11x12.5”. 32 pages. "Sun Magazine" from Baltimore Sun Newspapers Sunday Edition, Aug. 13, 1978. Cover photo with great 3-page article with 4 photos. Caption at cover bottom reads “On The Bottom Rung Of Baseball’s Ladder.” Article goes on to examine the rookie year of Tim Norris and Cal Ripken Jr. as “Bluefield Orioles,” a Single A minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Article has interesting details of life as a minor league player including travel, pay scale, spare time activities, etc. Ripkin was then a 17-year old shortstop and the son of the Oriole's third base coach, Cal Ripken Sr. The Bluefield team nicknames are the “Baby Birds” or the “Baby O’s” and as seen on the cover photo their uniforms matched the Baltimore Orioles. Bluefield’s link with the Orioles, which started in 1958, is currently the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major league franchise in minor league baseball. Article explains “Marylanders Tim Norris And Cal Ripken, Jr., Play For The Orioles Minor League Team In Bluefield, W. Va., And Both Have The Same Dream – That Some Day They’ll Work Their Way Up To Playing In The Majors.” Norris never made it to the big leagues. Ripken’s Major League baseball debut was 8/10/81. Lt. cover wear, mostly along spine edge. Early and historic Cal item. Fine.