John Sarbanes: “I rise today with pride to introduce legislation honoring Cal Ripken, Jr. on his induction into the Pro Baseball Hall of…”

“I rise today with pride to introduce legislation honoring Cal Ripken, Jr. on his induction into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. My bill would rename as Cal Ripken Way Interstate 395 in Baltimore, which runs into the city and ends near Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Calvin Edwin Ripken, Jr. grew up in Aberdeen, Maryland. A baseball standout from an early age, he led his little league team to the Little League World Series and was a baseball star at Aberdeen High School. As a professional, Cal spent his entire career with his hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles. Drafted out of high school, he rose through the minor leagues, joining the Orioles full time in 1982 when he was named Rookie of the Year. He then won American League Most Valuable Player honors and led the Orioles to their third World Series Championship in 1983. From May 30, 1982, until September 19, 1998, Cal never missed a game. He played in an incredible 2,632 consecutive games, passing Lou Gehrig's record of 2,131 on September 6, 1995, in front of family, friends and fans at Camden Yards. His career redefined the shortstop position, setting multiple offensive and defensive records, and paving the way for a new generation of players. Cal's stellar career no doubt makes him worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame. In fact, he was elected to the Hall with the highest vote total ever, the highest vote percentage for any position player, and the third highest vote percentage in history.”