Ken Singleton

Jim Palmer is being honored with his sculpture today. Several notables in attendance, none bigger than Brooks Robinson - who has missed the first two celebrations (Earl Weaver and Frank Robinson) due to health reasons. Brooks had his own ceremony pushed back to September. But he is here and looks good. Brooks received a huge ovation from the crowd. Also here are Hall-of-Famers Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. and Baltimore native Al Kaline. Frank Robinson, who lives in California, is the only Oriole in the Hall-of-Fame who didn't make it. Former Oriole Ken Singleton was the first speaker.

BASEBALL Yankees@Nationals Where -- RFK Stadium, Washington When -- Tonight, 7:05; tomorrow, 1:20 p.m.; Sunday, 1:05 p.m. What now? -- The Nats hope for a strong finish to their 11-game homestand against the Yankees, who are tussling with Boston and Toronto atop the American League East. Online -- www.nationals.com Pro basketball Liberty@ Mystics Where -- Verizon Center, Washington When -- Tomorrow, 6 p.m. What now? -- Another instance of Gotham invading the Capital, this time in the WNBA, where Washington hopes to remain undefeated at home.

The Orioles 1996 Winter Carnival will be held between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. today at Camden Yards. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under, and are available at the Orioles box office. For information, call (410) 685-9800.There will be clubhouse tours, batting cages and speed pitching machines, a play-by-play booth, trivia contests and baseball card dealers. Available for autographs at various times will be Bobby Bonilla, Roger McDowell, Chris Hoiles, Rick Krivda, Bill Ripken, Jimmy Haynes, Mike Flanagan, Tippy Martinez, Ken Singleton and Elrod Hendricks.

The memorial service for Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver was held Saturday afternoon in Davie, Fla., near where Weaver spent his retirement years. Former Orioles attending the service included: Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, Rick Dempsey, Bill Swaggerty, Scott McGregor, Dennis Martinez, Tom Shopay, Boog Powell, Ken Singleton and Don Buford. The current Orioles were represented by executive vice president Dan Duquette, ownership representative Louis Angelos, Doug Duennes, the club's executive vice president of business, communications director Greg Bader, team radio announcer Fred Manfra, and batting practice pitcher Rudy Arias.

Thirty years ago today, Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. made his first major-league appearance and played a key role in an extra-innings win over the Kansas City Royals without stepping into the batter's box. With the game tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the 12th inning, manager Earl Weaver called on the 20-year-old rookie to pinch run for slugger Ken Singleton, who had just smacked a double to left field. Two batters later, John Lowenstein singled to right field and Ripken charged home from second for the game-winning run. "I certainly felt like I had helped us win," Ripken said of his Orioles debut years later when The Baltimore Sun asked him about it. "I scored the winning run, which probably anybody could have done at that point.

New manager Davey Johnson and general manager Pat Gillick will be joined by more than a dozen current and former Orioles at the team's 1996 Winter Carnival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. next Saturday at Camden Yards.Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under, and are available through TicketMaster, or at the Orioles ticket office in advance or the day of the carnival. Proceeds benefit the Orioles Charitable Foundation. For more information, call (410) 685-9800.Throughout the day, there will be clubhouse tours, batting cages and speed pitching machines, play-by-play booth, trivia contests, baseball card dealers and family entertainment.

RUNNING IT UP The 30 runs scored by the Rangers in Game 1 of the doubleheader were the most in American League history. The Orioles' previous high for runs allowed was 26, also against Texas, on April 19, 1996. The 29 hits the Orioles allowed were also a club record, and the 27-run margin marked the largest margin of defeat in club history. Before yesterday, the Orioles hadn't allowed more than six runs in an inning but the Rangers tied or eclipsed that number three different times. WAIT, THERE'S MORE The Rangers eclipsed their record for most runs in a doubleheader, which was 21, by the eighth inning.

The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation announced its honorees for its sixth annual Aspire Gala. Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee , Ravens minority owner Art Modell and former Baltimore Colt Joe Ehrmann will be recognized at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront on Feb. 12. Joyner-Kersee will be presented with the Aspire Award, Modell will be honored with the Charles M. Cawley Legacy Award, and Ehrmann will receive the 2010 Cal Sr. Award....

Jim Palmer had retired after a month in 1984. Al Bumbry and Ken Singleton were released after that season. Cal Ripken needed big hands to carry all the torches that were passed to him in 1985. Given additional responsibilities with the loss of some trusted veterans, Ripken placed first or second on the team in 12 offensive categories. Continuing to redefine his position, Ripken also led major-league shortstops in home runs, RBIs, runs and slugging percentage. And, of course, a consecutive-games streak kept building.

Scott Simpson, fresh off his first victory on the Champions Tour, has been added to the 2006 Constellation Energy Classic, which will be played Sept. 15-17 at Hayfields Country Club in Hunt Valley. Simpson, the 1987 U.S. Open champion, turned 50 during last year's CEC and is playing his first full season on the Champions Tour. Last Sunday, he birdied No. 18 at Pebble Beach to post a one-stroke victory in the Wal-Mart First Tee Open. Three-time winner Jay Haas headlines a CEC field that will include at least 12 of the top 15 players on this year's earnings list.