Two million kids play little league baseball every year. In contrast, there are only 750 players in Major League Baseball. The chance of becoming a MLB player is very slim. Cal Ripken Jr defeated the odds. Cal Ripken Jr.’s childhood, professional baseball career, and lasting legacy make him one of the greatest shortstops in history.
On August 24, 1960 Cal Ripken Jr was born in the small town of Havre de Grace, Maryland. His father, Cal Ripken Sr. was unable to make it to his birth because he was managing for a minor league baseball team in Kansas City. His dad, a former minor league player, was a promising young baseball prospect until he had a career ending shoulder injury. After Cal Ripken Sr. short playing career with the Baltimore Orioles
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Cal Ripken Jr’s childhood consisted of alot of baseball and trips to the ballpark with his Dad. During this time he began to observe and get interest in the game of baseball. His Dad’s job working in baseball had a large impact on him. At a young age it was apparent that Cal would be a baseball player. Cal Ripken Jr loved sports and played soccer and baseball but he excelled in baseball. At that point he knew he would be pursuing a professional career in baseball, hoping someday to play for his dad on the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken began his career in high school at Aberdeen High School playing second base. As a sophomore he made the switch to shortstop. He went on to excel at that position through the rest of his high school career while also becoming a pro talent lever pitcher. Due to his good grades and baseball talent it was easy for him to get a college scholarship. He also received a scholarship offer to play soccer at West Point but decided to turn that down. He was later drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1978 amateur draft. With a signing bonus of 20k he was sent to the Bluefield Orioles. After a few years of the minors he finally got his chance to play in the major leagues during spring training. …show more content…
On May 30 he became a permanent starter. On July 1, Cal was moved to the position of shortstop. He loved this position and would thrive at it. People doubted the move due to his size (6’4 225 pounds), despite the doubt the Orioles had a successful season. In Cals rookie year he finished with 28 home runs with 93 RBIs. This was good enough for Cal to be named 1982 American League Rookie of the year. Unfortunately, the team just missed the playoffs. Cals next year with the team they won the American East Pennant by 6 games. Through the season Cal lead the league with 221 hits while also hitting .317 with 27 home runs. These stellar number were enough to win the American League MVP. In the playoffs the Orioles went on to win the 1983 World Series. The next few seasons Cal was getting used to being a MLB everyday starting shortstop. Due to his size and strength his home run totals were a lot more than the average shortstop. Cal’s strengths were his power numbers at bat but he also had an amazing ability to field the ball and knowing the right place to stand at shortstop. Prior to the 1987 season Cal
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken Jr. (born August 24, 1960), nicknamed "The Iron Man",[1] is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). One of his position's most offensively productive players, Ripken compiled 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career, and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). Ripken is best known for holding the record for consecutive games played, 2,632, surpassing Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years and that many deemed unbreakable.
Once he was older, he started playing on an actual team instead of waiting for his uncle to play with him. A couple of years later, he went to a High school called Brito High school, where he played for their team. Then he batted a .600 batting average (which is good). When he was around 18 years old, he got drafted into the minor leagues. Then, when he was around 20 years old he got drafted into the major leagues,
Bang! Have you ever heard the sweet sound of someone hitting a homerun like Jackie Robinson. Not only was Jackie Robinson a great baseball player, he was also a big person in the civil rights movement. According to "baseballhall.org," Jackie Robinson is an army veteran. Did you know Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier?
By Jackie Robinson agrees to join the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie broke through the color barriers in Major League Baseball. By the end of his rookie year, he got National League Rookie of the Year. He got 12 homers, 29 steals, and a batting average of .249 (Jackie Robinson November 23). Jackie scored about one hundred and ten per season (Jackie Robinson November 22).
Jackie Robinson is known for his will and determination, in a game where African Americans were not allowed to play. Major league baseball (MLB), was the biggest professional baseball league in the country but was racially segregated. Growing up in poverty, Jackie Robinson faced many struggles. Jackie was a great athlete that could play multiple sports, just not major league baseball. He competed and excelled at numerous sports, including basketball and football.
He excelled in sports in high school being a four sport athlete. He went to UCLA until he had financial struggles and had to drop out. When World War One started he became a second lieutenant but never saw contact. When the war ended and he came back to baseball he found a spot on the Kansas City monarchs. When Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey saw him he quickly put him on his team and he played for the all white Montreal Royals a farm team.
He proved everyone wrong and made history. Although he was in the MLB, conflict would still arise. Pitchers would purposely through the ball at Jackie and aim for his head. Jackie’s teammates were even cruel to him.
Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. Robinson played very well in the Negro Leagues, so that’s how president Branch Rickey found Robinson. He then offered him the chance to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey wanted a competitive, yet able to control his temper, and good baseball player to break the color barrier and play for the Dodgers. The scouts saw Robinson and showed him to Branch Rickey and they decided he was just perfect.
Jackie was given the first Rookie of the Year Award in baseball and had a spectacular postseason as the Dodgers managed to win the
Jackie Robinson has impacted many young baseball players today. He had to of had so much courage to be the first African American MLB player in history. To be able to just ignore every bad thing that was said to him, and keep playing aggressively. I think that from him doing that, it gave other African American players the guts to want to be in the MLB or any ordinary team in general. Some kids are nervous about going to their first practice or game, but I think that since Jackie Robinson was the first African American MLB player, it helped some kids to not be as nervous.
He was born on August 18, 1934 in Puerto Rico in San Anton Barrio. His parents were Louisa Walker and Don Melchor Clemente, and he had six siblings. He came from a hard-working family.
He had finally become at ease with pressure being lifted off of him. When the season came to a close, Robinson was a changed man. He had finally felt the support he needed from his teammates and those around him. When the season came to a close, he was even selected as Rookie of the Year. As Robinson continued to excel in baseball he began to become seen as a regular in the game.
He was the youngest player in history to hit 500 home runs in 2007 and two years later he won his first and only career World Series (Wells). Toward the end of his career he was hampered by hip and knee injuries and that forced to become a DH which stands for designated hitter. He didn't play out his full contract and his final game was August 12th 2016. He was one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history. He had played 22 seasons, hit 696 home runs,earned 3 MVP awards, and 14 all star nominations and his record of amazing keeps going to many different awards to list.
He started playing in the Negro League but the he became a manager in the majors. He did that for 2 years and then he finally got moved up the the majors. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. When he played in the Negro League, he played in Kansas City for the Monarchs. He finally retired in 1957.
He went to Pasadena College where he played 4 sports, football, baseball, track, and basketball. He was very talented in all of them, but he really saw something in baseball. Coming out out of college, Jackie was rejected by the Boston Red Sox, he then went off to serve in the military, Jackie was soon promoted to 2nd lieutenant, and after got platoon leader. On August 28, 1945 he met with Branch Rickey. Then on October 23, 1945 Jackie Robinson signed a contract to play with the Montreal Royals of the International League.