I traditionally give the opening prayer when the House of Delegates goes into session on Opening Day of the baseball season.

A traffic jam in Annapolis made me late for the 7 pm session.  So I gave my prayer the morning after.

He went 2-for-4 in his September debut against the Washington Senators and thought he’d arrived. He went hitless (0-for-18, with 10 strikeouts) the rest of the year.

“Lesson learned,” Brooks Robinson said.

What does Brooks consider the highlight of his career? 

It’s not the 1971 World Series, when he was named MVP.  It’s the 1966 Series, the first championship for the team and for Brooks. 

“We knew how to play before 1966, but Frank Robinson taught us how to win,” Brooks told us at Fantasy Camp.

For twenty consecutive Opening Days, 1957-1976, Number 5 was the Orioles starting third baseman. 

On Opening Day in 1966, Brooks batted cleanup and went 3 for 6 with a two-run homer and 3 RBIs

The Orioles beat the Red Sox, 5-4, in 13 innings. 

Yesterday’s hero was making his first and perhaps only Opening Day appearance as an Oriole.  

Nelson Cruz made a big play in left field, his alert base running led to a run, and he hit the game-winning home run. 

As Ernie Banks might say, “Let’s play 162.”