Baltimore Orioles

BASEBALL American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES -- Claimed Pat Clements, pitcher, on waivers from the San Diego Padres.CALIFORNIA ANGELS -- Placed John Orton, catcher, on the 15-day disabled list. Recalled Ken Oberkfell, infielder, from Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League.MILWAUKEE BREWERS -- Placed Dave Nilsson, catcher, on 15-day disabled list. Recalled John Jaha, infielder, from Denver of the American Association.TEXAS RANGERS -- Fired Bobby Valentine, manager. Named Toby Harrah interim manager.

BaseballBaltimore Orioles -- Declined to exercise 1991 option in the contract of P Joe Price (3-4, 3.58 ERA).Milwaukee Brewers -- OF Rob Deer (.209, 27 HRs, 69 RBI) filed for free agency.New York Yankees -- P Jeff Robinson (3-6, 3.45 ERA) filed for free agency.CollegesTennessee -- Reinstated DE Kasey Rodgers, LB Dewayne Dotson and TB Keith Jeter.HockeyCalgary Flames -- Recalled G Steve Guenette from IHL Salt Lake City.Washington Capitals -- Signed D Mikhail Tatarinov.

Yeltsin and the opposition are playing hardball, under rule they just made up and don't understand.The office of Surgeon General ought to (A) be abolished; (B) given policy responsibility or (C) taken out of Senate confirmation. Choose at least one.If they are no longer the Baltimore Orioles, will they be the Fort Lauderdale Orioles?Nine leading hospitals have joined in a $1.3 billion business employing 4,500 physicians in the name of traditional doctor-patient values.

BaseballBaltimore Orioles -- Named Gary Nickels scouting director.Seattle Mariners -- Recalled P Dave Fleming, C Chris Howard, IF Rich Amaral and OF Patrick Lennon from Class AAA Calgary. Purchased the contract of OF Alonzo Powell from Calgary.;/ Toronto Blue Jays -- Signed DH Dave Parker.HockeyLos Angeles Kings -- Waived F Rick Berens, F Don Granato, F Eric Lemarque, F Denis LeBlanc, F Brett Seguin, D Jason Knox, D Kip Noble and G Sean Basilio. Returned C Daniel Rydmark and G Pauli Jaks to their teams in the Swedish League.

The "33rd Street Gazette," a tabloid devoted to the Baltimore Orioles, will release its opening issue during the final weekend at Memorial Stadium.To be published by Ted Venetoulis Communications Group, it will contain material "not covered by the region's newspapers," according to editor Bob Brown, director of publications for the Orioles.Plans are to publish twice monthly during the season and less often in the off-season.Venetoulis said the name will be changed to reflect the new ballpark, whenever that is named.

The Orioles have announced a ticket refund policy for their exhibition games against Philadelphia and Colorado, originally scheduled for this weekend. Fans who bought tickets by mail or phone and have not received them will receive a refund or credit automatically.Customers who have received tickets from the Orioles or Ticketmaster may exchange them for tickets to future home games at the Orioles' ticket office or any Orioles Baseball Store. No refunds will be issued at Ticketmaster outlets.

Few people were walking around downtown Laurel Tuesday evening, but at Main Street Sports Grill, nearly every seat at the bar was taken for happy hour. Since April marks the start of Major League Baseball play, the multiple flat-screen televisions behind the bar were showing ESPN's highlights from games across the nation. However, come 7 p.m., ESPN would be replaced by coverage of two games, one featuring the Baltimore Orioles, and the other the Washington Nationals. Laurel is sandwiched between Baltimore and Washington, about a half-hour drive away from either city, and at Main Street Sports Grill, baseball loyalties were divided between the two teams.

One of the country's most celebrated point-to-point races, the Maryland Hunt Cup, was held last weekend. And, as always, after the race, members of Maryland's country gentry went from casual race attire to fancy dress to attend the annual Hunt Cup Ball.The ball was held at Stouffer Harborplace Hotel and was a festive occasion for members of a Maryland racing family who owned, trained and rode the Hunt Cup winner, Ivory Poacher.Brothers Redmond and Jervis Finney are two of the owners; their cousin Ann Fenwick trained the horse; and the winning jockey, Sanna Neilson, is a niece.