Cal ripken sr biography for kids

Initially, he was slated to back up highly regarded prospect Bob Bonner. A short time later, Bonner was promoted to Double A ball and Cal became the starter. He started off a bit slowly at the plate but finished the season with a respectable. Surprisingly, he did not hit any home runs that year. In the field, Ripken struggled a bit with his throws but otherwise played well.

After a few more years of minor league seasoning and a couple of winters playing against major league competition in Puerto Rico, Cal finally got his shot at the big leagues. He went on to have a fine year, hitting. During his stay with the Red Wings, Cal played in the longest game in the history of professional baseball. The teams fought to a tie cal ripken sr biography for kids 32 innings before the umpires called a halt after four the next morning.

Pawtucket eventually won the marathon contest in the 33rd inning when the teams met again on June The battle played out over three days, consuming eight hours and 25 minutes. Ripken played the entire game at third base for the Red Wings, going 2-for The major leagues were in the midst of playing a split schedule in due to a midseason strike.

Cal did not see much action as he served as an understudy to third baseman Doug DeCinces. The Orioles were contending for a second half playoff spot, and Birds manager Earl Weaver went with his veteran players down the stretch. Ripken made his first major league appearance as a pinch runner on August 10 and a few days later made his defensive debut as a late-inning substitute for shortstop Lenn Sakata.

Oriole shortstop Mark Belanger, who was playing his last year with the club, gave Junior many valuable tips on playing the infield that season. The following year, Doug DeCinces was traded to California, and Cal was given a chance to win the starting job at third base. Ripken started off the campaign with three hits including a home run.

After that, he began to struggle, at one point going 1-forbut Oriole manager Earl Weaver never lost confidence in the future Hall of Famer. Fighting his way through the slow start, Cal eventually found his stroke, hitting safely in 13 out of 14 games. By early June, his batting average was up to. He was in the starting lineup on May 30 and played every game for the rest of the year.

This date would have significant meaning in years to come. The next day, Cal swiped home against the Texas Rangers on the front end of a double steal for his first major league stolen base. You never know, Rip might be a great shortstop. Been with Baltimore my whole career. The Orioles narrowly missed the playoffs that year, losing out in the last game of the final series to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Weaver later told the young infielder that if he had started him at shortstop earlier in the season they would have probably won the pennant. It was also during this time that Ripken and Eddie Murray established their lifelong friendship. Murray had known Cal Sr. The elder Ripken had backed Eddie when the Oriole organization was hesitant about allowing the slugging infielder to become a switch-hitter.

Murray enjoyed standing around at the shortstop position after he had taken infield practice, and that is where he and Cal first started talking baseball. Ripken led the league with hits while compiling a. The Orioles knocked off the Chicago White Sox in the playoffs and went on to defeat an aging yet star-studded Philadelphia team in the Fall Classic.

Junior snagged a line drive off the bat of Garry Maddox for the final out of the series. He was taller and heavier than the majority of players who had previously played the position. There were certainly great cal ripken sr biographies for kids who played the position in years past, but his unique combination of power [ career home runs] and patience [1, career walks] put him in a class all by himself.

He was able to hone this useful skill by attending the pitcher-catcher strategy sessions the Orioles held in the clubhouse before each series. Very seldom, if ever, was he seen out of position or cheating the wrong way on an opposing batsman. The Orioles had Junior anchoring the shortstop position and Billy Ripkenwho joined the ballclub that year, at second base.

The brothers covered the middle in fine style, forming one of the most sure- handed double play combinations in the history of the organization. Late in the season, on September 14Ripken Sr. The Oriole shortstop had not missed an inning of play dating back to June 5, Cal was standing on the dugout steps waiting to take his place at the on-deck circle when Senior mentioned to him that this might be a good time to take a rest.

Junior, who was in a 1-for hitting slump before the game, took his turn at bat in the top of the eighth inning and then had a seat on the bench. Ripken was born December 17,in Aberdeen, Maryland. He attended Aberdeen High School, where he helped the baseball team win three county championships and go undefeated in As a player, he played catcher.

The Baltimore Orioles signed Ripken as a player after high school, and in he began his year tenure in the organization as the starting catcher for the Phoenix Stars of the Class C Arizona-Mexico League. In games, he batted. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.

He was the first Oriole other than Eddie Murray since to lead the team in home runs, with Cal Ripken Sr. That year, Ripken Sr. Later in the season, Ripken Sr. Ron Washington replaced him in the eighth inning, ending Ripken's streak of 8, consecutive innings played. Ripken Sr. Ripken finished the year batting a career-low. He also recorded a.

The Orioles considered having Ripken replace Ray Knight at third base inbut they decided to keep him at shortstop. After the Orioles started the season 0—6, Ripken Sr. The Orioles started the year 0—21, with Ripken slumping as well to open the season. He finished the year batting just. He also had a particularly memorable play in the All-Star Game, making a tremendous catch and strong throw to retire Will Clark in the second inning.

Ken Rosenthal of The Baltimore Sun called it "the gem of the evening. During the season, Ripken had signed a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, preventing him from being a free agent at season's end. That was an AL record for hits by brothers; the major league record was held by Lloyd and Paul Waner, who had eight on June 25, Fifteen days later, he passed Steve Garvey by playing in his 1,th straight game, moving to third on baseball's all-time list behind Lou Gehrig and Everett Scott.

Ripken slumped in September, as he had only seven hits in his final 55 at bats. Ripken slumped offensively inbatting. However, throughout the year, he impressed players and fans with his fielding. On June 12, he broke Mark Belanger 's Baltimore record for most consecutive errorless chances by a shortstop. He went 67 straight games before experiencing what was originally scored an error on June However, official scorer Bill Steka decided the error was really Mike Devereaux 's fault and changed the call the next day.

Ripken continued the streak to 95 games, breaking the Major League record for shortstops and setting the AL record for infielders other than third basemen. On June 12, he also passed Scott to move into second place all-time for consecutive games played. The milestone came at Memorial Stadium ; however, the fans booed him because of his offensive slump.

He and Billy tied for the team lead with 28 doubles. Ripken committed only three errors inshattering the previous record of six in a season. Some felt that Ripken should have won the award: Tim Kurkjian called the vote a "crime", and Bobby Valentine stated that he was, "embarrassed by the actions of my peers. Ripken had a career year in Through the All-Star break, his batting average was.

He finished the season by hitting. In addition, Ripken hit 46 doubles, stole a career-high six bases, and hit five triples while posting his career lowest strikeout rate and fewest strikeouts in a season with or more plate appearances. He became the first Major League shortstop ever to tally 30 home runs and or more hits or 30 home runs and 40 or more doubles.

As for his regular-season MVP award, he was the first to win the award in the American League while playing with a sub. Ripken was the last Oriole to bat at the stadium, hitting into a double play against Detroit's Frank Tanana on October 6, During the season, Ripken and the Orioles tried to work out a new contract. Several times throughout the season, Ripken endured batting slumps.

He said after the season, "I don't like to make excuses for the fact that I wasn't hitting, but I was distracted I just felt like the Orioles were playing mind games with me. Whether that was right or wrong, it was bothering me. Ripken's slumps continued, and he was even booed by Orioles' fans late in the season. He finished the year batting.

The Orioles contended for the playoffs much of the year, and were not eliminated until September However, he did win his second Gold Glove Award. For the first time in Ripken's career, he became the only Ripken in the Orioles' organization, as the Orioles ousted his father as coach and traded Billy to Texas. His slump continued at the start of the season, but Ripken managed to get out of it in May by adopting a taller batting stance.

Because of his early-season struggles, some criticized him for playing every day. Bobby Bonds said of Ripken's playing every day, "That's idiotic. If I were his manager, he'd be out of there. On June 6, Ripken injured his knee during a brawl against the Seattle Mariners and was convinced for most of the next day that he would be unable to play. However, the knee felt better at gametime, enabling the streak to continue.

Cal ripken sr biography for kids

Because of Ripken's struggles, most managers and some sportswriters felt he should be left out of the All-Star Game in Baltimore that year; however, the fans gave him more than two million votes to ensure his spot. Following the All-Star break, Ripken's hitting improved greatly, as he batted. Before the season, the Elias Sports Bureau informed the Orioles that Ripken had surpassed Ernie Banks for most career home runs as a shortstop with his th on July 15 against Scott Erickson.

Banks met Ripken at a ceremony on February 9 and said, "I'm extremely happy that he broke this record because it give me a chance to come back and be remembered too. On August 1, he played in his 2,th consecutive game, a 1—0 victory over the Twins at the Metrodome. Through games, Ripken batted. Many cal ripken sr biography for kids fans within and outside of the United States tuned into ESPN to watch Ripken surpass Lou Gehrig 's year-old record for consecutive games played 2, games.

The game, between the Orioles and the California Angelsstill ranks as one of the network's most-watched baseball games baseball's most-watched game was Game 7 of the World Series. Cal's children, Rachel and Ryan, threw out the ceremonial first balls. The Orioles erected special box seats for the game to raise money for the Johns Hopkins University to study Lou Gehrig's disease.

Ripken received a standing ovation from the crowd, the opposing players, and the umpires that lasted more than 22 minutes, one of the longest standing ovations for any athlete; ESPN did not go to a commercial break during the entire ovation. During the ovation, Ripken did a lap around the entire Camden Yards warning track to shake hands and give high-fives to the fans.

After the game concluded, there was an elaborate ceremony which included a number of speeches from dignitaries including Joe DiMaggioa teammate of Gehrig. During his speech, Ripken said, "Tonight I stand here, overwhelmed, as my name is linked with the great and courageous Lou Gehrig. I'm truly humbled to have our names spoken in the same breath.

This year has been unbelievable. I've been cheered in ballparks all over the country. People not only showed me their kindness, but more importantly, they demonstrated their love of the game of baseball. I give my thanks to baseball fans everywhere. Tonight, I want to make sure you know how I feel. As I grew up here, I not only had dreams of being a big league ballplayer, but also of being a Baltimore Oriole.

For all of your support over the years, I want to thank you, the fans of Baltimore, from the bottom of my heart. This is the greatest place to play. Reflecting on that evening after his election to the Hall of Fame, Ripken said, " Bobby Bonilla and Rafael Palmeiro pushed me out of the dugout and said, 'Hey, if you don't do a lap around this thing, we'll never get the game started.

As a player, he was a catcher. In the late s, he also played and coached socceronce helping his team win 17 straight games. However, as former teammate J. Robert Hooper recalled, "We couldn't win the championship because Rip was in spring training. The Baltimore Orioles signed Ripken in Ripken recalled, "At Phoenix, my manager was Bob Hooper, who also pitched.

He was a great teacher and threw the best stiff-wrist slider I ever saw. Bob used so much resin that after a game when I'd congratulate him, our hands would stick together. Most of his playing time came in 61 games with Pensacola; he only appeared in 30 games for Amarillo. He had his best season that year, batting a career-high. The hour bus trips were strenuous work, but Rip always was hard as nails — toughness personified.

Initial X-rays showed nothing, but three months into the season it was discovered that Ripken had a dislocated shoulder, an atrophied deltoid muscle, and a tendon problem. He continued to play, but the injury took years to fully recover from, and his son, Cal Jr. The stint with Rochester came because the Red Wings were in desperate need of a catcher; although Ripken could catch and handle pitchers, the injury had robbed him of the ability to throw well.

He appeared in 58 games with the Class D Appleton Foxes inand played his final games inwhen he made two appearances for the Class A Aberdeen Pheasants of the Northern League. As Ripken's playing career wound down, his coaching career began. His first experience as manager came inwhen he succeeded Billy DeMars who had been promoted as Leesburg's manager in June.

Leesburg folded after the season. Inat the age of 27, he became a full-time manager with Fox Cities. In addition to normal coaching duties, he was also at times responsible for driving the team bus, or even fixing it. During —70, managing a Triple-A team, he conducted baseball clinics for the Red Wings players. Cal Jr. Although Ripken always considered Aberdeen, Maryland, his home during this period, he and his family lived all over the country as he moved from city to city.

InRipken served as a scout for the Orioles. InRipken finally reached the major leagues when the Orioles named him their bullpen coach. Halfway throughhe became the third base coach for the Orioles when Billy Hunter was hired to be the manager of the Texas Rangers.