Ripken, Cal, Jr. (Calvin Edward Ripken, Jr.), 1960–, American baseball player, b. Havre de Grace, Md. The son of a long-time coach and manager in the Baltimore Orioles organization, he joined the team in 1981 as a third baseman. In 1982 he became the Orioles' regular shortstop and was named Rookie of the Year. On May 30 of that year he began a streak of consecutive games played that attained a climax on Sept. 6, 1995, when it reached 2,131, breaking the "record that should stand for all time" set by Lou Gehrig Gehrig, Lou (Louis Gehrig) (gâr`ĭg), 1903–41, American baseball player, b. New York City.
..... Click the link for more information. . Not merely an "iron man," Ripken had 431 home runs and 3,184 hits, set numerous fielding marks, and was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1983 and 1991. He became symbolic to many of virtues perceived as disappearing from American sports: hard work, persistence, and modesty. His streak ended at 2,632 games on Sept. 20, 1998, and he retired three years later. Ripken was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Ripken, Cal(vin Edwin), Jr.

(born Aug. 24, 1960, Havre de Grace, Md., U.S.) U.S. baseball player. Ripken was born into a baseball family; his father and brother both played professionally. He played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1981. In 1990 he set single-season records for highest fielding percentage by a shortstop (.996) and fewest errors by a shortstop (3), and in 1993 he broke the home-run record for a shortstop. On Sept. 6, 1995, he broke Lou Gehrig's long-standing record of consecutive games played (2,130), eventually running his streak to 2,632 games before taking a day off in 1998. Ripken retired at the end of the 2001 season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.