A dedicated family man, Cal Ripken Sr. saw two of his sons, including the famous shortstop, choose baseball as their career. The elder Ripken played the game for many years, and even coached and managed in the minor leagues. He persuaded the Orioles to let Eddie Murray switch-hit, helped Jim Palmer overcome arm problems, and taught countless young players the fundamentals of the game.
In addition to his part-time broadcasting and book-writing career, he is the President and CEO of Ripken Baseball, Inc. The company oversees his two minor league teams, Ripken Youth Baseball academies, ballpark design business, licensing and memorabilia business, the Cal Ripken Sr Foundation, and a number of other businesses. Ripken frequently speaks to schools, corporations and other groups about the value of hard work, commitment, perseverance and integrity.
It was September 6, 1995, and the sold-out crowd at Camden Yards roared as Cal Ripken took a lap around the field to break Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,131 consecutive games played. That moment—which many consider to be the greatest achievement in MLB history—is one that Ripken remembers often, but there are other moments he treasures just as much, especially those from his playing days. Those moments, he explains in this interview, are what make him so proud of his career as a Baltimore Oriole and what gives him such satisfaction as an entrepreneur and philanthropist today. He lives in Harford County, Maryland, with his wife and children. cal ripkin