International Cal
If this doesn’t help the United States’ image abroad, nothing will. Hall of Fame Oriole Cal Ripken will be traveling to Nicaragua later this month with his former teammate, Nicaraguan native Dennis “El Presidente” Martinez.
According to the State Department, Ripken’s five-day trip will include the cities of Managua, Leon and Granada. Ripken Baseball, Cal’s business and philanthropy organization, will have two instructors on the trip along with Ripken and Martinez, and will coach more than 500 kids.
The trip comes as part of the Ironman’s role as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy for the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, a position Secretary Condoleezza Rice named him to in 2007. He will travel to South Africa next year.
Other envoys include Olympic skater Michelle Kwan and actress Fran Drescher.
