A career that began with a young son following his father to the ballpark ? and eventually traversed 3,001 games through 21 seasons ? has finally reached a pinnacle. Former Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr., an Aberdeen native, earned his crowning achievement Tuesday afternoon when he learned that he would be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Ripken, 46, will be inducted July 29 with former Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn. Ripken received a record 537 votes from 545 ballots for a percentage of 98.53 ? the third highest mark in history.
“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the greatest honor a player can receive, and it should be one of the most memorable days of my career,” Ripken, a career Oriole, told the Examiner on Tuesday.
Ripken, who attended Aberdeen High, was drafted by the Orioles in the second round in 1978 and made his big leaguedebut three years later.
“Baltimore is a great city and I couldn’t ask for better fans,” Ripken said. “My career wouldn’t have meant half as much to me if I hadn’t had the opportunity to spend it in my hometown. I put a great value on staying in Baltimore and having my kids grow up here. It could not have worked out better.”
Ripken, the 12th Oriole inducted into the Hall of Fame, was at home with his family ? wife Kelly and children Rachel and Ryan ? when he received the call Tuesday afternoon.
“I had made a real effort to put the Hall of Fame announcement out of my mind,” Ripken said. “It wasn’t until I received the call that I actually let it sink in. It’s an overwhelming feeling, and I’m glad my family was with me for the call.”
Family has meant a great deal to Ripken throughout his career. His late father, Cal Sr., was a minor league manager while Ripken was growing up and instilled a work ethic in his son that enabled him to play in a record 2,632 consecutive games.
“Dad always comes to mind during important milestones in my baseball career,” Ripken said. “He made me into the player I was, and to this day, I still owe my work ethic and love for baseball to him.”
Ripken won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1982, and a year later won the league’s Most Valuable Player award while leading the Orioles to a World Series title. He won the AL MVP again in 1991, the same year he won the first of his two All-Star Game MVP awards. He hit .276 with 431 home runs and 1,695 RBI overall.
He ended his career in 2001. Seven of his 21 years with the Orioles were spent playing with his brother, former second baseman Bill Ripken.
