Baltimore fans haven't had a lot to cheer about recently. But on Sunday, it was a flashback to the glory days when the O's competed and succeeded. Cal Ripken, Jr. was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame and there to share the moment with him were a full covey of Bird's fans and former Orioles. His closest friend and teammate Eddie Murray, his boyhood idol Brooks Robinson, his hot-headed manager Earl Weaver, star pitcher Jim Palmer and another of Cal's managers, Frank Robinson. They were all there to witness Cal's crowning moment. His Hall of Fame plaque reads:
"Arrived at the ballpark every day with a burning desire to perform at his highest level. Dedication and work ethic resulted in a record 2632 consecutive games played from May 30th, 1982 to September 19, 1998 earning him the title of baseball's Iron man."
He addressed the streak of consistency in his hall of fame speech. "I always looked at it as just showing up for work every day. I see thousands of people who do the same...teachers, police officers, mothers, fathers, business people and many others. You all may not receive the accolades that I have throughout my career, so I'd like to take the time out to salute all of you for showing up, working hard and making the world a better place."
I grew up a fan of the Orioles, marveling at Brooks Robinson's ability to cover 3rd base. In high school I tried to model my pitching after Jim Palmer with the high leg kick and the number 22. In 1983, I took notice of Cal Ripken, Jr. and quickly placed him at the top of my list of favorite athletes.
If you bought a ticket to an Orioles game, you knew Cal would be in the line-up and each summer, beginning in 1988, I would head north to catch an Oriole series. In 1989, donning my #8 Cal jersey, I waited after the game with many other fans hoping to get an autograph from Cal as he hopped into his car to leave the park. The long wait thinned out the crowd until it was just me and one other person.
My future wife kept giving me that look of, we're not really doing this are we?! Finally at 1am, Ripken made his way from the players exit at Memorial Stadium to his car. He was mired in a terrible slump so I was a little apprehensive about approaching him. (plus I'm a 26 year old guy wearing a Cal jersey....come on!) As I got within earshot, I simply told Cal, "I appreciate the way you play the game." At first, he gave me a strange look that said, did you steal my jersey? He then broke into a smile and said thanks, eyeing the baseball that I held in my hand. "Would you sign this please?," I asked...."Sure", Ripken replied.
After 18 years, the ink has faded on that baseball but it's a reminder of my first encounter with Cal Ripken, Jr. Some fans are afraid to meet their athletic idols. Fearful that the player will be a jerk and crush the lofty pedestals that we put athletes on. I didn't expect that with Ripken and it wasn't the case.
I always said that I would be in Cooperstown when Ripken went into the Hall of Fame. I didn't deliver but Cal sure did. He spoke about the responsibility that athletes should have toward the younger generation who watch and emulate their every move. "Kids see it all and it's not some of your actions that influence, it's all of them. Whether we like it or not as big leaguers, we are role models. The only question is will we positive or will it be negative."
In his closing statement, Cal erased the line between players and fans. "I can only hope that all of us, whether we played on the field or been fans in the stands, can reflect on how fortunate we are and can see our lives as new beginnings that allow us to leave this world a bit better than when we came into it. "
Cal was always about doing things the right way, the Ripken way. He's an example who doesn't mind being one and even though he never craved the attention, Cal Ripken, Jr. could never avoid it.
