Long before cable television, ESPN and the Major League Baseball Network gave baseball fans all the home runs and stolen bases they wanted, my father followed the Baltimore Orioles on the radio.

We were a Rochester baseball family. The International League Rochester Red Wings represented the Orioles’ top farm team, so many people in my neighborhood rooted for the Birds. Many still do, even though the Twins are now calling the shots.

Dad found some stations that carried Baltimore games, but because they were far out of town, signals were often full of static or faded in and out. Still, my father sat at our kitchen table, hoping for word about Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell and Paul Blair.

He had to plug in the AM-FM again early Wednesday morning, to listen to the end of the marathon MLB All-Star Game.

Here’s the sad story: The gang at Rochester Gas and Electric had scheduled routine power system upgrades during Wednesday’s early morning hours. From midnight Tuesday until 5 a.m. Wednesday, there would be no electricity on Alameda Street and other blocks.

How’s that for bad timing? The game was already in extra innings by midnight, so fans had two choices — bed or batteries. Dad opted for the radio solution, and hung in there until about 1:15 a.m. He missed the American League’s rally — and winning run in the bottom of the 15th inning — by about 30 minutes.

Dad wasn’t steamed about the bad luck.

“I just figured the RG&E had to do their duty,” he said.

At least he got the chance to see George Sherrill, the Orioles’ closer, pitch some early morning baseball.