About Cal Ripken Jr.
The “The Iron Man” himself, Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., is a retired American baseball shortstop and third baseman who was born on August 24, 1960. His estimated net worth is $90 million. Ripken spent all 21 years of his baseball career playing with the Baltimore Orioles. Along the way, he played 2131 straight Major League Baseball games, shattering Lou Gehrig’s previous record of 1956. This made him the player to play the most consecutive games in Major League Baseball history.
Early Years of Cal Ripken Jr.
Cal was one of two future Major League Baseball players born to a Major League coach and manager on August 24, 1960. Billy, Cal, and Junior Ripken, all of whom played for the Orioles, are the offspring of Cal Ripken, Sr.
Highlights of Cal Ripken Jr.’s Career
In 1978, Cal Ripken was selected by the Orioles in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. That would start a career in Baltimore that lasted for two decades and resulted in numerous individual and team awards:
- All-Star 19 times
- Silver Slugger Award recipient eight times
- A.L. Rookie of the Year in 1982
- A World Series champion from 1983
- an AL MVP twice
- The All-Time Major League Baseball Team
- The Major League leader with 2,632 straight games played
In 2007, Ripken was put out for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is still one of only 8 baseball players who have combined for 3000 hits and 400 home runs in their careers. While Ripken spent much of his career playing shortstop, he started and concluded his career as a third baseman. He is one of a select group of players who are credited with changing the notion of that position as an all-field, no-hit position.
Vital Statistics:
- Born: Aug. 24, 1960 in Havre de Grace, Md.
- Hometown: Aberdeen, Md.
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 200
- Bats: Right
- Throws: Right
- Family: Wife, Kelly; children, Rachel and Ryan
- Primary position: Shortstop
ahead of the bigs:
Cal Srfather .’s was the Baltimore Orioles’ longtime coach and briefly served as manager. Billy Ripken’s brother reached the major leagues as well.
by the Orioles in the second round of the 1978 draft. That year, just one other Hall of Famer was chosen in the first round, while no Hall of Fame players were (Ryne Sandberg, 20th round).
In 63 at-bats at rookie-level Bluefield in 1978, hit.264 with no home runs.
Started 1979 with Single-A Miami, where he hit.303 with five home runs. After 17 games in Double-A Charlotte, he hit.180 with three home runs.
returned to Charlotte in 1980, and as the team’s third baseman, he enjoyed a breakout year, batting.276 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI.
In 1981, he was promoted to Triple-A Rochester and split time between third base and shortstop, batting.288 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI. played all 33 innings of the longest professional game ever, which lasted three days in total, starting at third base.
Professional Highlights:
participated in all 2,632 games for the Baltimore Orioles between May 30, 1982, and September 20, 1998, setting a record that may never be broken. He surpassed the legendary New York Yankees player Lou Gehrig, who played in 2,131 straight games, who held the previous record.
a participant in every season from 1983 to 2001 and a 19-time American League All-Star.
a winner of the Silver Slugger award for greatest offensive player at his position eight times.
played just 39 at-bats with the Orioles during the 1981 strike season, batting.128. On August 10, he made his debut as a pinch-runner and scored.
Made the 1982 Orioles roster as the team’s starting third baseman, and in his first at-bat against Dennis Leonard of Kansas City, he homered. A.L. Rookie of the Year for his.263 average, 28 home runs, and 93 RBI. played in each match following May 30, 1982.
As the Orioles’ primary shortstop, he made his first All-Star game and was awarded American League MVP after hitting.318 with 27 home runs, 102 RBI, and a.970 fielding %.
won his only World Series championship in his career that year, getting out of the game against Philadelphia on a line drive by Garry Maddox.
Hit at least 20 home runs in ten straight seasons from 1982 through 1991.
played for his father and the Orioles in 1987, starting alongside his brother.
ranked third in the 1989 AL MVP vote while hitting.257 with 31 home runs and 93 RBI.
played shortstop in 162 games and committed just three errors.
In 1991, he batted a career-best and won his first Gold Glove and second AL MVP.
323 with 114 RBI and a career-high 34 home homers. with 211 hits, led the AL. He won the All-Star Home Run Derby and was the MVP of the All-Star Game.
2,000th professional hit was recorded on July 10, 1993. On May 24, 1994, he hit his 300th career home run.
on September 6, 1995, surpassed Lou Gehrig’s record for straight games. When the game was over in the fifth inning due to a home run, he was given a 22-minute standing ovation. He made a renowned lap of the field.
He made his first start at third base since his rookie season on July 15, 1996. In 1997, he was transferred permanently to third base.
On September 20, 1998, just before the season’s final home game, he made the decision to break his streak of straight games.
Before entering the disabled list for the first time in 1999, returned to hit.340 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI in 86 games. On September 2, 1999, he hit his 400th career home run against Tampa Bay.
3,000th hit came against the Minnesota Twins on April 15, 2000, at the Metrodome.
He hit a home run in both his first plate appearance and his final appearance, the 2001 All-Star game. The only player to win the MVP award in two distinct decades, he received the honor for the second time.
.276 career batting average and 3,001 games played before retiring. He had a career OPS of.788, hit 431 home runs, and drove in 1,695 runs.
The Legacy of Ripken
The Ripken legacy is still alive today. Cal Ripken Jr.’s son Ryan was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round of the 2012 amateur baseball draft, joining his father in coaching and managing the team, as well as Cal, Jr. and Billy Ripken playing for the team throughout their playing days.
