“Even when there was not a direct impact, you were there.”

Governor Moore said that in his remarks to the Jewish Caucus at a meeting in the Governor’s Mansion this morning.

He was referring, of course, to the civil rights struggle of the 1960’s.

I would add the following, and he would no doubt agree.

When any minority is mistreated, all minorities are mistreated.

The law recognizes that.

The federal Civil Rights Act enacted in 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in public places, schools and employment.

It now prohibits such discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

Over the decades, federal and state civil rights laws have been amended to protect the disabled and sexual orientation, for example.

That has come about because discriminated groups successfully made their case, working together through the legislative process.

—

I’ve known David Rubinstein, the new Orioles owner, since we were students at Pimlico Junior High.

The last time I saw David, about three years ago, he asked me, “Are you still keeping score?”

I am.

I have been since I was 7 or 8 years old.

My grandparents, Stewart and Sylvia Hecht, arranged for their eight-year old grandson to meet Casey Stengel, the Yankees manager.

Casey walked into the visitors dugout 10 minutes before the first pitch of a day game at Memorial Stadium.

Casey: I understand you keep score.

Me: Yes, I do.

Casey: There’s a groundball to the shortstop.   He throws it to the second baseman, who throws it to the first baseman.

Me: 6 to 4 to 3.

Casey: You’re better than our scorekeeper.

There’s a reason why Casey is in the Hall of Fame.