Cal Ripken Biography

Fast Facts

• Finished his career with 3,184 hits, 431 home runs and 19 straight All-Star appearances
• Author of several books, including "The Only Way I Know"
• Broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games by playing 2․632 straight games from May 30, 1982 through Sept․ 19, 1998
• His No․ 8 uniform number was retired by the Baltimore Orioles in 2001
• Spent his entire 21-year career with the Baltimore Orioles
• Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 along with Tony Gywnn
• Founded the Cal Ripken, Sr․ Foundation in 2001 along with his brother, former MLB player Billy Ripken
• Father, Cal Sr․, spent 36 years with the Baltimore Orioles' organization and managed Cal Jr․ and Billy in 1987
• Drafted in the second round of the 1978 Amateur Draft by the Baltimore Orioles
• Nickname is "Iron Man"