Happy Birthday, Cal

A few weeks ago, I wrote a happy birthday post to my favorite basketball player ever, David Robinson. Today, I get to write a similar post to my favorite baseball player ever, and favorite athlete ever, Calvin Edwin Ripken, Jr.

You may know him as Cal or Iron Man. He turned 49 today.

For 21 seasons, Ripken was the epitome of a baseball player. Playing every day (literally, for almost 17 seasons), #8 redefined the shortstop position, both offensively and defensively. Gone were the days of a small, light-hitting, defensive-minded shortstop patrolling the middle of the diamond. The 6'4", 225-lb. hoss ushered in the era of shortstops who could field their position, but also be counted on to contribute offensively. Before Alex Rodriguez showed up on the scene (and before Ripken was moved to 3rd base in 1997, Ripken owned pretty much every offensive record for shortstops.

Yes, Ripken's career will always be remember for The Streak, in which he played 2,632 straight games, breaking Lou Gehrig's previous record of 2,130, but let's not forget how productive he was as a player. 19 All-Star games, 2 MVPs, over 3,000 hits, over 600 doubles, over 400 home runs, nearly 1,700 runs batted in, and a World Series ring put the quantity of his career into picture, but not the quality. It wasn't just the mind-boggling numbers he put up, it was the grace and respect for the game with which he played that always set Ripken apart from his peers. If you need a sterling example of what a big-leaguer should be, look no further than the formers Orioles shortstop.

Cal never shrugged off a fan's request for an autograph, never got suspended for any games, never caused any fights in the locker room, and never showed up a teammate in the field -- all while putting up Hall of Fame numbers while enduring the daily grind of playing baseball day in and day out for over 20 years. Despite only making 8 errors in 1989 and 3 errors in 1990 (unheard of totals for a shortstop), Ripken didn't win the Gold Glove in either year (though he would later win two). Did he make a big deal out of it? Of course not; that wouldn't have been The Ripken Way.

Cal's father, Cal Sr., instilled in him the principles of hard work, commitment, and practicing your craft. Over his career, no one exemplified these principles better than Cal. Even though he's been gone from the game for 8 years (man, has it really been that long?), his exploits and accomplishments remain fresh in the minds of baseball fans everywhere, especially this fan's. Cal may not play for the Orange Birds any more, but not a day goes by that I don't think about him or relish the fact that I was able to see him play.

So, Cal, thank you. For the memories, for the on-field excellence, for making the Orioles good, for the example you set, for everything. There has never been a baseball player like you before; and, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, there never will be again.

~~ Lank