John Sarbanes: “I submitted S. Res. 168 with my colleague, Senator Mikulski, honoring Cal Ripken, Jr. On Saturday October 6, 2001, at…”

“I submitted S. Res. 168 with my colleague, Senator Mikulski, honoring Cal Ripken, Jr. On Saturday October 6, 2001, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, not far from my home in Baltimore, Cal Ripken, Jr. will play in his final baseball game. Cal Ripken's career will have spanned 21 seasons in the major leagues, every one of them with the Baltimore Orioles. In fact, beginning with Cal's father, Cal Ripken, Sr., there has been a Ripken in the Orioles organization for 45 consecutive years. Over the past 21 years, Cal Ripken, Jr. has built what will be a lasting legacy not only as one of the greatest players in the history of professional baseball, but as a true ambassador of the game and a shining example of sportsmanship, character, and the American work ethic. An entire generation was born and grew up watching Cal Ripken play baseball every day the right way. Many of my constituents in Maryland have rooted for the Orioles knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cal Ripken would be playing, first at Memorial Stadium and then later at Camden Yards, and that they would be able to see Cal give that one game everything that he had. Not only will the city of Baltimore miss Cal's number 8 on the left-side of the infield and in the heart of the line-up, but all residents of Maryland, and millions of Americans, from die-hard baseball fans, to those who have only seen one game, will always associate the Baltimore Orioles with their legendary shortstop, Cal Ripken.”