CAL RIPKEN A year-by-year glance at Ripken's string of consecutive games, Page 6.
SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,1995
SECTION B
NUMBER 2,131
The record belongs to Ripken
Rv Ren Walker
The Associated Press
Cliff Owen, The Washington Times / KNIGHT-RIDDER TRIBUNE
Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken presents Orioles jackets to, from left, President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Tipper Gore. Ripkin broke Leigh Gehrig's consecutive games streak last night.
BALTIMORE — Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's unbreakable record last night when he played his 2,131st consecutive game, becoming the most dependable, most durable athlete in the history of America's oldest sport.
Ripken started his big night by catching the ceremonial first-pitches from his children, then highlighted it by hitting a home run in the fourth inning. Moments later the game between his Baltimore Orioles and the California Angels became official.
More than a half-century after Gehrig was forced out of the lineup by a deadly disease, Ripken edged past him as baseball's new Iron Man. Ripken's string of starting every game for more than 13 years seems even more unbreakable than when Gehrig set the mark in 1939. Major leaguers rarely play every game even in a single month — in fact, the second-longest active streak belongs to Frank Thomas at just 235.
Once resentful that he might be known only for his streak — he's won two A.L. MVP awards, been a 13-time All-Star, hit more home runs than any shortstop and set nearly a dozen fielding records — the Orioles star gracefully slipped into immortality when the game became official in the middle of the fifth innings.
Casually, almost as matter of factly as he showed up for work day after day, Ripken accepted the adoration of the cheering hometown fans. Patting his heart several times, he stood on the field outside the Orioles' dugout as players from both teams and all four umpires joined in the 22-minute, 15-second standing ovation.
The tribute began when the 10-foot numbers on the B&O warehouse across the street from Camden Yards dropped to reveal 2-1-3-1. Fireworks exploded overhead, near where a blimp displayed the sign "CALIS 1."
To Ripken, breaking Gehrig's record has just been a matter of wanting to play, of showing up each day at work ready to do a job.
Until lately, when the weight of what his streak meant started to set in.
"I don't think I got to sleep last night," he said yesterday afternoon. "I think the last time I looked at the clock, it was around 3.
"I'm trying not to think too much about it. I'm almost fearful that if I do, I'll get caught up in it and lose my focus."
To most everyone watching him, seeing those numbers on the warehouse counting the games was a reminder that they were witnessing an achievement they'll remember the rest of their lives.
It's so difficult to fathom it what it means, Orioles teammate Chris Holles said. "As a ballplayer, it just
seems so amazing."
Since Riplen started his streak on May 30, 1982, there have been 3,712 major league players on the disabled list. Other teams, meanwhile, have used 517 starting shortstops.
he takes great pride in the fact that he never bruises," teammate Brady Anderson said. "He's got this game that he likes to play called the rib game. He gets it in the ribs with your knuckles and then he does the same to you. You come in later all bruises and he likes to show you that there's no mark on him."
Ripken's substance makes streak amazing
The first time I saw the name Cal Ripken was April 1982, when I pulled his baseball card out of a pack purchased from the corner drugstore. Needless to say, I'm proud to still have that card.
started for the Ori
On May 30 of that year, Ripken
otes at third base.
And well, you know
the rest of the story.
Then-Baltimore
manager Earl
Weaver moved him to shortstop on July 1,
and nobody else has started a game for the Orioles at that position since.
ASSOCIATE
SPORTS
EDITOR
But that doesn't matter. Anyone with the desire and ability to play in 2,131 consecutive games can do it.
provided he can keep the job and stay healthy.
It's the way Ripken has gone about the streak that is incredible.
Much has been written about how Ripken puts his body on the line both on and off the field, apparently unconcerned about missing a game. Ripken has suffered from sprained ankles and a strained knee but hasn't been slowed.
Texas manager Johnny Oates, who managed Baltimore before joining the Rangers, said that when the Orioles visited Minneapolis to face the Twins, Ripken and teammate Brad Anderson had leaping contests off the steps that led from the locker room to the dugout.
— not typical behavior for a guy who wants to stay healthy.
And until recently, Ripken has said the streak isn't about chasing an unbreakable record or beating Lou Gehrig. He simply enjoys playing the game.
In an ESPN interview on Sunday, Oates noted how unselfish Ripken was about the streak.
"I once asked Cal if he would get angry about being taken out of a game or not even being started," Oates said. "But he said, 'If I'm the best shortstop on the Baltimore team that day, then put me in the lineup.'"
And he has been.
Ripken became the heart and soul of a 1983 Orioles team that won the World Series in five games. I believe Baltimore had the most consistent team in
baseball from 1979 to their World Championship in '83. They did it the Weaver way — with solid pitching, good defense and the three-run home run. Ripken became the final piece of the Orioles' championship puzzle.
In his book "Nine Innings," Daniel Okrent details a game between Baltimore and Milwaukee on June 10, 1982. The rookie who started at third base and went three-for-five at the plate that day showed he was special. Ripken wasn't in the big leagues because his father, Cal Ripken, Sr., was the third base coach for the Orioles, even though it might have been on the minds of his peers.
Cal Ripken, Jr. had heart.
"He had flourished in the minor leagues to such a degree that Baltimore traded third baseman Doug DeCinces, a regular for six years, to California," Okrent wrote. "As the Orioles' third base coach's son, he had been readily accepted by his teammates and was spared the ice reception still afforded many rookies."
Ripken went on to become the American League Rookie of the Year that season and league MVP the next. Cal Sr. eventually became the Orioles' man.
ager, and Cal Jr.'s brother Bill played next to him at second base.
Then the streak grew and began to haunt Ripken. When he slumped at the plate, some said to give him the day off. Others said he was greedy and wanted to be remembered for beating Gehrig's record.
I didn't buy it then and don't now.
If Cal Ripken didn't hold the record for consecutive games played, he is still Hall of Fame material. The man earned a second MVP award in 1991, has the most home runs by a shortstop and a closet filled with Gold Gloves. But awards and honors aren't the clincher either.
What is most important to me is Ripken's dedication to the city of Baltimore and the Orioles organization.
He works just as hard today as he did in 1982. He shunned free agency to stick with the team that brought him to the majors. He still fights to win even when the Orioles aren't contending for the pennant.
All Cal Ripken ever wanted to do was play. I don't think baseball ever can reward him enough, but Cal doesn't seem to mind at all.
That's the way it should be.
Freshman brings intensity to team
Matt Flickner / KANSAN
Kansas freshman Laura Rohde has already worked her way into the Jayhawks' starting lineup.
Kansas freshman volleyball player Laura Rohde lays pitifully on the court as assistant coach Kiran Mistry throws ball after ball near her grounded body. Rohde gives Monica Seles-type grunts in this conditioning exercise — called the pit drill. After several minutes, Rohde barely can raise her arms off the floor, as her attempts fall short of the scattering balls.
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswrite
"Get up, get up," barks Mistry.
Get up, get up, bark at her And just when it looks as if Rohde has run out of gas, she picks herself off the floor and continues — with the ball being thrown even faster.
When Rohde finishes the drill she walks slowly off the court and begins to softly cheer on another teammate in the pit.
On the volleyball court Rhode is gritty, aggressive and loud. Off the court, however, this freshman has all the flashy pizzazz of a Sunday school teacher.
"She is a great athlete and she knows the game very well."
Her statistics, on the other hand, are flashy.
Karen Schonewise
Kansas volleyball coach
While at Gull Lake High School in Galesburg, Mich., Rohde was a two-time United States Volleyball Association All-American, a three-time all-state selection and was named all-conference and all-area four-times.
"Laura is very experienced and very dynamic," Kansas volleyball coach Karen Schonewise said. "She is a great athlete and she knows the game very well."
"Laura was a very dominant, intense player," Quartermaine said. "She was dedicated to being the best, and she made the other players around her better."
Rohde began playing volleyball competitively in the sixth grade. She went on to be a four-year
starter in high school under volleyball coach Anne Querminea
When she is off the court, the soft-spoken Rohde slows down the fast pace she keeps on the court.
"When I'm not playing volleyball, I just like sitting in my room and nipponing in a movie," she said.
Rohde said she doesn't watch much television but spends time listening to music, especially Jimmy Buffet.
Rohde says the adjustment to college life haven't been too difficult.
"I really haven't gotten that homesick, but school is a lot more different in college than high school," Rohde said. "It's a lot more individual. You don't have the teacher on you all the time."
After being recruited by schools such as Washington State and Ball State, Rohde said she had no regrets in her college selection.
"Ooh," she said with a grin, "I love it here."
Paul Kotz / KANSAN
Kansas junior tight end Hosea Frieds gave sandwiched by two Cincinnati defenders in Saturday's game.
Football team has room for improvement
By Robert Sinclair Kansan sportswriter
But that doesn't necessarily mean nothing was impressive.
Four days after its season-opening victory against Cincinnati, Kansas football coach Glen Mason still wasn't impressed with his team's performance.
Kansas senior punter Darwin Simmons was awarded the AT&T Long Distance Award for NCAA Division I-A schools on Tuesday.
Simmons averaged 51.4 yards a punt and unleashed two career-long boots of 59 yards. Six of his seven punts also totaled more than 49 yards.
Some of what made his game even more impressive was his ability to overcome adversity. In addition to having to field less-than-perfect snaps, he also had to contend with gusting and swirling winds.
"Sometimes when there's a bad snap, there's more of a sense of urgency to get the ball off," Simmons said. "I come from southwest Kansas, down there where the wind's blowing hard all the time. I'm used to punting in that kind of stuff."
In recognition of this award, AT&T donated $400 to the NCAA's Degree-Completion Award Program and Simmons will be given an engraved plaque.
Kansas sophomore cornerback Avery Randle was burned for an 82-yard touchdown on the third play of the second half. He had been sent in to replace Kansas senior cornerback Dorian Brew who was shaken up on the previous play.
In addition to proving himself, Randle will have extra motivation to play well Saturday. When the Jayhawks play North Texas in Irving, Texas, many of Randle's family and friends will be on hand.
"That long one on me kind of hurt, but it's part of the game," Randle said. "Cornerbacks get beat sometimes. You've got to keep your head up and go."
After watching other scores and results, Mason decided he was being a little harsh in his evaluation. Other teams actually did play worse, but that didn't make Mason feel any better.
Mason's critique of Saturday's game remained harsh despite Simmons' award.
"We didn't play well. I said that right after the game, and things haven't changed," Mason said at his weekly press conference. "I went home Saturday night, sat down with two kids and said, 'We played worse than any college football team in America today.'"
"I'm really excited about going home," the Dallas native said. "From what we've seen, this is a passing team. I think it'll be a good challenge for us."
Mason about the offense: "There's two things that any coach will tell you that are very important to football, especially offensive people, and that's consistency and big plays. If you're real, real consistent, then you don't need big plays; if you get a lot of big plays then you don't need consistency. What most people realistically strive for is a balance between consistency and big plays.
Although Mason said he was proud of his defense, and that it was responsible for winning the game, at least one member of the defense will be working hard to improve after a disappointing game against Cincinnati.
"The reason we were so poor Saturday: we had neither."
Mason on Kansas senior quarterback Mark Williams: "He didn't perform well. Period. He had a bad game. I don't blame players; I blame coaches. The only reason I point out so blatantly that Mark had a bad game is because he's a lot better than that. That was the worst day that he has had at the University of Kansas."
0
■ Mason reflecting on last Saturday: "I expected a heck of a lot more. I'm more critical than you guys or anybody else could ever be. Let me tell you: if you think we played bad, in that case, I think we played worse. That's the way I feel. The worst part of that game? When we missed that fourth and one. That was the most disappointing part of that day."
Whether Mason will play Kansas junior quarterback Ben Rutz: "I intend to, yeah. He's going to get in the gargle."
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