Jan. 17: Owners finally agree to share revenue among themselves, but only if players agree to work for tips.
Feb. 10: Basketball superstar Michael Jordan arrives in Sarasota, Fla., to begin his unlikely audition for a place on the Chicago White Sox roster. His presence captures the imagination of millions of baseball fans, about three of whom actually imagine that he could make the team.
Feb. 18: Orioles open spring training at Twin Lakes Park but continue to get spring training mail at post office boxes in 19 cities.
Feb. 26: Orioles manager Johnny Oates realigns outfield.
March 7: More than 70 players show up for first collective bargaining meeting in Tampa, Fla. Management negotiator Richard Ravitch asks for salary cap. Players laugh uproariously, then get liquored up and try to use him as a pinata.
March 17: MRI reveals that free-agent pitcher Sid Fernandez has inflamed left shoulder, apparently from trying to lift his wallet too early in spring training.
March 21: Orioles manager Johnny Oates realigns outfield.
March 21: Submariner Todd Frohwirth released but asked to play himself in sequel to "The Hunt for Red October."
April 1: Players accept salary cap. Peace declared in Middle East.
April 4: Another crowd of 76,000 shows up to see the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day. Unfortunately, only 42,400 of them will fit into new stadium.
May 1: Orioles owner Peter Angelos buys Tampa Bay Buccaneers and announces that he'll soon move Orioles to St. Petersburg, Fla.
May 15: National League hitters begin to realize that Chan Ho Park is not a spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz.
June 1: Players union/management negotiators meet for collective bargaining marathon. Owners ask for salary cap. Players say no.
July 12: The All-Star Game is held outside Baltimore for the first time in two years.
July 20: Players union/management negotiators meet for collective bargaining summit. Owners beg for salary cap. Players say no.
July 31: Orioles trade 12 prospects for right-hander Andy Benes, forcing Bowie Baysox to forfeit the remainder of the season.
Aug. 1: Major-league players go on strike. (This is not a joke).
Aug. 22: Owners abandon salary cap demand and make major concessions to end strike, extending their collective bargaining losing streak to eight.
Aug. 23: Players return to work. Camden Yards sold out.
Aug. 31: Rickey Henderson clears waivers and is traded to the Chicago White Sox for pennant run.
Sept. 15: Twenty-six teams begin printing playoff tickets.
Nov. 24: Orioles win strike-delayed World Series on ninth-inning home run by Rafael Palmeiro. Gregg Olson, reacquired from the Atlanta Braves, returns from elbow surgery to get save.
Dec. 2: Orioles hold annual midnight madness ticket sell-a-thon. Eli Jacobs appears in Santa Claus outfit and sets up big red collection bucket.
Dec. 8: Rickey Henderson re-signs with Oakland Athletics.
Dec. 31: Ball falls untouched in Times Square. Orioles manager Johnny Oates realigns outfield.
