The Eutaw Street Chronicles: April 20, 1992

Former Oriole Tettleton makes first-ever visit to Eutaw Street; Horn vows to hit Warehouse

by Matthew Taylor

"When I hit one really good, I'll hit the warehouse. I may not be the first to do it and I don't want to talk too much, but I will be putting in my effort."

-Sam Horn, April 20, 1992

Roar from 34 begins its effort to tell the story of each home run at Camden Yards that has reached Eutaw Street, starting with Mickey Tettleton's 406-foot blast in 1992.

The Eutaw Street Chronicles: April 20, 1992

Hitter: Mickey Tettleton

Pitcher: Ben McDonald

When it happened: Third inning, nobody on, two outs.

Final score: Orioles 12 - Tigers 4

The third in a series of back-to-back-to-back home runs for the Tigers made Orioles history as Mickey Tettleton became the first batter to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street. Tettleton's home run, which followed round trippers by Alan Trammel and Cecil Fielder, came in the third inning of the O's seventh game in their new stadium and their 12th game overall that season. It was the former Oriole's lone hit of the game.

Tettleton's Eutaw Street home run on April 20 wasn't even the longest of the day. That honor belonged to Sam Horn, who deposited a ball 420-feet into the centerfield bleachers, which was the first home run hit to that area at Camden Yards. The drive led Horn to boast to The Washington Times that he would one day hit the Warehouse: "When I hit one really good, I'll hit the warehouse. I may not be the first to do it and I don't want to talk too much, but I will be putting in my effort."

The Washington Post's game story included the following:

"Along with a new ballpark, there is a new attitude in Baltimore. Undaunted by three straight Detroit homers that helped the Tigers build an early four-run lead tonight, the Orioles bounced back with a 16-hit attack for a 12-4 victory before 45,013 and a sweep of the four-game series.

...

Alan Trammell, Cecil Fielder and Mickey Tettleton hit consecutive home runs as the Tigers built a 4-0 lead against Ben McDonald in the third inning. Tettleton's blast over the right field scoreboard landed 406 feet from home plate and only 26 feet from the B&O Warehouse."

Tettleton finished the '92 season with a career-high 32 long balls, his second of three consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs. He earned his third and final Silver Slugger award that year, tying him with Carlton Fisk on the list of 10 catchers to have won multiple Silver Sluggers during their career. Tettleton was the first Tiger to win the award since Matt Nokes did so as a rookie in 1987, when he likewise hit 32 home runs.