Happy 55th, Cal Ripken, Jr.

[Teflon]

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On the occasion of Cal Ripken Jr’s 55th birthday, I looked back at his playing record  and was struck by the fact that Cal, who played 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, won the AL MVP award and played in his only World Series in his second full season (defeating the Phillies) never made it back. In the 18 seasons that followed for Cal, the closest the Baltimore Orioles got was losing in the ALCS to the Yankees in 1996 and the Indians in 1997. As deservedly recognized and revered as Ripken was, (Rookie of the Year, 2 MVPs, 2 Gold Gloves, 8 Silver Sluggers, 19 All-Star games) his greatest team success unfortunately came early in his career and was never matched.

 

It also struck me how much Ripken’s career paralleled another outstanding player’s – the NFL’s Dan Marino. Marino, who had a 17 year career in the NFL with the Dolphins, won the league MVP award in his second season in the NFL and led the Dolphins to their only Super Bowl of his career, losing to the 49ers in 1985. In the 15 seasons that followed, the Dolphins made it to two Conference Championships, losing to the Patriots the next season and the Bills in 1992. Marino was also widely lauded (MVP, 9-time Pro Bowl, 3-time first team All-Pro) but, like Ripken, could never match the team success from early in his career.

 

Five years after each retired, they were enshrined in their respective Halls of Fame – Marino in 2005 and Ripken in 2007. (Cal was voted in on 537 of the 545 ballots. You have to wonder what the other 8 voters were thinking.)

 

As many of you know, Cal got his 3000th hit versus the Twins in the Metrodome. What many of you might not know is that he came out after the game and signed autographs for all the kids in the stands that had come down to the Orioles dugout. That’s my favorite Ripken memory – better even than the night he broke Gehrig’s consecutive game streak in Baltimore.

 

Happy Birthday, Cal!

[biggentleben]

Cal's discussing a move to be the next former player to become a MLB manager without any managerial experience. I just can't imagine him anywhere but Baltimore, but I don't know how Showalter leaves Baltimore soon.