The Baby Birds of 1989 found themselves, as do the 2001 Birds, playing Toronto the last week of the month. Jimy Williams has been fired by the underachieving Jays, and the team has caught fire under the direction of Cito Gaston, going 24-14 since the change. In this first meeting between the two skippers, much ado is made of the fact that this will be the first time two black managers have faced off against each other. Thankfully, this is now commonplace, but on June 27, 1989, it was history.

The Orioles explode for 16 runs in this game, while Jay Tibbs cruises to a complete-game, 16-6 win. Randy Milligan leads the offensive barrage with two homers and four RBI.

The next night, Brian Holton goes six, surrendering but one run on six hits. Kevin Hickey comes on in the seventh to preserve a 1-1 tie, while Cal delivers the lead with an eighth inning homer. Gregg Olson strikes out the side in the ninth, and the O's have taken the first two from the powerful Jays, this one in front of President George Bush.

Dave Schmidt and J.J. Bautista do not fare so well the next night, however, as Toronto shells them for their lone victory in the three game set. The next night, the Tigers do the same to Bob Milacki and "Texas" Mike Smith, who has just been called up from Rochester to replace the injured Mark Williamson.

But, despite the fan worries as injuries pile up, the Birds are 43-33, 5 1/2 games in front.

As June turns to July, the heroes have kept coming. Jay Tibbs, who came into the season sporting a 4.22 ERA in a day when that wasn't very good, is now 5-0 with a 2.45. Mickey Weston, who has never pitched in the majors, saved his first game, and won his second. Mark Huismann, who had been released by the Tigers in the spring, did the same. Kevin Hickey, who has been cut by four major league organizations, has come in to retire Wade Boggs, George Brett, and Don Mattingly seven straight times, while holding lefties to a 4 for 31 count against him. Mark Thurmond, who had gone two calendar years without a victory, has stranded 28 of 32 inherited runners. Mark Williamson, who was a "throw in" in the Storm Davis deal, is 5-0 with two saves and a 1.08 ERA in his last 16 appearances. The biggest surprise of all, though, has to be Gregg Olson, whom everyone expected to be here "someday", but not today, and not to be sporting a 0.57 ERA for the month of June.

Craig Worthington is leading AL rookies in RBI. Phil Bradley, who came to the Birds with a reputation as a "clubhouse lawyer," is the most consistent offensive performer. Steve Finley, Brady Anderson, and Mike Devereaux takes turns making great catches or stealing a base one after another. Randy Milligan, who never got a chance in New York or Pittsburgh, is leading the team in on-base percentage with a sterling .433. And of course, there's "The Looper," who leads the AL on July 1 with 18 homers. This from a guy who once finished last in home run derby while at Oklahoma State (behind Pete Incaviglia, Robbie Wine, Gary Green, Doug Dascenzo, and a graduate assistant.)

The fans know there is something special going on, too. There are signs and posters everywhere, but none quite so descriptive as at the athletic shoe store in Owings Mills Mall, where, next to a Froot Loops box, stood this message: ORIOLES MAGIC NUMBER- 83.