1993 Volume 116 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Knowing what luck is involved in avoiding
injuries, it's still a long way off."
Aside from the possibility of the Gehrig record,
Ripken's considerable offensive and defensive
skills have him on course for a Hall of Fame career.
His batting average (.277), career home rims
(273) and RBls (1,014) are weU above average for a
shortstop. As a defensive standout, he has won two
Golden Gloves. He has been selected to the
American League All Star team every year in the
past 10 years.
But it is his off-season schedule that has earned
him humanitarian and civic awards. His interest in
service was awakened at an early age.
"When 1 came up to the Orioles, I observed
what Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton and Al Bubry,
among others, were doing in the way of getting
involved in things," he said. "They were making
appearances and going out in public. I realized
early on that baU players are role models whether
we want to be or not.
"I think my first year I got involved in making
tickets avaUable to inner-city kids, and I'm still
involved with that through the Because We Care
program. Eddie has stayed with it even though
he's left the Orioles."
The pride and joy of Cal and wife Kelly is the
Cal Ripken Jr. Learning Center, a project they
launched in 1989 with a $250,000 contribution. It's
an adult literacy program operated by the city of
Baltimore.
He is also involved in Mayor Kurt Schmokes'
The City That Reads campaign.
At the end of the 1991 season, Cal and Kelly put
on a baseball memorabilia show that raised another
$200,000 for the Learning Center. Cal's brother,
BUly, who plays second base alongside him, and
their father, Cal Ripken Sr., the Baltimore third
base coach, got involved as weU. Kirby Puckett of
the Twins, and Eddie Murray, Glenn Davis, and
Gregg Olson of the Orioles made guest appearances.
His interest in children is reflected in his being
associated with the University of Maryland
Hospital's Schock Trauma Center, the Johns
Hopkins' Childrens Center and the Hartford
Center, a day care center for retarded citizens.
In prior years he has been honorary chairman of
the March of Dimes, Christmas Seals and American
Lung Association's anti-smoking drive.
"There comes a time when you have to step
back and say you can't respond to every request,"
he says. "It's a sign of maturity to concentrate on
where you think you can do the most good. That's
why our efforts in hteracy give us the great
satisfaction they do."
Cal is wary of taUcing about the future, because
it frequently brings him back to conversation about
his chance of erasing Gehrig's record.
"1 have a very carefully supervised off-season
conditioning program," he explained. "As you get
older, you have to work harder. There's no such
thing as letting yourself get out of shape.
"I've been very fortunate to avoid injuries.
That's my goal—staying healthy. I'd like to get
back into a World Series again. We were in one
in 1983, and that was a long time ago. I'll have
more of an appreciation when we do it again."
He was presented the Roberto Clemente
humanitarian award during the AU Star Game
activities last season.
The presentation of the Gehrig Award wUl be
early in the 1993 season in the new stadium.
Oriole Park at Camden Yard, g
Cal Ripken Jr. has played in 1,735 consecutive games, the closest
anyone has come to Lou Gehrig's 2,130 game record.
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Committee
Ritter Collett sports editor emeritus
Dayton Daily News
Harry Kalas broadcaster Philidelphia Phillies
Bill Bergesch assistant general manager
New York Yankees
Robert Wren former Ohio U. baseball coach
and minor league baseball coach
Bill Moor sports editor South Bend Tribune
Ron Cey former L.A. Dogers 3rd baseman
Frank Wright former General Council member
Robert Campbell account executive WALD TV
Terry Barthelman former executive for
the Reds, Cubs & Indians
Thomas Eakin founder Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame
Phil Fuhrer executive Gannett Newspapers
John Bansch sports writer Indianapolis Star
Spring 1993 * TheScroU 91