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The Baseball Iron Man
The Baseball Iron Man
Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 Consecutive Games
Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 Consecutive Games
2024.05.10
2024.05.10
Special Editor
DongA.com, Song Chi-HoonWith a decade of experience as a sports journalist and 30 years as a devoted baseball fan, Song Chi-Hoon brings deeper insights into the fascinating hidden stories of Major League Baseball.
※ This content is part of a special collaboration with MLB Park and features unique items from the Eland Museum.
On September 5, 1995, a sold-out crowd of 46,804 filled Oriole Park at Camden Yards to witness history. The Baltimore Orioles were facing off against the California Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels), but all eyes were on one player: Cal Ripken Jr., the Orioles' third baseman and shortstop.
On this day, Ripken was set to tie Lou Gehrig’s long-standing record of 2,130 consecutive games played, a record that had stood unchallenged since 1939 and was considered unbreakable, akin to Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak.
As the top of the fifth inning ended, a banner at the B&O Warehouse beyond the right field wall was changed from "2,129" to "2,130." The crowd erupted into a four-minute standing ovation, and Ripken stepped out of the dugout to acknowledge the fans with a wave.
The Orioles' bats exploded that night, racking up 17 hits in an 8-0 victory, including six home runs, tying the team’s single-game record. Ripken contributed with a home run and went 3-for-5, celebrating his historic achievement in style. Fittingly, he secured the final out of the game on a ground ball to shortstop.
Reflecting on the pressure leading up to his milestone, Ripken said:
"It's great, nothing better, but I'm mentally exhausted. There's a sense of me that wants to get back to normal baseball. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm looking forward to the end of it. Coming to the ballpark, it seems like an eternity until the game began.”
The very next day, September 6, Ripken broke Gehrig’s record by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game. After the fifth inning, the entire stadium, including the umpires and opposing team, gave him a 22-minute standing ovation, broadcast live without commercials. This moment was later voted the most memorable in MLB history by fans in 2010.
Ripken continued his streak until September 20, 1998, reaching an astonishing 2,632 consecutive games, a record that still stands today. His nickname, "The Iron Man," was well earned.
Ripken’s streak is even more remarkable given that he played 84% of those games (2,216) as a shortstop, one of the most demanding positions. He participated in 99.2% of his team’s innings during the streak. From June 15, 1982, to September 4, 1987, he played 904 consecutive games and 8,243 innings.
Unlike Gehrig, who sometimes extended his streak by playing only briefly, Ripken rarely left games early. He exited before the seventh inning just four times, two of those due to ejections for arguing with umpires.
Ripken faced numerous challenges but always found a way to play. In 1985, he injured his ankle sliding into second base but fortunately had an off day to recover. In 1993, he suffered a knee injury during a brawl but continued playing with a bandaged knee. He even played after fracturing his nose in a photo shoot before the 1996 All-Star Game.
The greatest test came in 1996 when his wife was due to give birth. Ripken was prepared to end his streak to be with her, but their son was born on an off day, allowing the streak to continue. During Ripken’s streak, 3,695 other players went on the disabled list.
Ripken voluntarily ended his streak on September 20, 1998, against the New York Yankees, feeling it was no longer beneficial for the team. He retired after the 2001 season, having played 21 seasons, with career stats including 3,001 games, a .276 batting average, 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 RBIs. He was a 19-time All-Star, a four-time All-Star Game MVP, two-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time American League MVP.
His number 8 was retired by the Orioles, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2007, with a 98.5% vote.
Maintaining a consecutive games streak requires not only staying healthy but also performing consistently at a high level. Ripken’s streak might be one of the most impressive records in MLB history.
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