he fell over. In the seventh, Cal does it again, doubling in another run. Larry Sheets follows with yet another double, and the O's are up, 3-1. Bob Milacki and Gregg Olson team to pick up another win for the O's.

Curt Schilling and Ben McDonald both appear on an Oriole hill for the first time the following night, but it's because the Birds are trailing 9-0. Toronto, meanwhile, wins their 14th ot 16, and now lead by two.

The Birds arrive in Texas for a big five game set. The first night is a doubleheader, and the O's are again short of fresh arms. To worsen matters, the Rangers are pitching Nolan Ryan and Bobby Witt in the twin bill. Ryan strikes out 16 in Game One, but Larry Sheets reaches base five times, Cal Ripken four, while Mike Devereaux drills a three-run homer and knocks in two more runs, as the O's win, 8-3.

In the nightcap, the suddenly awakened Oriole bats continue their boom, overpowering the Rangers 9-6. The lead is down a half game.

On Saturday night, the Jays and O's both go into extra innings. Randy Milligan hits a dramatic two-run shot to clinch the tilt for the Birds, while Toronto also prevails in 16 innings.

On Sunday, the O's short staff catches up with them again, as they post an 8-1 loss, while Toronto wins again. The O's trail by 2 1/2, 3 in the loss column. Is the magical mystery season over?