Right Off Russell

Before reporting to Camden Yards, Matt Wieters traveled through the time-space continuum and righted all the wrongs in Orioles history: He wiped Cleon Jones’ shoe polish off the ball, settled the 1981 baseball strike so they could win the division, straight-jacketed Jeffrey Maier, and intercepted Roberto Alomar’s loogie before it hit its mark.

-Mr. Masterdon (aka Howard Camerik)

For his victory, Howard will be donning the Navy Blue- Wieters - Catcher of Champions t-shirt

Here is a little bit about our winner:

1) Tell us the inspiration behind the your Matt Wieters Fact
My time-bending Wieters fact was actually inspired by my own baseball novel, The Curse of Carl Mays. In the book, a modern day paramedical team travels back in time to the Polo Grounds circa 1920, and saves the life of Ray Chapman, who hardcore baseball fans may know as the player from history who was actually killed by a beanball. Chapman’s fictional resurrection ripples through time and profoundly affects the 1986 World Series, as well as other historical events. You can tell by the title that it’s a Red Sox fable, but its good fun for any baseball fan, Birds fans included. Thanks for opening the door to the plug, by the way.

2) All joking aside, how good do you think this kid can be?
The cliches I’ve heard are Piazza with a glove, and Mauer with power (before Mauer found power). Sounds like pretty darn good to me. I watched him as often as I could after his call-up. I had some early misgivings that his bat speed wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, but with the way he finished the season, I’d have to say the bloom is back on the rose. One of the Matt Wieters Facts t-shirts says “Switch-hitting Jesus” — let’s be conservative and go with that one.

3) Tell us about some of your favorite Oriole’s moments/players
My personal favorite moment was several seasons ago. It was my first (and only) trip to Camden Yards. My youngest daughter is friends with Jeff Conine’s daughter, so we were all excited to watch him play. We sit down for the first inning and my daughter’s ice cream falls off the cone and onto her lap. She’s whisked away to be cleaned up, and while she’s in the bathroom, The Niner tees off on a 3-run jimmyjack. Still tease her about that. For moments that didn’t affect me personally, it’s hard to beat this Earl Weaver tirade:

Favorite Orioles from my youth were John Lowenstein and, later, Floyd “Sugar Bear” Rayford. Also liked Merv Rettenmund and BumbryCoggins. Others have more specific places in my heart: Brooksie (got drunk with him at baseball fantasy camp and listened to him mercilessly trash Pete Rose); Mark Belanger (mentioned in my book); Jim Dwyer (caught his foul ball when he played for the Tidewater Tides); Omar Daal (another neighbor with a kid in school with mine); Dennis Martinez (saw him in a K-Mart here in South Florida); BJ Ryan (paid a paltry $2 for him in my fantasy league right before he became the closer); Matusz and Tillman (joining Wieters as the promising kiddy corps of my current fantasy team); Nick Markakis (my wife is Greek); Kris Benson’s wife (speaks for itself).