Cal Ripken Interview 8.20.01

I grew up idolizing orioles shortstop Cal Ripken. I was always #8 when i played baseball, and i owned ever baseball card he was ever on. i had posters on my wall, etc. etc.

I even drove by myself 12 hours to Baltimore to see his 2131 record breaking game. One of the best experiences ever. I was in left field where he hit the homerun.

Anyhow, fast forward to 2001. I not only got to meet my hero in person, i got an exclusive 1 on 1 interview with him as he hosted the Cal Ripken World Series youth baseball tournament.

I was so excited/nervous. I didn't sleep a minute the night before. I was so worried that the guy I idolized all my life would be an ass, and ruin my memories.

Instead, it was the complete opposite. We talked for a few minutes before the interview. He had just announced his retirement and only had a little over a month left in his career. I told him i was at the 2131 games, and a bunch since. I told him that I had tickets for his final game later in September. He thanked me for driving that far. I laughed, and I said you don't have to thank me!

Then we did the interview. I've done my job for 14 years, and still to this day it's the only time i've ever been nervous for an interview. You can tell it in my voice in the beginning.

Everything went well. Afterwards, he commented how much he liked the question about only 3 errors, and that few reporters ever asked him that question.

He took a picture with me, and signed a poster that i got at the 2131 game. http://www.flickr.com/photos/34017213@N00/sets/72157600773224441/

anyway...I decided to dig up that tape from August 20th, 2001. Our cpu tech guy converted it for me, and i upped it to youtube. I thought some of you might want to watch it. if nothing else, it's funny to see how nervous i was!

Thank you Cal for being such an extraordinary role model and being so incredible when i met you!!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Cal Ripken
• Interview
• Baltimore Orioles
• Iron Man
• Streak
• Lou Gherig
• Shortstop
• Hall of Fame

[digitalpretzel]

Cal is the definition of a true baseball player. Thanks for posting this. Go O's!!

[juiceman1965]

I was at the 2131 and 2132 games. I'm a BoSox fan. I bawled like a baby and stood on the balls of my feet for a real good guy, role model, and by the way, a great baseball player. Thanks Cal, not for being a great player, but for being a great family man and a great guy.

[anonymous843e]

Orioles need another Cal.

[MIKESOWELL]

Even without the Record 2,632 Consecutive streak he is a Hall of Famer- over 3,000 Hits, 431 HR over 1,600 RBIs, etc.

[thelakersforlife]

I used to send him stuff as a kid and I always got it back. Try doing that nowdays, you wont get a thing back. Class act

[Jeff051176]

Amen to the two comments below me.

[oswin8]

your my hero cal... simple as that.

[billyk23]

Thanks for posting this...Cal is also my hero and I've got to meet him a couple times...he truly is a class act. Baltimore's hero.