Hall opens its doors for Ripken and Gwynn

Misty-eyed and at times overcome with emotion, Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. officially became a baseball Hall of Fame member Sunday afternoon during an induction ceremony attended by a record-shattering crowd of about 75,000.

With fans spilling out beyond the Clark Sports Center field and onto weed-covered hills nearly 300 yards from the podium, Ripken and former San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn joined 53 other baseball legends on the Cooperstown dais for the largest collection of Hall of Fame members together at one event.

Ripken thanked baseball fans for supporting him during a 21-season career that included one World Series championship, 19 All-Star appearances and a streak of 2,632 consecutive games played.

Ripken kept his comments to just under 16 minutes. Baseball and sports in general are important, Ripken said, but nothing is more essential than how you interact with people, especially children.

Through much of his speech, Ripken kept his composure. But it was talking about his children, Rachel, 17, and Ryan, 14, that tripped him up.

In professing his love for his children, Ripken became emotional, wiped a tear away from his eye with his right index finger and momentarily stopped his speech. Moments later, he had to again recompose himself after mentioning his wife of nearly 20 years, Kelly.

Gwynn talked almost exclusively about his career and those who mentored him from youth baseball up until the major leagues. He never lost his composure.

“In many ways I was jealous of the fact that Tony got up there and knew what he wanted to say and kept his emotions under control,” Ripken said.

Gwynn laughed at Ripken’s analysis, saying he was “so wrong” and that he had been “scared to death” at the podium.