Cal Ripken, Jr.

Cal Ripken, Jr. was a former All-Star shortstop/third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles from 1981-2001. Ripken garnered wide acclaim when he surpassed Hall-of-Famer Lou Gehrig's record for the most consecutive games played, 2,131 against the California Angels. In addition to the "Iron Man" record, Ripken finished his career with a career batting average of .276 with 3,189 hits, and 431 home runs. In 2007 he was elected into the Baseball Hall of fame with Tony Gwynn.

Ripken's play, style, and phsyical attritbutes are elements which modern day shortstops are model after. Ripken began his career with the Orioles back in 1981 and by 1982 he was the AL Rookie of the Year. The following year, Ripken would not only win the AL MVP award, but that same season, he would become a World Series Champion as well (the only time in his career).http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ripkeca01.shtml

The years following Ripken's early success were met by mainly turmoil and little success as the Orioles sunk to the bottom of the American League. But there were good times for Ripken such as playing for his dad Cal Sr. in the 1987 season along with brother Billy. A year later, Cal Sr. was fired as manager which put a dent in the younger Ripken's relationship with the club.

Another great accomplishment was winning the AL MVP Award again in 1991 despite the fact that Ripken was playing on a last place team which was controversial at the time. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ripkeca01.shtml Ripken's later years as an Oriole were spent at third base as he horned in on Lou Gerhrig's Iron Man record and on September 6, 1995, Ripken broke Gerhrig's record. Three year's later, Ripken's streak would end as Ryan Minor would come in and play third base for the Orioles ending the streak at 2,632 games.

In 2001, Cal Ripken announced his retirement from the game and throughout most of that season, teams around the American League would pay tribute to the 19 time All-Star,but no tribute was more touching then the 2001 All-Star Game. All-Star shortstop selection Alex Rodriguez, unknown to Ripken, switched spots with him to honor his contribution to the game of baseball. Later in the same game, Ripken would hit a home run and win the All-Star MVP Award; a perfect ending to a storybook career.

No question Ripken's greatest career accomplishment was breaking Lou Gerhring's consecutive game streak back in the 1995 season. Out of all the baseball record's out there, Ripken breaking a record considered by many as unbreakable, is amazing considering he played though injuries as well, but it wasn't without its controversy.

Some baseball experts thought Ripken was no longer playing for his team, but for the streak, therefore hurting his team in the process but once again, he would prove them wrong by winning the MVP Award on a bad team in the 90's. Once the streak was broken, all was forgotten.

On that September night in 1995, when the game became official, an ESPN audience along with the President of the United States Bill Clinton, Oriole fans, and the California Angels honored Ripken with a 22 minute standing ovation. Outside of the stadium, at B & O Warehouse, the sign on wall changed from 2130 to 2131 to honor the accomplishment.

A reluctant , but humbled Ripken thank the fans for their support by taking a lap around the stadium. Ripken made the night even more magical by hitting a homerun as well.