By Phil Jackman

If you think Buck Showalter's job managing the Orioles this season was masterful, going from a 69-93 record last year to the opposite (93-69) this time around, how about the job he did with Arizona in 1999? The Diamondbacks lost 96 games in '98 and then turned around and won 100 the next summer.

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Of all the pictures taken of the Orioles' six Hall of Famers celebrating the statue-unveiling ceremonies at the "apple orchard" this summer, none ever showed Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver side by side. This was disappointing, because during the pair's most contentious days, Palmer used to stand on the pitcher's rubber at full height and peer down at his manager, making him appear even shorter than he is (5-foot-6?). "Used to drive him nuts," the pitcher has often said.

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Most people know the story about how Palmer picked up the nickname "Cakes" early during his career: he used to eat pancakes on the mornings he was to pitch. Here's a companion story discovered in an old notebook. Dave McNally called me aside one day and said: "Why don't you write a story about how I like to have a big, two-pound steak every time I pitch? Let's see if some company will send me a bunch of steaks just like the pancake mix Jim gets from some company."

I tried, but it didn't work. Maybe the fact Mac got shelled that day had something to do with it.

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Wait a minute, what's going on here? Towson University is hoping to get rid of its baseball and men's soccer teams while bringing back its men's tennis team (which no one knew was missing the last eight years) and adding to its women's track and field roster. It wasn't that long ago the school made a bid to deep-six track and field and cross country. Maybe somebody up on Osler Drive hasn't noticed that soccer is growing by leaps and bounds, local high schools have the best and deepest league in the country, and boys and girls hereabouts begin playing the sport at age 5. As for baseball, there has been a huge push at every level (sandlots to big leagues) to bring the sport back to its former prominence and glory.

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Funniest call uttered by a NFL replacement official has to be, "By rule, there is no flag on the play." But, when you think about it, it's a clear, concise call as opposed to a lengthy explanation to cover up a mistake. By the way, Showtime's weekly "Inside the NFL" program had a couple of replacement referees on, and they did a great job. Check it out.

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Imagine nearly winning the supposedly omnipotent American League East, as the Orioles almost did, and grabbing a playoff berth with a pitching staff led by a 12-game winner. You don't think baseball has changed? Recall, the Orioles had four 20-game winners in 1971 and they didn't win the World Series. Take a bow, Pittsburgh.

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Speaking of the Pirates, all but assured of breaking a 19-year streak of losing seasons when they were 59-44 entering August, the Buccos finished 79-83 by going 20-39 during the last two months. Call it the Erik Bedard Curse.

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NASCAR driver Tony Stewart recently provided a healthy goose to the backside of fellow driver Kevin Harvick's wife (for all to see on national TV), later explaining he had been doing the same thing for years because they're close friends. Those good ol' boys, they're something.

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Chris Davis' smacking home runs in six straight games for the Orioles, tying a team record Reggie Jackson set in 1976 (yeah, he was here for five months), recalls a conversation I had with Mr. October that year. It was the start of free agency and players weren't too sure about the windfall that lay dead ahead. Reg said he would sign for $200,000 a year for four years with the stipulation that the O's had to sign either Bobby Grich or pitcher Wayne Garland, too. Later, Reggie said he never knew why his proposal didn't fly, and he just smiled when it was suggested it was strictly newspaper talk.

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All during Ryder Cup weekend, it was suggested over and over what a brutal task it was for team captains to come up with better ball and foursome pairings. Bull. The way to go about it was to do what Jack Nicklaus did in his day: ask the players with whom they wanted to partner. Put the pressure on the players, which is where it belongs. Right, Bear?

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Most baseball fans figure the New York Mets' record of 40-120 during their inaugural 1962 season was the worst ever. Not even close. That record belongs to the Cleveland Spiders (20-134) of the National League in 1899. Here's what the Spiders used to do: They had a couple of pretty good players, and when the opposition showed in town for a series, they would lend-lease said players to the visitors (for remuneration). Baseball's ethics were a bit sketchy in them days, remember.

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There was a time when faking was an integral part of offensive play in football, especially in college ball during the days of the full-house T-formation. Nowadays, refs in pro football request that quarterbacks throw up their hands after option handoffs to show they no longer have the ball so they can be protected from overzealous pass rushers. Of course, it's ridiculous. What's next, sensors so they can't be touched?

Posted Oct. 6, 2012