Twofer Tuesday finds me thinking about baseball and matrimony with similar thoughts and mixed feelings about experiencing both happy and sad times simultaneously. Hang with me as I try to explain how two very happy events on 14 July, ultimately ended up in the unhappy bin of life’s memories. Let’s start most recently and work back.
On July 14, 2024 Brian Barnhill, JW Raley and I celebrated Herbie McKay’s birthday with him by making a trip to Camden Yards to catch an Orioles-Yankees game. It was the final game before the 24 All Star break.
After the Orioles had beaten the Yankees that day, they stood at 58-38 and were in first place of the AL East. I talked about all this in a previous 2024 post (click here.) Also, to view a YouTube video of game high lights (click here.)
Unfortunately for the O’s however, the second half of the 24 season saw them fart and fumble their way to go 33-33 and finish 91-71. They limped into the playoffs as a wild card but went out quickly and quietly losing 3 straight to the KC Royals.
That second half of the 24 season marked the onset of the Orioles slow slide into mediocrity. It culminated in a disastrous overall 2025 season wherein they finished dead last in the AL East.
This season, they enter the All Star break @ 46-51 and are but one game shy of being in last place again in the AL East. Thus, July 14, 2024 marked their high point, but it was also the beginning of their demise.
As for my getting married on July 14 in 1973, that still ranks as one of my best and happiest days. Life was indeed very good.
Me and my best guys: Mike Raley, Greg Madjeski, YT, Joe Cullison, Dad, Robby Hall and Brother Stevie. That three of them are no longer around makes me sad; but it also makes me appreciate the three that are still here even more. Again, a happy sad moment.
Like the Orioles, the first wife and I had a pretty good run for a number of years in the 70’s and 80’s. All totaled, I was happily married for 20 years. Unfortunately, I was officially married for 24 years. Let’s leave it that those last 4 years were of the bad, sad and mad variety. We divorced in 97. Needless to say, those were not very happy times. As with the 2025 Orioles, our marriage finished in last place.
But when life knocks you down a rung or two, a song will always help to pull you through. From the Kennedy Center Honors for Bonnie, check out this great performance of one of her best tunes. First verse finds her talking about having children, something Bonnie never did by the way. (Sheryl likewise, but she did adopt two boys.) Second verse talks to having and dealing with aging parents who also are running out of time. Bonnie’s tune includes several great lines, but my favorite is in Jackson singing “When did the choices get so hard, so much more at stake? Life gets mighty precious when there is less of it to waste” (1:35.)
The final verse turns happy though as it involves finding love just in the nick of time. I know that feeling too! Here is hoping that the Orioles can also find some success just in the nick time.