Built Different: The Iron Man of Baseball

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Cal Ripken Jr., nicknamed “The Iron Man,” redefined durability in pro sports. From 1982 to 1998, he manned the Orioles’ infield in 2,632 straight games, an MLB record that still feels unbreakable decades later.

Born August 24, 1960, in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Ripken grew up traveling the minor-league circuit with his dad, coach Cal Sr. Baseball was in his DNA, every drill, every batting practice, was a lesson in discipline.

Drafted in Round 2 of the 1978 MLB draft, Ripken climbed from rookie ball to Triple-A Rochester, where he starred in the longest pro game ever (33 innings vs. Pawtucket). By ’81, the big leagues were calling.

His debut hinted at greatness, but 1982 unleashed it: AL Rookie of the Year, a seamless shift back to shortstop, and the start of the legendary streak. He never missed a game after May 30.

In 1983, Ripken exploded: 28 homers, 93 RBIs, AL MVP and a World Series title over Philly. He wasn’t just durable, he was dynamic, combining gold-standard defense with game-changing power.

Game 2,131 arrived September 6, 1995. President Clinton watched as Cal shattered Lou Gehrig’s 56-year mark. The Camden Yards clock flipped from 2130 to 2131 and baseball’s Iron Man cemented his legend.

Rest days? Not in his playbook. Ripken trained in-season to maintain strength, played through sprains and slumps, and never sat willingly. His mantra: show up, excel, repeat. A blueprint in iron-willed consistency.

At the plate, he racked up 3,184 hits, 431 homers, and 1,695 RBIs over 21 seasons. He still owns the record for most homers by a shortstop (345), standing tall among the game’s most productive bats.

Defensively, at 6’4” and 225 lbs, Ripken rewrote shortstop archetypes, taller, stronger, agile. Two Gold Gloves, eight Silver Sluggers, and countless highlight-reel plays. He paved the way for today’s power-hitting infielders.

Ripken became baseball’s healer after the ’94–’95 strike, offering a clean, humble image. In 2007, he entered Cooperstown on 98.53% of ballots. Camden Yards retired #8, and Baltimore’s heart swelled.

Cal Ripken Jr. showed us greatness springs from resilience. His 2,632-game streak may never fall, but his legacy lives in every kid who picks up a glove and embraces the grind. Here’s to the Iron Man, baseball’s eternal hero.