Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken Jr., nicknamed "The Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseballfor the Baltimore Orioles. One of his position's most offensively productive players, Ripken compiled 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career, and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American LeagueMost Valuable Player. Ripken is best known for...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth24 August 1960
CityHavre De Grace, MD
CountryUnited States of America
By far, the best moment of my big league career was when I caught the last out at the World Series.
I think Nick Markakis is a perennial All-Star, and nobody knows about him. I think people are learning about how good he is.
The last thing you want to do is go down in the history of All-Star game competition as the only injury (his nose was broken by Roberto Hernandez) sustained during the team picture.
I kept thinking, 'this must be the coolest job - I'd like to be a professional baseball player.' They were getting paid to play a game, and what a cool lifestyle that was.
As long as I can compete, I won't quit. Reaching three-thousand is not the finish line as long as I can contribute.
The streak has become my identity; it's who I've become.
I don't love the idea of the responsibility falling on the manager. That just adds to their in-game responsibility.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, you couldn't say you were better than the other person because you knew you had a secret. You knew you had cheated.
I haven't given it (achieving 3,000 hits) much thought. I was taught a certain approach, how to come to the ballpark. I try not to do too much thinking about things like that. In this society we measure success in different ways. Three thousand (hits) represents success over a career, not a season. It'll be nice to get to that point.
My approach to every game was to try to erase the games that were before and try to focus on the game at hand.
Early in my career, I decided I never wanted to get out of shape.
That's the result of the black cloud on baseball, .. Until it's rid of steroids, people are naturally going to think that.
I never understood that when I heard people retire - they said they missed being around the guys. I don't have a need to make a play in the ninth inning of a game anymore. But being on the inside and being part of a team is something that you really do value and you really do miss.
When you are away from the game and busy with other areas, you realize that the world does not revolve around baseball.