16 years later, Orioles & Yankees meet again in October

In New Yankee Stadium, Jeffrey Maier wouldn't have had a chance to influence history with his black baseball mitt. 

Tony Tarasco wouldn't have had to worry about the kid extending his glove over the right field wall and snaring Derek Jeter's home run ball. It probably would have been over both of their heads.

Plenty has changed since the last time the Yankees and Orioles met in the postseason 16 years ago. Old Yankee Stadium is no more. Mike Mussina, an Oriole then, helped the Yankees win a World Series in that time. Cal Ripken and David Wells won't be in O's and Yanks uniforms but suits and ties on TV for TBS' coverage. 

Still though, 15 years later, some of the subplots and faces are still similar. 

Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte will still don pinstripes and play important roles in this series. They just no longer have the baby faces of new Yankees in their early 20s. 

In 1996, Buck Showalter was a part of the series only by his absence, fired after losing to the Mariners in the ALDS the year prior. His departure paved the way for the Joe Torre-led Yankees to embark on an era that would go down as another of the franchise's glory days.

This time, Showalter will be in the dugout against the team he once managed. George Steinbrenner, the man who allegedly pushed him out the door, is no longer alive.

But as he did with the Yankees group he got to manage, Buck has performed a turnaround, transforming the Orioles from mediocre to magical.

Their payroll is more than a $100 million less than that of the Yankees. They don't have MVPs. Their pitching staff is cobbled together from guys other teams didn't want. 

Here they are though, bringing October baseball to Camden Yards for the first time since it was one of baseball's newer parks. 

It's hard to explain how they've done it. Odds seem to fly in their face, winners of 16 straight extra-inning games. Their record in one-run games is an astounding, and record-setting, 29-9.  

These Orioles know how to persevere and defy doubters. 

Again, they are underdogs, just as they were in 1996. 

As Orioles right fielder Chris Davis stands in right field, he may turnaround and look into the stands. Peel your eyes, Chris. Watch for any eager kids with gloves gripped tightly on their hands - just in case.