Pouring a Natty Boh on the stoop for Willie Don

William Donald Schafer, the colorful former governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore died yesterday.

Living in an adjoining state, I could enjoy Schaefer for his antics without being embarrassed by them. Now, granted someone else near Northern Virginia had a tendency to get more attention, but Schaefer had his moments.

From a non-Marylander’s perspective, he built a lot of things that brought me into the city of Baltimore now and again. The National Aquarium and the Inner Harbor come to mind. He also got stadia built for baseball (too bad the tenant proved to be so awful and anti-DC) and football after Bob Irsay stole the Baltimore Colts away in the dark of night. Schaefer also championed making US 50 a four-lane highway all the to Ocean City which I go to about every 8 years.

OBITUARIES

William Donald Schaefer, governor and mayor, dies – The Sun
William Donald Schaefer dies at 89; Maryland governor, Baltimore mayor had trademark style – The Post
William Donald Schaefer, former governor, dies at 89 – The Capital, Annapolis

The Sun editorialized Schaefer this morning, but The Post did not. Also, neither the Orioles or Ravens put up a statement on the Web sites about their biggest political benefactor this morning. Poor form, birdies.