Too many professional sports players win fame outside their feats on the field or court. For steroids. For drunken driving. For domestic abuse. For tattoos, sexual conquests or outrageous salary requests.

Not Cal Ripken Jr., who earned renown for his work on the baseball diamond by pole-vaulting over Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games to end his career at 2,632. Baltimore’s Iron Man also proved himself a great fielder and hitter.