The Count Keeps Going for RipkeN

The ovations and speeches and parades behind him, Cal Ripken Jr. settled back into the most familiar routine in baseball history Friday night.

Ripken was there in the Baltimore Orioles’ lineup, batting fifth and playing shortstop, starting for the record 2,132nd consecutive time. Having surpassed Lou Gehrig’s mark of playing in 2,130 straight games on Wednesday, Ripken from now on will be breaking his own record with each passing game.

And it was Ripken himself who presented the lineup card at home plate, where he shook hands with Cleveland’s Eddie Murray--the man Ripken has credited with teaching him the value of playing every day. They were teammates in Baltimore until 1989.

“When I came along, I was having problems getting comfortable and making the adjustment (to the majors),” Ripken said beforehand. “It seemed like Eddie recognized that and helped me out. I’ve said all along through the streak that Eddie really showed me the importance of being ready everyday.”

The Jacobs Field crowd gave Ripken a standing ovation when he took the field, then booed--good-naturedly--when he caught Kenny Lofton’s line drive for Cleveland’s first out.

The crowd of reporters at Ripken’s pregame news conference didn’t surprise him, although he’s beginning to wonder when, or if, the fascination with the streak will ease.

“I think mentally I had been focusing all my energies toward thinking that at some point it would end and go back to normal,” Ripken said. “I guess I set the target as Sept.6. But here we are, Sept. 8, and you’re still here. So I guess I’ll have to formulate Plan B.”

Ripken admitted to being a bit worn out from all the hoopla.

“About a week or two before, I wasn’t sleeping ver well,” he said. “It was a little bit of nerves in anticipation of the event. I don’t think I was nervous about playing the games, just about the event. Then in the fifth inning (when Wednesday’s game became official), I felt a sense of relief.

“After the celebration in Baltimore and the parade yesterday, I can’t remember being this tired. I got some good sleep the last two nights. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to recover fully.”

Friday night’s game brought together two refreshing stories--Ripken’s streak and the Indians’ success--in a baseball season that will forever be remembered for the ugly labor problems that preceded it. Ripken, however, balked at the suggestion that his streak alone may have restored many fans’ confidence in the game.

“I won’t allow myself to think baseball needs any one person,” Ripken said. “I heard that a lot during the course of the year, how positive the streak is. I look at it as an opportunity to express ourselves about how good baseball can be.

“Individually, I might have been the beneficiary of something that’s bigger this year than it might have been in other years. I’m glad to be part of a positive thing like this. But I certainly don’t look at myself as a savior.”