CAL RIPKEN JR.

The retired Baltimore Orioles shortstop took a message of hope and perseverance to Japanese children affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Hall of Fame infielder, who played in 2,632 consecutive games during his 21-year career with the Orioles, put on a baseball clinic in Ofunato, Japan, as part of nine-day mission on behalf of the State Department. Junior high school students took part in the clinic conducted by Ripken, former teammate Brady Anderson and Japanese baseball’s Sachio Kinugasa.

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