I'm feeling rather sentimental today. Why is that? Because 17 years ago a boy was watching on TV as his hometown California Angels hosted the Baltimore Orioles and his favorite player Cal Ripken, Jr. He wasn't watching just any game though. This was special. On this night, the boy was seeing history. A record once thought impossible to break was falling: 2,130 consecutive games set by Lou Gehrig. The man who revolutionized the shortstop position had officially played more than 13 seasons of baseball without missing a game. The boy watched wide eyed as the game was delayed more than 20 minutes as his hero trotted around the field to the applause of fans and fellow players alike. He also homered in the game.
If you didn't guess, that 9 year old boy was me. And I still have a poster of Cal Ripken, Jr. in my home. He was not only a great player but a great person. I remember going to multiple games where he would stay for hours afterwards signing autographs. I was the greatest example of hard work, dedication, humility and sportsmanship. I also remember him in his last All-Star game where he was scheduled to start at third base. All of a sudden Alex Rodriguez comes walking over from his shortstop position and tells Cal to switch him places. Cal wouldn't do it but A-Rod insisted and Ripken was forced to play his natural position one last time.
So is he the greatest shortstop ever? Well, in all honesty no, he isn't. That distinction belongs to one of the greatest players ever in Honus Wagner, but Ripken's close. Everyone knows him for the consecutive games streak (which he finished at 2,632) but they forget his amazing stat line. Let me throw some numbers at you. He was an All-Star 20 out of his 21 years. He won Rookie of the Year. He won MVP twice (finished 3rd another year). He is one of only eight players in history to hit 400 homers and get 3000 hits. He accounted for more than 3300 runs (1647 runs and 1695 RBIs). He has the highest WAR (wins above replacement) of any shortstop besides Wagner. And he was a first ballot Hall of Famer. He would easily make my all-time roster, albeit as a backup.
Now we get to enjoy the "man of a thousand swings" as an analyst for TBS baseball. In whatever capacity he is in, Cal Ripken, Jr. is one of my favorite people in the game and young ballplayers everywhere can learn something from him.
