There is always a question that every sports fan will have trouble answering because there are mixed opinions on it. For me it is this: What is the most unbreakable record in any sport? There are a few to look at. Jerry Rice’s record touchdowns (Closest Threat Larry Fitzgerald), Wayne Gretzky’s record goals (Closest Threat (Sidney Crosby, and Alex Ovechkin), Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s record for most points in an NBA career (Closest Threat LeBron James), and Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak (Closest Threats were Pete Rose 44 in 1978, and Paul Molitor 39 in 1987). But there is one record to me that will never even be threatened. Cal Ripken’s record of 2,632 consecutive games played. The original record was Lou Gehrig’s who had played in 2,130 straight games from 1925-1939. During Gehrig’s retirement speech he said these words: “Today, I consider myself…The luckiest man on the face of the earth.” A bold statement from a man, who besides Babe Ruth was the anchor of the legendary “Murderers Row” that the Yankees had in 1927.
As for Cal Ripken, he was a player who always wanted to play for the Orioles, because he was born in Baltimore, and his dad Cal Sr had been in the organization since the summer of 1957. The streak began on May 30 1982, when Earl Weaver sat him in the second game of a doubleheader the night before. Ripken would be the AL Rookie of the Year in 1982, and then MVP and a World Series Champion in 1983. Another unbreakable record of Cal’s was from 1982-1987. He played in 8,243 consecutive innings until the aforementioned Cal Sr sat him at the end of a 1987 game against the Blue Jays. He was the anchor of the Orioles famous “Why Not” team in 1989 that came within 2 games of the playoffs. In 1991 Ripken would win the Home Run Derby, All Star Game, and League MVP. The closest he came to ending the streak was in 1993, when Mike Mussina beaned Bill Hasslemen and Hasslemen charged the mound. During the brawl, Ripken sprained his knee, but played through the injury.
In 1994, the baseball strike had threatened to push back the timing of when Ripken would break the record set by the Iron Horse. But the owners came up with a plan to use replacement players and start the year on schedule. However, Orioles owner Peter Angelos refused to do so, and by refusing he squashed the debate on whether the games would count against Cal. When the 1995 season began, it was very clear that it was only a matter of time before Ripken would become Iron Man. By the time the streak got to #2100, the grounds crew at Camden Yards decided to put banners on the B&O Warehouse in Right Field to count the number of games that were in the streak. By the time the streak got to #2128, all eyes in baseball were on the Orioles and Ripken. Starting in Game #2129 Ripken would show what it took to be the player he was. He homered early in the game and even in defeat, Ripken would continue to impress with a few great plays in the field. The next night Game #2130 would pull him even with Lou Gehrig’s record. Like in the first game of the series against the Angels, Ripken homered, this time to cap off an 8-0 win in which Dem O’s smashed 6 home runs. After the game, Ripken was given a “Grease” jacket by his wife at the time Kelly, and the ovations he received all night were awesome in everyone’s minds.
2131: The date is September 6 1995. After 13 years of playing everyday baseball, Cal Ripken would finally get the chance to break a record most thought would never be broken. With President Clinton and Vice President Gore on hand this event was not only big for baseball, but for the American culture. The atmosphere at Camden Yards was once again in high emotion. With the game tied in the bottom of the 4th, Ripken’s teammate Bobby Bonilla hit a home run in the game to give the O’s the lead. Then Ripken, who had homered in games 2129-30 of the streak was ahead in the count 3-0. In the Orioles radio booth 1090 WBAL, President Clinton was talking with play by play guy Jon Miller. The so-called Billy Boy said this “Ripken is always trying to win the game, if you throw him the ball he will hit it.” Miller: Swung on it’s gone! Clinton: Go, Go, YES! It was a blast into the Baltimore Night and the expected was about to happen.
Chris Berman of ESPN: “What began on May 30 1982, and continues September 6 1995, this game is now in the books.” Once they dropped the banner the celebration began. After several curtain calls Bonilla, Al Bumbry, and Rafael Palmeiro pushed Ripken out of the dugout to take his famous victory lap around the left and right field lines, which began at 9:31PM and 21:31 in military time. After the game Ripken said these words in his postgame speech.
Cal: “I know that if Lou Gehrig is looking down on tonight’s events, he is unconcerned about someone playing one more consecutive game than he did. Instead he is viewing tonight as another example of what is good and right about the great American game.”
Looking back on this 25 years later, this was the reconnection to the game that baseball needed to overcome the 1994 strike. And it is never going to be threatened again. Just playing an entire season is impossible to do. But to do that for 17 straight seasons that is never going to happen again. IT’S JUST NOT!
Bragging Rights Sports 