Cal Ripken Retiring

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J

JoeBaD

Banned
May 24, 2000
822
0
0
One of the classiest sports figures in history.

I can remember when he was brought up from the minors to play 3rd base. 3rd base was a revered position to Baltimore fans. Many, many people thought the only reason he was playing pro ball was because his dad was a base coach with the O's.

Rookie of the year, 2 MVPs and the "Iron Man" accomplishment later and he still signs autographs for free. One wife, and children only with her.

A stark contrast to the slime most sports fans worship.

I'll miss him.


 
V

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
One wife, and children only with her.

I couldn't care less about the rest of his accomplishments, but that right there commands my respect.

Viper GTS
 
G

gar598

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2001
1,915
1
0
This is his second retirement right????


I recently heard he wasn't doing so good this year, not a big baseball person but he seemed like a GREAT GUY.

 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
This is not his second retirement. I agree he was a class act all the way and will be missed especially with what the scum ambulance chaser Peter Angelos has done to my Birds :(.
 
C

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
Ahhh Cal is not as "classy" as you think. During his career he refused to stay with the team during road trips. He also as well refused to sign autographs when he was at the height of his career. Even though he needed to sit down when he was playing so poorly he refused to allowed to be taken out of the line-up. He really is a strange dude. Great beasebal player no doubt, but clearly a little self centered.
 
BigSmooth

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
12
81
I'm glad I got to see him play at Camden Yards, I can tell my grandkids about him when I am an old coot. :)
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91


<< I'm glad I got to see him play at Camden Yards, I can tell my grandkids about him when I am an old coot. >>


This old coot saw him play a lot at Memorial Stadium too.
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91


<< Ahhh Cal is not as &quot;classy&quot; as you think. During his career he refused to stay with the team during road trips. He also as well refused to sign autographs when he was at the height of his career. Even though he needed to sit down when he was playing so poorly he refused to allowed to be taken out of the line-up. He really is a strange dude. Great beasebal player no doubt, but clearly a little self centered. >>


Sources please?
 
C

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
I live in the Philly area and my family is from Baltimore. Cal Ripken ain't as nice as many think he is. I am not saying he is a bad guy, but he was a serious pre madonna type player. And that stuff that sign autgraphs for free is out right lie. He might now and maybe in the last couple of years but I know for a fact he didn't sign for free. I collect cards, haven't in a few years. No place to put them. Got about 10-20k. And I know for a fact he didn't sign for free. Not even for children. Watch after he retires you'll hear a few things about the guy that is not very publicized nationally. JoeBad, as always you have my hatred.
 
G

goldboyd

Golden Member
Oct 12, 1999
1,932
0
0
Sweet, he's last game is going to be at Yankee Stadium...i just got tickets and I will see the last game of his great career from my loge box seats :)
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
I asked for sources and got only more gratuitous assertions with no proof to back up the statements. It was pretty easy to find positive things said about the man with just a quick search.

Sporting News
ESPN
Baltimore Sun
The Washington Post

Further I live in the Washington area and have been a lifelong Orioles fan and have heard the exact opposite of what you state regarding the man. I recall numerous articles about him stating that he would spend lots of pre and post game time signing stuff for kids.
 
R

rufruf44

Platinum Member
May 8, 2001
2,002
0
0
Same here. Although no doubt he's well over his prime, I'll be quite surprised if any other shortstop can match what he does in his entire career. Not even the 1/4 billion dollar man
A-Rod. And that autograph signing is true, there's way too many testimony to counter otherwise.
Wish there're more of people like him, instead we got stuck with more stuck-up &amp; money-hungry player, especially in the NBA &amp; NFL.
 
J

JoeBaD

Banned
May 24, 2000
822
0
0
hatred? my, my classy ya' hardly know me.

Web posted Jun. 14 at 12:09 AM

Augusta Chronicle

By Andy Johnston
Staff Writer

ATLANTA - They came armed with everything from brand-new Baltimore Oriole caps and framed glossies to magazines and baseballs.

Nearly two hours before the first pitch Friday night, sweating fans, some old, but most young, packed the railing near the visiting dugout and waited ... waited for the man who is the embodiment of goodness, baseball's living legend.

``CAAAAAL!'' they screamed in unison the second the Orioles' third baseman appeared.

And so, in his 16th year and playing in his 2,378th consecutive game, Cal Ripken Jr., thanks to baseball's new interleague play, finally made his first appearance in Atlanta - if you don't count when he threw out the first pitch of the 1995 World Series.

``I have a certain anxiousness that is usually reserved for allstar games and the postseason,'' Ripken said before the opener of this weekend's three-game series at Turner Field. ``I don't know why. I guess it's because of the potential of this series. There's a certain anxiety level I usually only get in a World Series game. I can't explain it.''

And then, Ripken, surrounded by four police officers, strolled over to the throng and slowly started doling out his autograph to the lucky - and squished - fans pressed along the concrete rail.

``Hey Cal. I drove 800 miles to see you,'' one screamed.

``This is for my dad,'' another yelled.

``You're the best,'' a man managed to say through a smile.

But Ripken chose to bypass the most obnoxious, focusing mainly on the children and folks who just held out their baseballs and trading cards and caps and whatever else they wanted signed.

``Cool,'' said 7-year-old Matt Houser of Marietta, Ga., clutching a shiny white ball with that coveted name newly penned on a panel. ``Cool.''

As usual, Ripken took his time with the fans, pleasing the ones he could reach, but leaving most disappointed when he departed, just moments before game time.




classy, see that last sentence - &quot;As usual, Ripken took his time with the fans&quot;

I wanted to give you at least one reference. God knows why I have to for a ignorant jerk like you though.




 
GasX

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81


<< pre madonna >>

- It's Primadonna

Cal is a human being and as such has many faults. All heros are like that despite the fact that we want them to be perfect.

Nevertheless, Cal Ripken is a shoe-in for 1st Ballot Hall of Fame. He has been a great player and his career with one team is a great feat these days. I am not an Orioles fan and I never was a Ripken fan, but I respect the hell out of his accomplishments.

Baseball will miss him. He is one of the last of a dying breed.
 
C

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81


<< hatred? my, my classy ya' hardly know me.

Web posted Jun. 14 at 12:09 AM

Augusta Chronicle

By Andy Johnston
Staff Writer

ATLANTA - They came armed with everything from brand-new Baltimore Oriole caps and framed glossies to magazines and baseballs.

Nearly two hours before the first pitch Friday night, sweating fans, some old, but most young, packed the railing near the visiting dugout and waited ... waited for the man who is the embodiment of goodness, baseball's living legend.

``CAAAAAL!'' they screamed in unison the second the Orioles' third baseman appeared.

And so, in his 16th year and playing in his 2,378th consecutive game, Cal Ripken Jr., thanks to baseball's new interleague play, finally made his first appearance in Atlanta - if you don't count when he threw out the first pitch of the 1995 World Series.

``I have a certain anxiousness that is usually reserved for allstar games and the postseason,'' Ripken said before the opener of this weekend's three-game series at Turner Field. ``I don't know why. I guess it's because of the potential of this series. There's a certain anxiety level I usually only get in a World Series game. I can't explain it.''

And then, Ripken, surrounded by four police officers, strolled over to the throng and slowly started doling out his autograph to the lucky - and squished - fans pressed along the concrete rail.

``Hey Cal. I drove 800 miles to see you,'' one screamed.

``This is for my dad,'' another yelled.

``You're the best,'' a man managed to say through a smile.

But Ripken chose to bypass the most obnoxious, focusing mainly on the children and folks who just held out their baseballs and trading cards and caps and whatever else they wanted signed.

``Cool,'' said 7-year-old Matt Houser of Marietta, Ga., clutching a shiny white ball with that coveted name newly penned on a panel. ``Cool.''

As usual, Ripken took his time with the fans, pleasing the ones he could reach, but leaving most disappointed when he departed, just moments before game time.




classy, see that last sentence - &quot;As usual, Ripken took his time with the fans&quot;

I wanted to give you at least one reference. God knows why I have to for a ignorant jerk like you though. >>



There are mostly nice things said about him. I didn't say he was a bad guy. But he's not as genuine as many make him out to be. But after he's gone from the game I am sure the little not nice tidbits will be known. As for the typical name calling from you its old. Cal Piken is great baseball player no doubt, but he damn sure ain't a saint.
 
datalink7

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
6
81
He is an amazing player. I think that the record he holds, for most consecutive (sp?) games played is going to be a much harder record to break than just about any other, including home runs. But I don't know. He had to sacrifice some things in order to get that record. Like he missed his childs birth. I don't think I would have been willing to do that.
 
J

JoeBaD

Banned
May 24, 2000
822
0
0
hey classy,

why don't you post all of the great things your bud Iverson has done in his lifetime.

should be a short read!


kisses for you.
 
C

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81


<< hey classy,

why don't you post all of the great things your bud Iverson has done in his lifetime.

should be a short read!


kisses for you. >>



&quot;kisses for you&quot; EWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! You may be into that kind of thing but I am not.
 
M

monto

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,047
0
0
shoulda retired few years ago when his streak ended, no knock to his abilities prior to that, he was truly an iron man
 
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