Cal Ripken, Jr.

Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr., (born August 24, 1960), is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career (1981-2001) for the Baltimore Orioles. During his baseball career, he earned the nickname The Iron Man for doggedly remaining in the lineup despite numerous minor injuries and for his reliability to "show up" to work everyday. He is perhaps best known for breaking New York Yankees first baseman Lou Ge... more

Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr., (born August 24, 1960), is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career (1981-2001) for the Baltimore Orioles. During his baseball career, he earned the nickname The Iron Man for doggedly remaining in the lineup despite numerous minor injuries and for his reliability to "show up" to work everyday. He is perhaps best known for breaking New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played, a record many deemed unbreakable. Ripken surpassed the 56-year-old record when he played in his 2,131st game on September 6, 1995 between the Orioles and California Angels in front of a sold-out crowd at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. To make the feat even more memorable, Ripken hit a home run in the previous night's game that tied Gehrig's record and another home run in his 2,131st game, which fans later voted as Major League Baseball's "Most Memorable Moment" in MLB history. Ripken played in an... less