6B
Thursday, September 7, 1995
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Catching a Legend
CAL RIPKEN
Last night Cal Ripken broke one of the most revered records in all of sports Lou Gehrig's string of playing in 2,130 games Below are some of the highlights that have defined the career of a player who truly epitomizes what is great about the national pastime.
BREAKS LOU GEHRIG'S CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAK
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1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
On May 30, then-Oriole manager Earl Weaver starts Ripken at third base. He is in the starting lineup as a third baseman the next 27 games. On July 1, Weaver moves him to shortstop permanently.
Against Philadelphia in the World Series, Ripken bats just .167. But he catches a line drive by Gary Maddox for the final out in Game 5, clinching the championship for the Orioles.
After only his third full season, Ripken has 82 career home runs. Nine major leaguers, including Ripken, have hit 20 or more homers in their first 10 full seasons. He is the career leader in home runs by a shortstop.
In game 444 of the streak, Ripken playing shortstop, sprains his ankle during a pickoff play on second base against Texas. "I don't think I'd have been able to play the next day, but we had a day off." Ripken Sr. said.
Cal Ripken Sr., as Orioles manager, ends his son's consecutive innings streak at 8,243. The media buildup around hisocker was such "the poor guy didn't even have room to get his shirt off."
Ripken argues a strike call by umpire Drew Coble in the first inning of a game and is ejected — one of two ejections for him in the first inning of a game and one of four games he has left before the seventh inning.
Ripken experiences the longest hitting slump of his career, going 0-29. He finishes with 152 hits, 57 runs, 23 home runs, 81 RBI and a .264 batting average.
Perhaps best known for his defense, Ripken makes only three errors in the entire season, setting a major-league record for fewer errors in a season by a shortstop.
Ripken is named the American League MVP for a second time (first in 1983), becoming the first in AL history to win while playing for a below .500 team. He is the last batter ever at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.
Cal Ripken Sr., is fired as Orioles coach after the season ends. "Let's just say I wasn't happy about being fired ... And there wasn't any rhyme or reason for doing it," Ripken Sr. said.
In game 1,790 of the streak, Ripken sprains a knee during a "beanball" brawl between the Orioles and Mariners. "I was just trying to stop a crowd from jumping on top of my pitcher." He plays the next day's game.
In a post-game interview, he is asked of his thoughts on Gehing, "I consider him a great player. I don't consider myself a great player ... We shared a similar work ethic, I think that is probably where the comparison really ends."
On Sept. 6, the 35-year-old Ripken breaks the record in Oriole Park at Camden Yards, about 25 miles from his boyhood home. "I've been blessed ... Everything's worked out in storybook fashion."
Design: Brian James; Information and Research: AP, Brian James
Risken photo: Alison; Card: Dugout III