Sunday, July 29, 2007
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A Hero Goes to the Hall of Fame
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
10:01 AM
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Growing up in Frederick, Maryland, I guess I was destined to be a Cal Ripken, Jr. fan. This is especially true when you consider that in 1983 -- the last year the Orioles won the World Series -- I was nine. (Nine has to be just about the perfect age to be a baseball fan, and to have your team go all the way).
Like Cal, I thought the O's would go on to win the big game every year. Instead, he and I suffered through some difficult years, including the 1988 season (when the O's went opened the season by going 0 and 22.
Of course, that didn't stop Cal from racking up some incredible numbers. And while everyone talks about breaking Lou Gehrig's streak, Ripken should also be remembered for changing the position of shortstop. It used to be that shortstops like former Oriole, Mark Belanger, for instance, were smaller guys who mainly earned their pay with their glove. Cal changed all of that -- and was still arguably the best defensive shortstop in history (with apologies to Ozzie Smith). Without Ripken, you wouldn't have a Derek Jeter at short.
As Cal goes into the Hall of fame, I can't help but feel that a page is also turning in my life. There is something both exciting and sad about the ball hero of your childhood going into the Hall of Fame.
Ripken is blessed to be going into the Hall with another good man, Tony Gwynn. Both Ripken and Gwynn played their entire career for one team. Come to think of it, three of the Orioles six Hall of Famers (Ripken, Palmer, and Brooks Robinson) spent their entire careers with one team. If loyalty and work ethic are among the values you cherish, Cal Ripken is a pretty good role model for a kid to have.
Simon and Garfunkel sang, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio." Now I know what they meant.
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Maybe a bad picture but Cal is beginning to look like that other Baltimore icon, Artie Donovan. A dozen or so years ago I had the good fortune to be dating a woman who worked in Donovan's business (a members only "country" club). She had to drop by one day and I went along. I was wandering around the place and stumbled into the bar (which was closed at the time). Sitting there at a table watching a game was Artie who quickly invited me over, got me a beer, and spent about a half hour regaling me with football stories from the old times. Of course, his opinion of todays generation was that they are all a bunch of pansies who'd never survive in the old days.
What a great sports history Baltimore has! |
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chicago neocon writes "Cal Ripken was arguably the best defensive shortshop in history? Give me a break."
i couldnt agree more ... hell he wasnt even the best in his generation! that honor must go to another HOF: Ozzie Smith.
as for Gwynn, i watched the man for years ... he has forgotten more abut hitting them most the young stars know today. oh what a sweet swing!
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As the commentators on ESPN Classic made note of on Sunday, "In New York they name candy bars after Reggie Jackson. In Baltimore they name their children after Brooks Robinson." Being born in Baltimore in 1977, the year Brooks retired, and being named after him myself, I look forward to have the opportunity to name my kids after Cal Ripken. |
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This day is joyful for diehard baseball fans. Those of us who are sick of the media dwelling on the scandals must enjoy this breath of fresh air. |
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Cal Ripken was arguably the best defensive shortshop in history? Give me a break.
I loved Ripken as a player and believe he was a first ballot HOF'er even without the streak, but he was not even close to being the best defensive SS of his era, much less of all time.
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I grew up in Baltimore and lived there until I was 12. I was (and am) a huge Cal Ripken Jr. fan. I have a baseball given to me by my aunt on christmas where a rookie Ripken signed it "To Matt : Merry Christman and all the Best, Cal Ripken". Best present I ever got from her.
Cal set an example for the kids of Baltimore, both my era and the next, about hard work, sportsmanship and fair play. He was never tainted by scandal and always played his butt off. He was the consumate gentleman and sportsman on the field and off.
There are other players like Cal Ripken but he set the example- in the steroid era, he was the cornerstone of the city he played for and one fo the best ever to strap on a pair of cleets. |
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Ripken and Gwynn are two of the greats. In addition to being great ball players, they were class acts. They were great team players. They cared about their teams and their cities. You never heard them make the back page of the papers or the lead story on sports center for any other than there athleticism. They both lead by example. It would of been nice to have seen Gwynn win a World Series, sadly his team ran up against of the great Yankee teams.
In a dark time for sports i.e Michael Vick, the Tour de France, the NBA gambling scandal, Pacman Jones, Barry Bonds and let us not forget Chris Benoit; Ripken and Gwynn Hall of Fame ceremony is a nice relief from the other current headline stories. |
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I felt that same way back in 1999 when my two favorites of all time went in, Nolan Ryan and George Brett. My dad was from Kanas City and so I was always a Royals fan and Brett had so much class. And sitting in center field of the old Arlington Stadium and being able to hear the pop of the glove with a Ryan fastball. A funny story, when I was an Intern at a tv station here, I got to interview Ryan. My hand was shacking so bad holding the microphone...he stopped, put his hand on my shoulder and said "Son, I was a rookie too" something I will never forget in my life. When the Royals played in the 1980 WS, we went to see my family in KC and I got to see the first game played in KC, I was 11.
Cool to read that and think of some great memories! |
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As I grew up for most of my life in Catonsville, Maryland with a short while in Princeton, West Virginia, I grew up as a die hard Baltimore Orioles fan.
I remember when Cal played third base in the last part of the 1981 season. Earl Weaver moved him to shortstop in 1982 after Mark Belanger went to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cal beat out Kent Hrbek for the American League Rookie of the Year in 1982. Cal won the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1983.
Wonderful memories from 1983. That was the year I had graduated high school, and started my adult life. In 1988, when the Orioles went 0-21, Cal hit the home run that electrified Memorial Stadium in their game against the Texas Rangers. The Orioles had won their first game of the season on the Friday night game against the Chicago White Sox in old Comiskey Park.
Cal has done a lot for baseball. Although not having the most outstanding numbers, he has shown class in an era where a loyalty to one team is almost extinct. When I was growing up, Brooks Robinson was my boyhood idol. His dedication to the game, and still to this day a gentleman, and a class act, will forever be immortalized as well as Cal as the two who built Baltimore baseball.
Although Memorial Stadium is long gone, I can see Oriole Park at Camden Yards from my home here in Catonsville. With every night game, the light illuminate the city. Because of players like Cal, Oriole Park was born, and baseball may one day return the game to the fans.
Without appologies....... |
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shortstops that looked like outfielders, he was our hero. |
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