Cal Ripken played 21 big league seasons, all with the Baltimore Orioles. Of the Major Leaguers who suited up for just one team, only five had a longer tenure – Brooks Robinson and Carl Yastrzemski with 23 years each, and Al Kaline, Stan Musial, and Mel Ott with 22 years.
Late in his career, Ripken reached many career milestones, passing the game’s greatest players along the way. On April 15, 2000 Ripken joined the exclusive 3,000-hit club in his 2,800th career game.
Ten days later he recorded his 3,008th career hit to pass Baltimore native Kaline on the all-time hits list. On this special night only 11,658 fans were on hand in Chicago to witness the Iron Man pass the Detroit hero.
In the collection is the lineup card from the night the Oriole passed the Tiger. It is filled out and signed by Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove.
This is very cool. Cal was my favorite baseball player and helped solidify my love of the game
There was talk that Ripken was a selfish player who , by not sitting out and resting when he was not being productive etc , cost the Orioles any number of wins- even including perhaps a playoff appearance.